Vision Iowa Board seeks to make Council Bluffs casino keep its commitment

The Vision Iowa Board moved today to ensure the sale of the Harvey’s Casino riverboat in Council Bluffs does not impact the Board’s award to the city. The boat is being sold to Harrah’s. The Vision Iowa Board approved a 24-million dollar grant and seven million dollar loan from the state for a new arena/convention center complex in Council Bluffs. Vision Iowa Board Chairman Michael Gartner says he’s received a letter from Harrah’s C-E-O assuring that the casino will make good on its promise to the project.The letter states that Harrah’s will follow through with the seven-point-five million dollar donation that was promised in the Vision Iowa application. Gartner asked the board to tie the casino commitment to the final contract for the state award.The board voted to have its lawyers include the casino commitment in the final contract with Council Bluffs.