Before a packed, divided audience that was doubled online, the Ogallala City Council on Tuesday night removed its only major legal obstacle to western Nebraska’s first “racino.”
Council members voted 4-1 to rezone 175 acres of farmland near Interstate 80 Exit 126 for commercial use after a negative Oct. 1 Planning Commission recommendation and a two-hour public hearing featuring more opponents than supporters.
All of the City Hall council chamber’s 100-some chairs were filled, with other attendees listening from the hallway. A Zoom livestream also quickly reached its capacity of 100 viewers under the city’s arrangement for the evening.
Tuesday’s vote keeps Elite Casino Resorts on track to open the Lake Mac Casino Resort — named for nearby Lake McConaughy — and Hastings racing license holder Brian Becker’s quarter horse track next Labor Day.
