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Construction remains on track at racino
By ROBERT CONNELLY
AUSTINTOWN
A water tower is among the many new structures motorists can see from the road as construction remains on schedule at the new Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
Mike Galle, general manager of the new racino, said the tower still needs some work, such as welding, but crews got the tower in the air earlier this month.
“Its just more cost-beneficial for us,” Galle said. “We looked at all of our avenues. We drilled for water and found water.”
Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for owner Penn National Gaming, said the company looked at several different sources of water for the facility set to open in the fall with a one-mile thoroughbred track. He said it had offers from the cities of Niles and McDonald and the ABC Storm Water and Water District, representing Austintown, Boardman and Canfield townships.
“At the end of the process, we felt that the most economical and efficient way was to provide our own water. Now that involved digging test wells to make sure that there was a sufficient quantity of water and that they would pass EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] regulations,” Tenenbaum said.
The racino is operating on six wells and the water tower can hold 250,000 gallons.
Construction began last June on the $125 million racetrack and casino, which Penn National says will create about 1,000 jobs — direct workers or jobs created by their suppliers. The site sits on state Route 46, close to the interchange with Interstate 80. Galle said the company is looking at hosting a job fair in Mahoning Valley once it gets closer to opening the racino.
The water tower now sits plain while racino officials work on a design. Any colors or depictions on the tower will have to be approved by Austintown trustees and Galle said that process is ongoing.
Construction has started on two of the 13 horse barns that are to be built. A maintenance shed is close to complete, a building motorists have been able to see progress in construction while driving on state Route 11 southbound.
Drywall work as well as more structural work can be seen in places that were empty just five weeks before. The shape and design of certain areas, such as the food court and sports bar by the indoor grandstand seating, are much more evident with more structural work finished. The one-mile track has more of the traditional graded curve on it for racing and the electronic floor has been poured over with concrete.
The racino has announced seven new hires to its management team, four of which are being hired away from Penn National’s Toledo-based casino and where Galle came from.
Racing begins at the racino on Nov. 24 and the facility is expected to open to the public in the fall.