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Lawrence officials discuss racino
NEW CASTLE, Pa.
Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler said Tuesday he believes a “best-case scenario” would have the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission awarding a gaming license to the proposed American Harness Tracks LLC racetrack/ casino in Lawrence County in 10 months.
But he told those attending the commissioners’ meeting he doesn’t believe a proposed racetrack in Austintown in nearby Mahoning County has any chance of breaking ground before the one proposed here, which would be near the intersection of U.S. Route 422 and Pa. Route 551.
Bill Heasley of Boyles Avenue asked Vogler whether recent developments in plans for the Austintown racetrack could affect chances for one here. Penn National Gaming Inc. last week announced it now plans to build a thoroughbred horse-racing track in Austintown rather than the previously announced harness track such as the one planned in Lawrence County. Company officials say their plans depend on the state of Ohio finalizing plans to place video-lottery terminals at Ohio’s horse racetracks. In addition, a lawsuit is pending from the American Policy Roundtable contending the state exceeded its constitutional authority on the video-lottery terminals. Despite these hurdles, one Ohio state representative expects construction to begin later this year.
But Vogler replied that even if the Ohio Legislature gives the necessary approvals for the proposed Austintown track, he assumes that just as in Pennsylvania, rules for licensing have to be established, background checks for developers have to be done and provisions made for public comment, and this would take time.
He said that Pennsylvania state officials are keeping an eye on plans in Ohio and said American Harness Tracks is still “very much in the running” as long as their financing holds together.
Also Tuesday, Commissioner Steve Craig said that Neshannock Township Firefighter Rick Russo was honored by Gov. Tom Corbett in Harrisburg on Tuesday for his part in the rescue of a Montgomery County woman in August flooding after Hurricane Irene. Russo and a firefighter from eastern Pennsylvania walked into chest-deep water through a woods in the dark to rescue the stranded woman. Russo is part of the local Region 13 group of water-rescue teams who provided help in the eastern part of the state at the governor’s request.