If Wednesday was any indication, MG Oil will not go down without a fight over its proposed video lottery casino on North Haines Avenue.

Supporters and employees of MG Oil far outweighed opponents at Wednesday's Legal & Finance Committee meeting, despite a bevy of earlier complaints from neighbors.

The casino, which would be located in a new strip mall at the southwest corner of Haines and Lindbergh avenues, had already been approved by the city's Planning Commission. But after a neighboring property owner appealed the decision, the city council will have the final say.

Aldermen did not decide either way on Wednesday and instead sent the proposal on to the full council to make the final decision on Sept. 8. Among the factors they plan to consider is the number of police calls to the nearby Haines Avenue Casino as compared to the crime rate at casinos citywide. MG Oil also owns the Haines Avenue Casino.

Neighbors have expressed concerns that another casino could bring more crime to an area already struggling to lower its crime rate. Between August 2008 and August 2009, Rapid City police responded to 73 calls at the Haines casino.

But supporters of the proposal said it's not fair to paint MG Oil's video lottery casinos in such a negative light. Troy Erickson, vice president of MG Oil, said the plans are to put in an upscale casino at the new location.

"Video lottery is still legal. It's a way of doing business," Erickson said, adding, "It's not my intention to run a location that caters to cheap beer."

Wayne Johnson, a security officer for MG Oil, said the company takes safety very seriously at all of its properties. At least one of the six security officers is out patrolling the properties seven days a week, and they work closely with police.

"We run a clean establishment," Johnson said. "We don't put up with any nonsense."

Penny Jones, manager at the Haines Avenue Casino, said they know their customers and their customers know them. She's worked for MG Oil for 14 years.

"It's just people that don't come there that talk badly about our casino," Jones said. "People don't get stumble down drunk like they say they do. We're just getting a bad rap."

Alderman Ron Kroeger, who represents and lives in the neighborhood, said police calls to the current casino and the nearby Ridge Stone Court mobile home park show otherwise.

Between August 2008 and August 2009, police responded to 313 calls for service at the mobile home park. In the past, the park had operated without a license and in violation of city code.

"There's no way this area needs this," Kroeger said.

But Heather Tarango, a resident of Ridge Stone, said the mobile home park should have no bearing on the casino decision. She supports the jobs a new casino would bring to the area.

"We are not alcoholics that drink and gamble. And yes, we do care how we live," Tarango said. "This is a small community, and we are striving to make our trailer park better."

Duck feeding ban delayed

The ducks and geese in Canyon Lake Park may have already migrated south for the winter before the city rules on a proposed wildfowl feeding ban.

The city's Legal & Finance Committee again delayed a decision on the ban, this time until its Oct. 28 meeting. The proposal has been subject of repeated delays this spring and summer to allow for the city's Urban Wildlife Committee to research the issue.

Alderwoman Karen Gundersen Olson said she recommended the continuance because state Game, Fish & Parks experts could not be present at Wednesday's meeting.