The Village Board voted 4-2 Monday night to support the efforts of Rosemont and Calumet City to get state licenses to operate casinos. In return, Palatine would share some of the gambling revenues with those towns if the licenses are awarded.
The proposal was approved despite a request from Rev. Ken Hewett, associate pastor of Grace Community Church in Palatine, who asked the board to give residents a chance to voice their opinions on the matter.
Some trustees said the village's decision to accept annual checks from Rosemont of between $130,000 and $500,000 and from Calumet City of $65,000 to $250,000--if those towns get casinos--is different from allowing gambling in Palatine.
"If they are going to have (a casino) anyway, we might as well get the cash from it," Trustee Keith Harris said. "I can see no reason not to accept these funds."
"I think it's ill-gotten gains," Hewett said, "that it's going to come back and bite you."