Rock Island council approves developer right-of-entry after public objections over Milan Bottoms habitat

The Rock Island City Council approved an amended right-of-entry agreement for the proposed Casino West development on April 28, allowing the developer site access while removing a previously proposed fencing requirement and moving a gate closer to the access point.

Opponents of the project told the council the proposed 10-acre site near the expressway would harm nearby wetlands and important wildlife habitat known locally as Milan (sometimes referenced as Mylan) Bottoms. Council members and staff said the developer, Ahana Ilwa LLC, has signed a contract with environmental consultant Terracon to perform on-site studies to verify wetlands, survey protected species and document compliance with federal laws.

The amended right-of-entry motion, moved and seconded during the meeting, passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting in favor. The amendment removed language about permanent fencing and clarified that the developer may relocate a gate closer to the parcel entrance rather than install the fence described in the initial draft.

Why this matters: Residents and biologists told the council that on-site surveys have been insufficient and that the site is connected to roosting and nesting areas used by bald eagles and may hold state-listed species including Blanding's turtle. Council approval of right of entry grants the developer limited access to perform additional testing while preserving the city’s regulatory review and permitting process.

Public comment and scientific concerns Kelly McKay, identified in public comment as a wildlife biologist from Hampton, Illinois, told the council she and other researchers had not been asked to participate in previous assessments and said the environmental review relied on databases rather than field surveys. “If this document represents such sound science, then why doesn't any representative of the DNR or Shive Hattery come to one of these meetings and defend its integrity?” McKay asked. Later in her remarks she said, referring to the city and developers, “Is it simply because you haven't consulted any other researchers and your claim is simply a load of crap, which is what I suspect it is?”

Landowner Tim Presley, who owns property adjacent to the site, said the access road is controlled by the Illinois Department of Transportation and that any locked gate or changed access would require state coordination. Presley urged the council to wait for state permissions and questioned several assumptions in preliminary site plans, including proposed truck scale and parking counts.

Justin Booker, who spoke in support of preserving Milan Bottoms, said protesters were not categorically opposed to development but sought “thoughtful and sustainable development” and asked the council to consider alternate locations or sale to land trusts.

City update and Terracon work plan During the council meeting a city representative provided a summary of additional environmental work Terracon will perform under a contract the developer signed. The city’s summary noted the studies Terracon will do include: - Aquatic resource delineation with on-site verification and, if needed, soil sampling to identify wetland boundaries and vegetation issues that could affect Clean Water Act (Section 404) and Rivers and Harbors Act (Section 10) compliance. - Agency verification and coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine permit needs or receive jurisdictional determinations. - A protected-species habitat assessment including desktop (database) review and boots-on-the-ground inspections, aerial imagery, GIS mapping, and reporting to address compliance with the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. - A focused bald-eagle nest survey with GPS mapping of nest locations and documentation of distances from construction activities. - On-site species examinations for state-threatened or endangered species; the city’s summary listed mussels (including Higgins eye), a listed butterfly, and Blanding's turtle. The staff summary said Terracon will pursue necessary state permits for Blanding's turtle and schedule on-site surveys timed to May–June hatching and nesting windows.

Parcel release and conservation language The city representative also said the developer agreed that, on sale, “Parcel 4” — a small portion of the project site that the city has described as containing wetland features and possible mounds of archaeological or natural interest — would be released back to the city to be added to a proposed conservation easement totaling approximately 5.28 acres.

The council’s action The council voted to approve the amended right-of-entry agreement after discussion; the roll call recorded all members voting in favor. Council members emphasized that right-of-entry grants limited access for study and does not, by itself, approve any land use change or final development plan.

What remains Speakers asked for more transparency and for the city and developers to include independent researchers in field work. Multiple public commenters asked that the city withhold final approvals until on-the-ground surveys, agency verifications, and any needed permits are complete. The Terracon scope described by the city included those steps; the council’s approval allows the developer to complete them under the terms of the amended right-of-entry but does not authorize construction or final land-use decisions.

Next steps noted in the meeting record include Terracon’s field work and agency coordination; the city will continue permitting and public-notice steps before any development approvals or TIF amendments are finalized.