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Davenport City Leaders Express Concerns with Casino Developer

For the first time, the Davenport City Council met with the newly selected developer for the potential land based casino. Back in late may, the Riverboat Develo...

For the first time, the Davenport City Council met with the newly selected developer for the potential land based casino.

Back in late may, the Riverboat Development Authority chose CEO Dan Kehl and Kehl Development Corporation to build the new land based casino in Davenport.  The disappointment was evident on Mayor Bill Gluba's face.

Now, Kehl has 120 days left on its option to buy Rhythm City Casino but first, it needs to get the city on board with its plans.

“We got a lot of work to do in a very short period of time and so we need to get started and I am glad to be able to do that tonight.” Dan Kehl says.

Dan Kehl laid out the plans his corporation has for the $110 million project.

“We want to bring it all together to create a real entertainment complex that will get more than our fair share of revenue for this market.

Not long ago, the city hoped it would own the new casino so now city leaders are insistent that a private developer give back to the community.

Mayor Bill Gluba says, “Our concern all along is how we are going to maximize the value of that gaming license to the people and the tax payers of Davenport.”

The question of jobs came up more than once as the alderman expressed their concerns. Kehl says the new casino would employ about 400 more people than the rhythm city casino currently does.

“We are going to be in the Quad Cities, hiring Quad Citians is paramount to what we do,” Kehl says.

Still Mayor Gluba ensured Kehl that there would be many more questions to be asked and many more details to be worked out.

“There’s all kinds of twists and turns but we appreciate you being here.”  Gluba added, “Ultimately, the devil is always in the details and we have a lot of details to address as you all know.”

The ideas and questions of a possible TIF district or rezoning were brought up but Kehl said he wasn’t sure if that was something he wanted to look into yet.

The location hasn't been selected yet but the company is looking at land on I-80 between the 74 and Brady Street exits.

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