FORT WAYNE, IND. (WOWO) Allen County Commissioner Ron Turpin Talks Casino Possibility on WOWO’s Morning News Exclusive
Allen County residents will have a chance to share their thoughts tonight on the possibility of a casino coming to the area, but County Commissioner Ron Turpin emphasized Wednesday morning that much remains uncertain.
Turpin appeared live with Kayla Blakeslee on Fort Wayne’s Morning News WOWO Exclusive to preview the public forum at the Coliseum.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend,” Turpin said. “By the time it was booked, I am chair of my church board, and we have a meeting tonight that is critical as we adopt our budget. So I will have to miss the meeting at the Coliseum.”
Blakeslee clarified that the Coliseum event is a public forum, not a decision-making meeting. Turpin echoed that point:
“No vote or anything like that is happening. It’s really a listening session,” he said. “People have lots of questions, and I think the council wants to hear from them. While that is very laudable, I’m fearful that people will be disappointed because there’s not going to be any answers to questions tonight.”
Turpin stressed that the casino proposal is far from finalized. “The cake is not baked,” he said. “There’s no decision made. There’s a bill in the House, a bill in the Senate that potentially could put a casino somewhere in Allen County. Whether that gets through one or both houses is a question mark.”
He also outlined the factors still under consideration: “Who’s the right operator? Where would they go? Does it fit the criteria we’re looking for for the community? There are so many unknowns. If something passes, that’s when I would love to have a forum to talk with the community about what we know and what we need input on. Ultimately, is this what the people of Allen County want?”
The commissioner expressed support for a local referendum to let voters weigh in. “I think that’s worthy of public debate and discussion. We’re a long way from that right now,” he said.
Blakeslee asked about the county’s role if a casino were approved. Turpin explained the process: “The state controls the issuance of licenses. If the state says yes, the operator looks at where they want to be. If they want to be in Fort Wayne, that’s a city council decision. If outside the city, it’s up to the county commissioners. That’s where negotiating would happen—but that’s a big if. There’s nothing guaranteeing a gaming facility anywhere in Northeast Indiana.”
Regarding timelines, Turpin cautioned that the process could be lengthy. “A lot of times it takes several years and several general assemblies for something to work its way through. The state did a report last year saying either downtown Indianapolis or somewhere in Northeast Indiana would be most profitable tax-wise, but I’m not sure it will pass this session.”
He reiterated the importance of public involvement: “Anything this big in the community deserves a voice from the voters. There are pros and cons to a casino in our area. I’m conflicted on it myself, and I think public input is critical—far beyond what will happen at tonight’s forum.”
When asked if his fellow county leaders would support a referendum, Turpin said discussions were preliminary. “We haven’t really talked about it in detail. At a high level, getting the public’s opinion is important. Depending on when this happens, my colleagues will weigh in. But in general, I think they support getting public input into whatever happens.”
Blakeslee closed the segment by noting that Turpin checks in every Tuesday for Commissioner’s Corner on WOWO.
