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Racetrack drawings viewed
HILLSVILLE, Pa. — The planned Valley View Downs harness racing track and casino continued to be the No. 1 discussion topic with the Mahoning Township supervisors
Officials from the racetrack presented their latest drawings of the facility at the supervisors’ Tuesday night session.
Joe DeRosa, general manager of the casino, said the facility will have a $30 million annual payroll, and the racetrack will pay an estimated $200,000 daily purse.
Brian Elmore, general manager of gaming for the facility, said it will be “the premier harness racing track in the country.”
Other officials attending the meeting were Garrett Scharton, the facility’s on-site representative; Steve Zubrow, legal counsel; and Rich Ziegler, director of development for Centaur Gaming Inc. of Indiana, the developer.
A hearing on the track’s application for a slots license for 3,000 slot machines is set for 9 a.m. Thursday at the township’s community center on U.S. Route 224.
Supervisors unanimously affirmed the Mahoning Township Planning Commission’s March 26 approval of Valley View Downs’ preliminary plan. The planning commission approved the plans with the conditions that the racetrack secure all necessary permits.
The facility received its soil erosion and wetland permits from the Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday and is working on the others, officials said.
In related action, supervisors authorized work being done to update a comprehensive plan for Mahoning, Union and Pulaski Townships in order to adequately prepare for the changes the racetrack will bring to the area.
Mahoning Supervisor Gary Pezzuolo said the update will be done with grant money at no cost to the township.
Supervisors also said they plan to secure interim financing for the planned Edinburg sanitary sewer plant by issuing notes for $20 million if necessary, or obtaining a $5 million line of credit to be used to fund the project until PennVest and Act 108 money comes in.
They also formally submitted their application to PennVest for about $11 million in loans for the sanitary sewer project. The sewer will serve the Edinburg area as well as the planned racetrack.
Supervisors also opened and tabled bids for site preparation for the sewage treatment plant that will be built in Edinburg as part of the project. The nine bids will be reviewed by the township solicitor and engineer to verify insurance, bonds and proof of materials before a decision is made.
Also, supervisors announced that West Main Street will be closed June 9 to 11 to remove railroad tracks and fix a bump in the road. Detours will be posted.
Supervisors also agreed to purchase a $4,400 updated phone service system from TCI, Youngstown and to buy a $1,300 copy machine from Comdoc, of Vienna, Ohio.