Let’s build a casino/hotel
To the Editor:
I think the city of Fairmont is really missing the boat. Now you're going to ask, "What do you mean?"
Well, we have 135 aces for sale. Just across from Walmart. Now what do you say we build a casino there? What a great location. There is room for casino, hotel, parking, plus. Think about it.
I went to Emmetsburg and found that 65 percent of the cars came from Minnesota. Then I went to Northwood There, about 80 percent to 85 percent of cars came from our state.
Now, it's 60 miles to Wild Rose and 75 miles to Northwood. It's approximately 100-plus to any casino in Minnesota. This local location has freeway access. No competition anywhere close at all.
Part of the earnings could be earmarked for the new stadium for the Vikings; part could go to help Minnesota schools. Part would, of course, go to city of Fairmont.
Plus, think of all the jobs it would bring to our part of the state. The extra traffic could only mean more business for the city.
Let's start thinking outside the box a little. We have the location, location, location. The three main things needed to be successful.
Let's get a delegation together to lobby the state. Now is the time. Someone is bound to do this. It might as well be us.
David Rilea
Ceylon
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NicholasH
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03-12-10 1:55 PM
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@Trumanator: I don't argue with that. However, you have to be reasonable at what you build. Otherwise, Fairmont will just have ANOTHER empty building. And we've got enough of those - K-Mart, Wendy's, Starbucks, Bryan's Pharmacy, half of Downtown Plaza...
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Trumanator
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03-12-10 11:21 AM
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We need jobs. Industry. There are so many people out of work around here. Something that pays more than $8 per hour, too.
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NicholasH
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03-12-10 1:58 AM
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We already have Presentation College. Plus that's what the area on the west side of the town was suppose to be used for, before the college idea was driven away (which it ended up in Jackson). That's pretty much the sole reason why Fairlakes Ave. even exists. And why it was never completed.
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MeandMyShadow
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03-11-10 2:28 PM
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Why not build a campus for South Central or Minnesota West. Bring some good classes to Fairmont so people do not have to drive to Mankato or Jackson.
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NicholasH
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03-11-10 10:00 AM
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Actually, I know how the stats are going at the hotels. This year and last year are absolutely miserable. The building of Hampton Inn just came at a bad time. When they started building it, the hotels were still getting business from a good economy and the two ethanol plants being built. Torgerson Properties (the hotel owners) didn't have a choice - they had too much invested into it to back out. Yes, there are some nights that are full or near full. But there's yet a night (and the Hampton has been open for just under a year) where all 4 hotels were full (which there's 244 rooms between all 4 hotels). Not during summer, Sturgis, or any sporting events have all 4 hotels been full. (I'm not counting Budget because I know know the room count there.) And it's not just Fairmont hotel business has been down. It's hitting EVERYBODY. That's why I say Fairmont doesn't need another hotel. Another hotel + bad economy = suicide.
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DickVitalesHairdresser
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03-11-10 9:25 AM
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A casino on non-Indian land would require a change in Minnesota's constitution. Not gonna happen. Conversely, there are many nights you can't get a hotel room in Fairmont. Especially when there are things like youth sports tournaments going on. If they thought Fairmont didn't need more hotel rooms, they wouldn't have built the Hampton Inn. There's no reason to not THINK bigger and better things for Fairmont...even if some of the ideas are too 'pie in the sky' to work.
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jtpr1944
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03-11-10 8:42 AM
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I think it also has to be built on reservation properties with the tribe in charge to be legal in Minn. Not for sure on this but seem to remember something to that effect?? And it is a very stupid idea to start with--------------all he is worried about is sellling his land, not thinking at all of any future problems or what will happen down the road!
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NicholasH
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03-11-10 2:15 AM
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We don't need another hotel around here. There's already 4 hotels and 1 motel. If you drive by there, there's a lot of nights where there are very few cars, since less people are able to travel due to the poor economy. This is happening all over the country. If a casino/hotel is built by Walmart...somebody is gonna fail. And fail hard. The idea/rumor going around of a strip mall is a much better idea. But at the same time, putting it next to Walmart is gonna cause issues too. 1 - it would kill Five Lakes Center (not that there's a problem with that...look at the lot!). 2 - anything from the mall pretty much would fail being next to Walmart. There's plenty of other ideas, but a hotel there is dumb. Casino? Fine. Casino/Hotel? NO.
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usmc88
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03-11-10 1:59 AM
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I am in total agreement sissestonsailor!
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sissetonsailor
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03-10-10 12:32 PM
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Dumber than Sh*t is all I can say. I wasted a minute of my life reading this letter. Wow.
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blue5011
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03-10-10 10:13 AM
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I got an idea, let's build a casino/hotel in Ceylon.
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TRYANGLE
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03-10-10 6:45 AM
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First it is not legal. Second casinos destroy communities. Build a factory where people can build american made machines.
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