Lawrence officials open bids
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
NEW CASTLE, Pa.
The next three weeks will see crucial developments affecting the future of the proposed Valley View Downs racetrack/casino in Lawrence County, according to Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler.
Vogeler commented when commissioners met for their regular meeting Tuesday in the wake of last week’s decision of the proposed racetrack’s parent company, Centaur LLC of Indianapolis, to ask the bankruptcy court for permission to auction Valley View Downs.
Valley View Downs filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November and Centaur followed in March after unsuccessfully trying to find new lenders for the racetrack/casino in Mahoning Township. The initial group of lenders pulled out after waiting over a year for the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission to issue a casino license. The licensing process has been further complicated by the bankruptcy filing. However, Valley View Downs holds the last remaining harness-racing license in Pennsylvania that is required to be partnered with a casino. But the harness-racing license is set to expire Sept. 6 because the racetrack has not been built. Vogler said if an extension is not granted, Valley View Downs would have to turn in the license to the Harness Racing Commission.
“The next two to three weeks are going to be very, very critical,” he said.
“We are monitoring the situation closely,” Vogler added, stating he will attend the Aug. 26 meeting of the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission where the extension request may be decided.
Also Tuesday, commissioners opened bids for remodeling of the Gettings annex and held them for study. It is the former Second Presbyterian Church, next to the courthouse.
Bids for the general construction were:
Mike Perrotta Contractor, New Castle, $500,000.
Mahoning Builders of New Castle, New Castle, $239,556.
Warren Construction, New Castle, $293,600.
Milcam Inc., Brookfield, Ohio, $282,200.
Repal Construction, North Huntington, $256,000.
Declan Construction Inc., Brookfield, Ohio, $264,900.
Hudson Group Inc., Hermitage, $274,000.
Gem Building construction, New Castle, $270,347.
Heating bidders were:
Central Heating and Plumbing, New Castle, $84,304.
D&G Mechanical, West Middlesex, $82,750.
Plumbing bidders were:
D.J. Hannon & Sons, New Castle, $36,900.
Central Heating and Plumbing, New Castle, $21,333.
Electrical bidders were:
McCurley Electric, Bessemer, $59,010.
Houston Electric, New Castle, $57,548.
Cardinal Electric, Salem, Ohio, $39,890.
R.E Yates Electric, New Castle, $59,428.
Great Day Electric, New Castle, $73,470.
Penn Ohio Contracting, Masury, Ohio, $69,800.