Bob Smith decided to withdraw his casino proposal due to what he called negativity.

“I'm getting too much negativity, from council mainly, about it,” he said at Monday night's council meting.

Smith said when he first proposed a casino project in the '90s it cost him $20,000 to do the research needed to make an application to the province. Meanwhile, the project was voted down in a referendum.

Smith, a former city councillor, said “negativity” was one reason a lot of projects don't get off the ground in Grand Forks.

“It took me three years to get a skatepark in this town,” he said. “I tried to get a waterpark for the kids; I got static.”

In an interview, Mayor Brian Taylor said he was disappointed by Smith's decision.

“But, the need for council to request more information is just natural,” he said.

However, he said he wasn't opposed to the idea of a casino in Grand Forks because it would help keep money in the community.

“We're getting fleeced by the gaming business in our region,” he said, referring to the province's decision to cut gaming grants to community organizations.

Smith said he wouldn't be bringing back his proposal in the future and said the city “would have to do it themselves,” if they decide they want a casino in the community.