Libby casino on hold

Because more than 75 people showed up to voice concern over a potential casino to be installed in the former Ben Franklin building, Libby Mayor Tony Berget has called a special meeting on the subject at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25.

"It gives everybody a chance to come to the meeting and voice what they would like to see happen," he said, adding they may have to move the meeting to the larger Ponderosa Room down the hall.

Berget was absent at the last city council meeting Feb. 4 due to eye surgery, when people overflowed out of the usual spot reserved for the meeting.

After listening to three speakers opposed to the casino and none in favor, the city council decided to have Libby City Attorney Charles Evans look into the laws surrounding casinos and present their options at a later date.

Mayor Berget said he also called the special meeting because peoples' livelihoods have been on hold, referring to the people involved in the sale of the old Ben Franklin building.

"We needed to make a call, or a decision, as soon as possible to look up what options we have and items that are available to the council," he said, adding that Presidents' Day prevented the meeting from taking place last Monday.

The special city council meeting is one week before their regularly scheduled city council meeting, which is always the first Monday of each month, the next one being March 3.