Before the new French Lick Springs Resort Casino opened Friday, residents of Orange County and the town of French Lick, Ind., were already anticipating ways to spend the tax revenue the new casino will bring, while others were voicing their concerns about the changes taking place in the small city as a result of the casino's opening.\nThe casino, located about an hour south of Bloomington, is the 11th in the state and the last one allowed under state law. It was jointly developed and constructed beginning in August 2005 by Bloomington-based Cook Group and the Indianapolis-based real estate company Lauth Group, according to a Cook Group press release on the company's Web site. The $382 million project included the casino, renovations of the town's two historic hotels and the construction of golf courses and retail shops. \nThe West Baden Springs Hotel -- which includes what was the largest dome in the world until Houston's Astrodome was constructed in 1963 -- is set to reopen next year, completing the renovations of French Lick's historic buildings. \nFrench Lick became famous at the beginning of the 20th century, drawing U.S. presidents, gangster Al Capone, jazz legend Duke Ellington and others to visit the small town's hotels where they could soak in mineral spring water, which was believed to have medical benefits. \nCounty divvies up tax revenues
French Lick residents have very different ideas about how tax revenue from tourism and gambling should be spent. For some, improving existing infrastructure is a priority. Others say more attention should be given to attracting and building new businesses.\nDavid Umpleby, an attorney for the town of French Lick who has played a key role in planning the project, said that the tax revenue from the casino should be used to develop and expand the infrastructure of French Lick and beautify Orange County, with several construction projects already in the works. \nUmpleby said they want to construct a district including buildings with retail space on the first floor and apartments or residencies on the second and third floors.\nThe district would be a tourist-oriented shopping center within walking distance of the casino, he said. \nDonna Denbo, a member of the Springs Valley Community Schools' board, said that the school system is anticipating free textbooks from casino profits.\nThe school system will receive $100,000 in casino funds every year for the next five years.\nSprings Valley High School, located only about 100 feet from the casino, will receive an additional $50,000 because of its close proximity to the casino. The school had to shut down a wing of its building because of the project. \n"We felt it was necessary for the safety of the students to permanently close off a part of the school. We opened up another area and renovated the cafeteria," Donna Denbo said. "The concern about the casino is security. They are probably going to have a great deal of security; they are very equipped with security that we feel will assist in the safety of our students -- whether that is true or not, we'll find out." \nDonna Denbo said the schools are hopeful that the casino revenue will introduce vocational programs in schools and expand job opportunities.\nHouse Bill 1902, which authorized the casino in 2003, laid out how casino tax revenue can be spent. But state Rep. Jerry Denbo, the bill's author (and Donna Denbo's husband), said that the bill does not provide all the money that the schools would like to receive. Orange County is one of Indiana's most impoverished counties, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.\n"Orange County schools need to improve facilities. They need bigger facilities. I would like to see training programs for students to work in the casino and improve technology in schools," he said.\nThe legislation allowed French Lick and its nearby neighbor West Baden Springs to decide how local casino revenues would be spent. It also promised the Orange County towns of Paoli and Orleans funds from the casino admission tax and wagering tax revenue, estimated to total $9.5 million annually.
Residents worry about changes
Before deciding to support the casino, French Lick officials visited other towns to assess casinos' impact on those communities. They also asked an Indianapolis design firm, Storrow Kinsella, to produce a plan for a new downtown center.\nA 2004 report prepared by Storrow Kinsella and two engineering firms said development would emphasize the historic character of the valley and would not compromise its small-town appeal.\nHowever, residents say they believe that the character of the town will inevitably change.\nJim Marshall, a local resident and business owner, said that the town is already changing with the surge of employees coming from as far as Louisiana. \n"There are workers coming from all over the country, and whether you like it or not, the place is changing," Marshall said.\nBarry Wininger, president of the French Lick Town Council, said he believes "the small-town feel may be gone when the casino opens, but you have to lose some to gain some." He added that he wants to see "casino revenues used as incentives for making more people move in."\nDave Harner, clerk/treasurer of the French Lick Town Council, said the town is a great place for tourism \nbecause it is in the middle of everywhere, within about 100 miles of cities like Indianapolis, Evansville and Louisville, Ky. \n"Everybody wants change," Harner said. "We've relied on state government to help the economy, but now we're trying to be self-sufficient."\nThe Associated Press contributed to this story.
