By Matt Youngfrau
MONTICELLO — May 4, 2001 – Casino giant Park Place Entertainment is expected to reveal the details of their application for a Monticello casino at a public forum at Sullivan County Community College at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15 – including a question-and-answer period.
Park Place is looking to open a casino at Kutsher's Country Club in Monticello and has already filed an application with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its parent organization, the United States Department of the Interior – an approval process that could take years.
Ironically, Park Place had recently expressed some concern over the negotiating process taking so long with the county. Legislative Chair Rusty Pomeroy had arranged for an Indian gaming attorney, John Jacobson, to come in Tuesday, May 1, to go over strategy with the Legislature during a special Executive Committee meeting. During the course of the next two days, negotiations between the two sides were expected to take place.
However, late last week, Pomeroy cancelled those meetings. He nor Jacobson had received a copy of Park Place's application, which details the scope of the project. Jacobson felt that, without the application, negotiations would be more difficult. Park Place agreed, and talks were delayed.
Now, on May 15, the general public will have a chance to hear what the giant casino company is planning.
"We want the entire community involved," Park Place spokesman Steve Kantel stated.
"We need to know the scope of the project to mitigate the impacts," agreed Pomeroy.
Another concern is that the $25,000 escrow account set up by Park Place to pay for Jacobson's services has run out. Pomeroy stated that Park Place has indicated that they will replenish that account.
While no dates have been set, both sides have agreed that negotiations will be rescheduled in the near future.