STATE OF MICHIGAN

MICHIGAN GAMING CONTROL BOARD

PUBLIC MEETING

Cadillac Place

3062 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-700

Detroit, Michigan

Tuesday, February 8, 2005

10:30 A.M.

MINUTES

On Tuesday, February 8, 2005, the Michigan Gaming Control Board held a public meeting at the Board office in the Cadillac Place, 3062 W. Grand Blvd, Suite L-700, Detroit, Michigan.

Present:          In attendance were the following Board members:

                                                Damian Kassab, Chairman

                                                Judge Benjamin Friedman

                                                Donald Robinson

                                                Barbara Rom

                                                Judge Michael Stacey

                        Also attending were:

                                                Daniel Gustafson

                                                Patty James

                                                DF/L Vicki Johnson

                                                Ben McMakin

                                                Tom Barker

                                                John Page

                                                Mike Lockman

                                                Bethany Scheib

Business:         Board Chairman Damian Kassab called the meeting to order at 10:53 a.m.  Chairman Kassab noted for the record that all Board members were present for the meeting.

                        Chairman Kassab stated the first order of business was to approve the minutes from the December 14, 2004 meeting.  He requested a motion to approve the minutes from the December 14, 2004 meeting.

                        It was moved and seconded that the minutes of the December 14, 2004 meeting be approved.  Motion carried.

                        Dan Gustafson next presented the Executive Director’s report.  In regards to staffing Mr. Gustafson advised the Board that Melanie Carroll has been hired as a Regulation Officer in the Board's Compliance Section.  Mr. Gustafson also reported the retirement of Robert Peltier, a Financial Analyst in the Board’s Employee Licensing Section.  Mr. Gustafson further advised the Board that the MGCB staff now total 98 with 8 authorized positions yet to be filled.  He also noted that the Board is in the process of filling these 8 positions.

                        Mr. Gustafson proceeded to give an update regarding the Board’s budget.  Mr. Gustafson reported that for the fiscal year 2005, from October 1, 2004 through January 31, 2005, the Board has incurred expenditures in the amount of $4,765,270.  

                        Mr. Gustafson next reported that for January 2005, the aggregate revenue in taxes for all three Detroit casinos was up 7.73 percent compared to the same month last year.  The gaming taxes for the three Detroit casinos for January 2005 were $12.178 million compared to $7.567 million for the same period last year.

                        Mr. Gustafson then proceeded to update the Board on the status of the issuance of temporary supplier licenses, full supplier licenses, vendor registrations, and supplier licensing exemptions, as well as the status of the issuance of temporary and permanent occupational licenses for the three casinos.

                        Mr. Gustafson further reported that Pamela Benzing has joined the Michigan State Policy Gaming Section staff and Tonda Hill returned to the Section on a limited duty status from an extended medical leave.  Mr. Gustafson then proceeded to update the Board on MSP’s Board-related activities.

                        Upon conclusion of Mr. Gustafson’s report Chairman Kassab requested that the record reflect the Board’s prayers and thoughts for Jack Cahill and his family upon the passing of Mr. Cahill’s father.

                        The first item to be considered by the Board was the proposed Board Resolution No. 2005-01, which waives Board Rule 432.1337 (10) as it relates to occupational licenses.

                        Upon brief comments from Ms. Bethany Scheib, Assistant Attorney General and Nick Alagna, Manager of the Employee Licensing Section, it was moved by Judge Friedman and seconded by Judge Stacey that the Board adopt proposed Board Resolution No. 2005-01, which would waive Board Rule 432.1337 (10) so that the temporary occupational licensee’s application would not have to be immediately forwarded to the Board for action when a temporary occupational license expires, is suspended or revoked.  A voice roll call was taken.

                        Motion carried.

                        Next Chairman Kassab requested a motion to accept the recommendations of the Executive Director regarding the 118 Level 1 and 2 occupational license applications.  Mr. Gustafson, pursuant to Board Resolution 2002-02, previously approved the 312 occupational license renewal requests.

                        It was moved by Judge Stacey and seconded by Judge Friedman to accept the recommendations of the Executive Director for the applications summarized in Exhibit 1.  A voice roll call was taken.

                        Motion carried.

                        The Board next considered the Executive Director's report and the Licensing Division's staff recommendations regarding the pending supplier license applications of MidWest Pro Painting, Inc., Cummins-Allison Corporation, and JCM American Corporation.

                        Chairman Kassab noted for the record that there were no representatives for the applicants present at the meeting.

                        Therefore, it was moved by Mr. Robinson and seconded by Ms. Rom to find and conclude that MidWest Pro Painting, Inc., Cummins-Allison Corporation, and JCM American Corporation, and their qualifiers are eligible and suitable for licensure.  A voice roll call was taken.

                        Motion carried.

                        The next agenda item considered was the Executive Director’s report and Licensing Division’s staff recommendations regarding the eligibility and suitability of Craig Ghelfi as a required key person/qualifier of casino licensee Greektown Casino, L.L.C. 

                        After Chairman Kassab noted for the record that Mr. Ghelfi was not present at the meeting, it was moved by Ms. Rom and seconded by Judge Friedman that the Board enter an order finding and concluding that Craig Ghelfi is eligible and suitable as a required qualifier of casino licensee Greektown Casino, L.L.C.  A voice roll call was taken.

                        Motion carried.

                        There being no other license applications to consider, it was moved by Ms. Rom and seconded by Judge Stacey that the Board go into closed session immediately following the conclusion of the public meeting for the purpose of receiving legal advice and counsel from the Board’s attorney regarding pending Board litigation, and receiving confidential notification from the Executive Director regarding the names of individuals placed on the Board’s Disassociated Persons List since the Board’s last public meeting as required by the Act.  A voice roll call was taken.

                        Motion carried.

There being no comments from the public, Chairman Kassab adjourned the meeting, at 11:11 a.m.

                              ______

                                Patricia S. James

                                Board Secretary