By: Hollie Hojek
hhojek@kcautv.com
The stack of emails Channel 9 received from the city Friday, dates back to September 28th, 2012, when City Manager Paul Eckert spoke with an attorney for Penn National Gaming. In that e-mail, Eckert reminded him about the need to discuss a new lease agreement for the Argosy Casino. Fast forward to October 16th. The city continues to request an in-person meeting or telephone conference with the president and vice president of Penn National, but one of the companies attorney's replies... "I am not sure of the value of accountants , attorneys or others on the call."
The following day on, October 17th, in a some-what heated email between Mayor Bob Scott and a Penn Attorney, Penn agrees to contacting Mr. Eckert to quote "kick [that] off" a discussion over the expiring lease. Nearly a month later and the city is still waiting to speak with the president and senior vice president of Penn National Gaming.
"We feel it is important if we want to be successful in reaching an understanding, to actually have the decision-makers present, either on the telephone conference call or in person, instead. Most of the time we've been getting response from attorneys."
But a spokesman for Penn, both the president and vice president are extremely busy, which is part of the reason behind all the scheduling conflicts.
"Our president who oversees operations at our 27 facilities across 19 different jurisdictions across the country... it's just been hard to, between him and our vice president of regional operations to schedule something at a time when everyone is together," said Eric Schippers, spokesman for Penn National Gaming.
Penn National Gaming stands by the offer it put on the table, in an October 25th email, stating it would like to renew the lease with the city, under its current terms as long as the boat is licensed. In which the city repeated it would like to discuss new terms with the decision makers of Penn.
"It's been a challenge because a lot of time has been spent exchanging emails and not spent talking about the issues related to getting the lease done," said Eckert.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel. In the latest email between the city and one of Penn's attorney, a conference call has been confirmed for Wednesday, November 14th to discuss a new lease agreement.
"There is too much at stake her for the city in terms of lost revenue and for our company in the terms of the impact to employees, to allow this lease to simply terminate in January. We hope that on Wednesday we can accomplish that goal," said Schippers.
NOW IN SEVERAL OF THE EMAILS... ATTORNEYS FOR PENN HAVE MENTIONED AN EXTENSION DATE THROUGH MARCH OF 20-15.... THE CITY DID NOT COMMENT ON THAT DATE IN ANY OF THE EMAILS WE'VE SEEN.
