Well in Ohio, Columbus developers broke ground on Monday on the fourth of Ohio’s planned casinos in spite of a legal dispute. Public officials have joined developers at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the same.

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held at the location for the 300,000-square-foot Columbus casino. Earlier ceremonies marked the start of construction at sites in Toledo and Cincinnati; an old Cleveland department store is being renovated to serve as the initial home of a Cleveland casino.

Voters approved the four casinos in 2009, as reported. According to developers, the Hollywood Casino Columbus being developed by Wyomissing, Pa.,-based Penn National Gaming; is scheduled to open in late 2012. First, they will have to resolve a legal battle with the city that’s holding up water and sewer service to the site.

More than 100 people, including construction crews, were on hand for the groundbreaking, but noticeably absent were Columbus city officials.

Penn National said it did not invite anyone from the city. Penn National President Tim Wilmott said that he is not too concerned over the controversy surrounding the potential annexation of the casino site.

Monday’s groundbreaking signals the start of a new era of economic development in Franklin County.  Penn National president, Tim Wilmott said, “My issue is getting water and sewer to this site. Whether the city’s part of that or not, I can’t tell you. We want to get this project started and open, I can’t tell you if it’s ever going to get resolved with the city or not.”