Long before money goes into a slot machine, details you probably wouldn't even think about are being handled in Sumner County. "This is one of the largest private investment projects in the state's history," said Mulvane City Administrator Kent Hixson.
The Kansas Star Casino will be built on farm land, which until now needed little attention from Mulvane fire and EMS. "We have to figure out what kind of load this casino will put on the city," he said.
Public safety is one of the many issues consultants will study to help the city figure out whether to hire more police officers or build another EMS station. For example, if a new fire truck or EMS building is needed the developer would pay those costs. If the city needed to hire more people, those salaries would be paid with the money Mulvane generates from the casino. "Mulvane citizens will not see a drop in our public safety services in order to serve the casino," Hixson said.
The other big issue before dirt can be turned are utilities like water and sewer. "The good thing about this taking three or four times is we've practiced and thought about how we want to approach it." For example, Mulvane needs to figure out how much electricity the casino will use and whether the city utility or Westar would be best at providing that electricity.
"Everything we do, the development will pay its own way. The citizens of Mulvane are not going to subsidize any of it," Hixson said. The Mulvane City Council will vote Monday night to authorize the studies on public safety and utilities. The goal is to have all those details worked out in the next 60 days, so construction can begin and the facility can open by early 2012.
