None of the applications received in the May application period were reviewed — the Commission already knew they were incomplete, so there was no reason to have the commission’s contracted expert complete the review.
From the transcript of the July 18, 2019, Arkansas Racing Commission meeting (where Gulfside appealed the June dismissal of their application).
MR. FREELAND: Okay. Mr. Castleberry’s raised a point, and he wants the application in the record — and this is for the record also. When we received the applications from Pope County, I sent those to our expert, but I asked him not to review those so the state would not pay his hourly rate to review those five applications to see if they were complete. I was trying to save the commission money since we knew that they did not have the proper letters of recommendation. So the — the commission’s expert and the commission have not reviewed all the applications to make sure that they are complete under the rules and the amendment. So that’s — that’s the status of — of the — those applications at this point.
CHAIRMAN LIEBLONG: But everything will be on the record as far — same thing that we required of Jefferson County in this case. Is that correct?
MR. FREELAND: That’s correct.
CHAIRMAN LIEBLONG: Everyone may be treated equally is the main purpose.
MR. FREELAND: Oh, yes. Right.
CHAIRMAN LIEBLONG: Is that your understanding?
MR. FREELAND: Yes, sir. But I — I was just trying — I didn’t want the state to spend money having applications reviewed when they were insufficient or because of the letter of recommendation.