Mahoning Twp. ready to accommodate proposed racetrack

By MARY grzebieniak

news@vindy.com

HILLSVILLE, Pa.

Mahoning Township will do “everything we can” to accommodate the proposed Valley View Downs racetrack and casino if it becomes a reality, Supervisor Gary Pezzuolo said at Tuesday’s supervisors meeting.

But for now, the township is moving ahead with only the southern portion of the multimillion sanitary-sewer project and is still $3.6 million short of funding for total line. Pezzuolo said that as a result, only the Edinburg and Hillsville parts of the sewer line were included in the bids accepted last month for the project.

If the track obtains financing and the necessary permits, however, Pezzuolo said the township will work as quickly as possible to bid out the remainder of the line, which includes North Edinburg and Pa. Route 551 all the way to the proposed Valley View Downs site near the intersection of Route 551 and U.S. Route 422. After the meeting, he added that if the track goes in, the township’s worries about paying for the line will be over. The track will create so many jobs, it will bring in $8 million in Act 108 grant money for the project, he said.

A.P. O’Horo Construction, Youngstown, was awarded the $6.1 million sewer plant construction bid at the regular February meeting. At a special meeting Feb. 16, supervisors awarded three other contracts for the project to these low bidders; $7,085,719 to Chivers Construction Co., Fairview, Pa., for sanitary-sewer lines; $845,408 for pump station construction to G.B. Sand Co. Inc., New Castle; and $236,600 to Entertech Electrical Inc. of Lowellville, Ohio, for electrical work at the pump stations.

Also Tuesday, supervisors announced they will keep rental rates for the township community center and the park pavilions the same in 2010. Community center rentals range from $225 to $600 and the pavilions are $70 and $110.

Police Chief Jim Morris introduced Rich Conti, the township’s newest part-time patrolman. Conti also works full time as a police officer for the city of New Castle.

Pezzuolo announced that the township spent only $481 so far this season for salt, compared with $912 last year. He said the township is trying to keep costs down by using the salt more sparingly.

A resident asked about tap-in fees for those who will be served by the Edinburg sewer line. Township Solicitor Lou Perrotta said those won’t be determined until construction costs are finalized.