Before a packed, divided audience that was doubled online, the Ogallala City Council on Tuesday night removed its only major legal obstacle to western Nebraska’s first “racino.”

Council members voted 4-1 to rezone 175 acres of farmland near Interstate 80 Exit 126 for commercial use after a negative Oct. 1 Planning Commission recommendation and a two-hour public hearing featuring more opponents than supporters.

All of the City Hall council chamber’s 100-some chairs were filled, with other attendees listening from the hallway. A Zoom livestream also quickly reached its capacity of 100 viewers under the city’s arrangement for the evening.