Council Considers Video Lottery Expansion
By CASEY JUNKINSArticle Photos
A Wheeling attorney wants to open a new video gambling parlor on Mount de Chantal Road, but City Council members want to make sure the business will not be a nuisance to its neighbors.
During a Thursday meeting of council's development committee, Brian Ghaphery explained that he owns the building at 1029 Mount De Chantal Road that was formerly home to Western Southern Life Insurance.
''This is a prime location for this business,'' Ghaphery told members, noting he does not intend to sell alcoholic beverages at the proposed gambling establishment.
To offer video gambling, an establishment is required by law to hold a state Alcohol Beverage Control Commission license.
But city officials said the planned business would be located within 60 feet of a residence, 790 feet of Wheeling Jesuit University and 770 feet of Ruble Methodist Church - each of which would violate the 2005 city ordinance requiring video gambling parlors to be at least 1,000 feet away from homes, schools and churches.
''We passed that ordinance because we wanted to protect neighborhoods from being saturated with these kinds of places,'' Councilman Vernon Seals noted.
City Planning Administrator Tom Connelly told council members that allowing Ghaphery to open the video gambling parlor on Mount de Chantal Road would lead to a myriad of new applications for similar establishments.
Mayor Andy McKenzie, who is also a West Virginia state senator, and Councilwoman Gloria Delbrugge do not seem eager to expand video gambling parlors in the city.
''The single largest complaint I have had from residents as a state legislator is the proliferation of these parlors into residential areas. I am not interested in expanding any more of these machines,'' he said.
Delbrugge also is not a fan of the parlors.
''You have a big casino on (Wheeling) Island - if you want to gamble, go there,'' she said.
After some additional discussion, members agreed to table Ghaphery's request until a future meeting.
''We need to get more information and feedback from residents before making a decision on this,'' McKenzie said.
In another matter, members accepted a donation of property at 2710 Eoff St. from owner Tim Dofka.
''We will tear it down as soon as possible,'' City Manager Robert Herron said of the house, noting city building inspectors previously ordered Dofka to demolish the building.
The structure currently is on the city's federal Community Development Block Grant fund demolition list.
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SphinxRising58
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10-07-08 10:54 AM
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UNCOMMONSENSE: Maybe in the case involving this lawyer, but I doubt if anyone else will be permitted to set up a simliar gambling establashment nearby, as you know once one is there, others will try to follow. Waiting with great glee to see what the reason will be given by council as to why other places will be denied, lol
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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10-05-08 3:23 PM
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Rules were made to be broken in Wheeling. I see a re-zoning in the near future.
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SphinxRising58
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10-04-08 2:20 AM
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So let me get this right, a lawyer wants to open a gambling business in a area that has already been decreed not allowed by existing law to have one ? Gee, I wonder how city council will find a way around this catch-22, & if they allow one exception, surely other will use that as a legal precedent to open others in other areas where such places are not allowed & then how will city council explain a denied permit in following cases ?
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Katabatic
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10-03-08 10:02 PM
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NO !
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wvubeast
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10-03-08 6:53 PM
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1.We have more than enough gambling places already. 2. I'd be willing to bet a paycheck that Mr.Smith is not happy about all this. 3. Can't you think of anything better to do with your building? How about a free law clinic? yeah, right.
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EllisWyatt
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10-03-08 6:22 PM
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We should put a video slot machine in every home and business in Wheeling. We should also put one in every room in every senior citizen residence. This way, no citizen of Wheeling has to be inconvenienced with actually leaving the privacy of their home to lose their bill money.
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atoddh
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10-03-08 6:08 PM
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The slot parlors are a huge blight on the entire State no matter where they are. Kessler has suggested - correctly - that there at least be fewer venues with more machines/venue to reduce the clutter. Certainly the Wheeling College/Wheeling Hospital area should be spared the tackyness.
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Paws26003
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10-03-08 3:14 PM
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This location is near a bus stop, a playground, and residential neighborhood. There are so many other types of business that could be put at that location. I hope the city denies this!!!
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richardwhee
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10-03-08 1:23 PM
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NO NO NO NO We have too many already.
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SphinxRising58
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10-03-08 12:30 PM
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It goes to figure that a lawyer wants to open one in an area that is against the law, as they are not called bottom feeders for nothing.
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acousticportal
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10-03-08 10:58 AM
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Gambling is good business....for bookies, opportunists, slum lords, and addiction counselors. Keep gaming centralized, not widespread in our communities. Wheeling may be floundering, but this is not the answer. It's quick income for very few, detrimental to many, and in the minimum, not the values I want to see instilled in our children.
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kmd0302
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10-03-08 9:53 AM
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NO NO NO NO trying to get around at this intersection is bad enough even without construction! Children board a school bus within feet of this "establishment", is this the impression we want to instill on them? I live within a hop, skip and a jump of the building and I say NO NO NO
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whg26003man
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10-03-08 9:21 AM
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I am surprised since gambling establishments seem to be prime areas for crime. What would Mr. Smith have to say if one of his assistant prosecutors wanted to open a strip club next to schools and churches?
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Patterson
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10-03-08 9:19 AM
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I tell you what, give him (Ghaphery) the right to have gambling parlor provided he and and his family live next door. Then let him run his gambling parlor.
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Hefner
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10-03-08 8:45 AM
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Figaretti's Restaurant, which also has gambling, is located not 50 feet from the proposed new gambling parlor. The law is the law, why is it necessary to discuss the matter further? The answer is no
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gabound
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10-03-08 6:46 AM
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gloria, its not your ward, you represent Warwood, no wonder its falling apart up there. maybe you should try and representing the good people who elected you. although why they elected you is another story.
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EbZane
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10-03-08 6:28 AM
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Isn't Mr Ghaphrey Asst Prosecutor for the COW? One would think that he would know the ordinances for opening a video lottery establishment. Does he want to circumvent the laws on the books, or is he asking to remove the current laws? If it is the latter, he better be careful for what he is asking for, as one might be tempted to open a similar business near his home.
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atoddh
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10-03-08 2:26 AM
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The entire State should listen to Ms. Delbrugge on this.The slots were originally intended only for the tracks.
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