With the legislative session wrapped up, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce held its final legislative breakfast Saturday. Everything from the coal plants to, of course, the casinos were fair game.
The casino issue was front and center again because, as Wellington chamber members gathered just a few miles away in Mulvane, another casino open house was underway.
"From 9 to noon, you could literally not get in the office," said Ben Sciortino, office manager for Chisholm Creek Casino and Resort and former Sedgwick County Commissioner.
They lined the streets, ready to snatch up every last bit of information they could as the newest casino office, Chisholm Creek Casino, opened its office doors.
"The response has been astronomical which leads me to believe an overwhelming majority of the citizens in this part of Sumner County understand what the total economic benefit would be," said Sciortino.
Harrah's also has an office in Mulvane. Just a few miles away, Wellington is preparing for an office of its own when Marvel gaming rolls into town.
"Companies are already coming to Kansas. They're already spending their money, buying ads, opening offices, filling our empty buildings in our downtowns," said Shelley Hansel, with the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce.
Gaming was a hot topic in Wellington this weekend, as its chamber of commerce gathered for a final legislative session update from representative Vince Wetta.
Gaming wasn't the only issue on the table, though. There was also that heated coal -fired power plant topic. It's something chamber members say was tough on all legislators, and they respect how theirs handled it.
"This is jobs for them and that's what representative Wetta voted for," explained Hansel. "He voted for the jobs and the economic development and he also talked about how this is the first step in continuing to develop our energy plan here in Kansas."
While the session is over for now, people in these two towns say the work is just getting started.
"We're just excited to see movement forward," said Hansel.