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August 6, 2008

Police should increase for Valley View opening

By Nancy Lowry

The number of full-time police in the area should be increased when Valley View Downs becomes a reality.

Northwest Lawrence Regional Police Chief James B. Morris Jr. last week told his department’s governing board he has considered what effect the $428 million racetrack and casino complex planned by Centaur Inc., will have on Mahoning and Pulaski townships, which the department patrols.

That force is currently two full-time and six part-time officers.

The Indiana-based developer planning Valley View Downs and Casino off Route 422 in Mahoning Township anticipates 10,000 cars per day at the establishment, Morris said.

The harness racing license was awarded Sept. 5 to Centaur, which operates racetracks and casinos in Indiana and Colorado. Under the state gaming act, a license to operate a 3,000-slot casino is virtually assured to the track license holder. The slots license is expected to be awarded in the fall.

Morris said he expects security inside the facility to be handled by the state police and private security, but local police are responsible for what goes on outside the buildings — from highway traffic control to parking lot fender-benders and vehicle break-ins, Morris said.

In addition to adding full-time officers, Morris said, consideration is being given to installing a traffic light at the entrance on Route 422.

Morris said the Mahoning supervisors should consider increasing their contribution to the two-township police department.

Currently the operating budget is $242,110 per year, a cost shared equally by the municipalities.

Morris estimates the annual budget could be increased to $500,000 to $600,000 and Mahoning will be responsible for 75 to 80 percent of that cost, because most of the officers’ time will be in that township.

“I want you to remember this when you see an alarmingly huge increase in the amount requested from your township.”

Morris also said the makeup of the three-member police commission might change. Because Mahoning will contribute more, it might want more permanent members on the board.

Commission membership changes annually with two members of one township and one member of the other. This year, Mahoning Township members are the majority. Vito Yeropoli heads the police commission and Gary Pezzuolo, who is the township chairman, is the other Mahoning member. Francis “Poncho” Exposito, the township’s third supervisor, is not on the police board.

Pulaski Supervisor Tom Gates is his township’s current representative. Township chairman Sam Varano attended last week’s meeting as an observer. The third Pulaski supervisor is David DeJohn.

The agreement between the two townships is renegotiated each year. Funding, board membership and other details can be amended, commission members said.

Gates said he anticipated more attention will be paid to the track, but added he wants to be sure officers will still patrol Pulaski Township.

As host community to the racetrack and casino, Mahoning Township also expects to receive significant income from the facility.

Pezzuolo said the Mahoning Township supervisors are also planning for development.

“We’re studying creating a full-time fire department in the township,” he noted.

Plans also are under way to purchase a ladder truck capable of reaching three floors. This is necessary, he explained, because the casino plans a building three stories high.

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