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News
Montgomery OKs video gaming : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisMontgomery OKs video gaming
| Village board responds to VFW request
| by John Etheredge
| 9/13/2012
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Video gaming will be allowed in the Village of Montgomery.
The village board, in a unanimous ballot Monday evening, approved an ordinance amending the village code to permit video gambling machines at licensed local businesses, including local veterans and fraternal organizations.
"It's a good thing, especially since Aurora just passed the same ordinance and Yorkville has passed it, too," Village President Marilyn Michelini said moments after the board vote.
"I may not support gaming myself, but in this economy I think any kind of additional revenue will give (village businesses) a boost," Michelini added.
Pete Heinz, a village board member, noted that North Aurora has also passed an ordinance permitting video gambling.
The board acted on the ordinance at the request of the Montgomery Memorial Post 7452 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
Post Commander John Behnke and Post Adjutant Bill Regan were among those who made the request to the board during a committee meeting last month.
Behnke said the revenue from the machines would be helpful to both the village and the post.
He said he was also concerned that local businesses would lose customers who play the machines, as they would patronize businesses in area towns that allow them.
Regan stressed that the post isn't "just a bar," but a place where veterans can socialize and talk about the effects of war.
Regan said the post once had a van to transport elderly veterans to Hines Veterans Hospital near Chicago. However, he said, the post could not afford the maintenance on the vehicle as it was very old, had high miles and needed repairs.
"This would help us purchase another van," he said.
The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation in 2009 allowing video gaming in local restaurants and bars and veterans organizations that are licensed to serve alcoholic beverages. State lawmakers approved the gambling expansion to provide additional revenues to finance a statewide capital improvement program.
Under the law, net revenues from the machines are to be taxed at 30 percent, with 25 percent going to the state and five percent to local municipalities.
Under the state law, licensed local businesses can have a maximum of five machines, each with a maximum payout of $500.
Jeff Zoephel, acting village administrator, said Tuesday he is uncertain how much additional revenues the village will receive as a result of the board's vote Monday evening.
Zoephel noted that some revenue projections are available on a state website.
"But we're not sure what to expect," he said, adding, "We'll have to get some machines in here and see after a year."
In addition, to the VFW, Zoephel said he is aware of two other local businesses that would be eligible to install the machines--Elmer's Doghouse on South East River Road at Sherman Avenue, and Poor Boys' Pub on Montgomery Road.
In addition to Aurora, North Aurora and Yorkville, other area communities that have passed ordinances in recent months permitting video gaming include Joliet and Geneva.
Municipalities that are continuing to prohibit video gambling include Oswego, Plano, Batavia, Elburn, Naperville and St. Charles.
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