COUNCIL MEETING

$200,000 for public safety given to Rossford

Casino operator honors pledge

11/20/2012

Rossford officials had the pleasant duty of accepting a big check for the city last week.

Penn National Gaming Inc. made good on its pledge of a year ago to give Rossford $200,000 to defray fire and police costs resulting from the new Hollywood Casino Toledo just outside the city limits on Miami Street.

The city already has spent $70,000 of the money on a new radio system for its fire and police departments. Officials said that to date, the predicted increase in vehicle traffic through the city from the casino has not materialized.

Mayor Neil MacKinnon, in his first year of office, thanked his predecessor, Bill Verbosky, who was in attendance, and said of Penn National, “They have fulfilled their promise to be good neighbors, not only to the area but to Rossford. ... We’re very glad they’re here.”

Councilman Larry Oberdorf recalled that many Rossford residents were apprehensive about having the 290,000-square-foot casino so close. Penn National, however, had allayed these concerns and shown itself to be “a really professional organization,” he said at the council meeting.

Mayor MacKinnon agreed and read a proclamation congratulating the company on the success of its casino.

The city and Penn National have an understanding that the funds will be used for public safety. City council has not decided how to spend the remainder.

Penn National spent $320 million on the casino, which employs 1,200, at least 90 percent of whom are residents of the greater Toledo area. The facility includes 2,000 slot machines, 60 table games, a poker room with 20 tables, elevated and surface parking, an entertainment lounge, and restaurants.

In other business at the regular council meeting, the mayor’s reappointments of Barbara Montague and John Vrablic to the street commission and Edward Tucholski to the records commission were approved.

Council also authorized paying Clark Schaefer Hackett and Co. $12,500 a year for three years for preparation of the city's annual financial report.

— Carl Ryan