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Prairie Meadows Budget May Expand

IOWA – As reported by the Des Moines Register: "Officials at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino struck open-ended contracts with consultants and construction crews before it was discovered, mid-job, that a planned $60 million expansion would cost nearly $80 million.

"Members of the nonprofit board of directors for the publicly owned casino have since downsized the project and cut 20,000 square feet from an addition for a steakhouse, buffet, auditorium, table games and slot machines.

"But a plan to increase the project budget by $4 million to $5 million will be considered this week.

"Prairie Meadows' board members said they decided to offer the job with open-ended contracts — unlike most government contracts — because they were eager to get the project under way.

"Track officials wanted to improve their entertainment offerings before new casinos in Waterloo, Emmetsburg, Riverside and Worth County got the chance in 2007 to lure away customers. Conventional bids might have delayed the Altoona expansion for a year…"

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