Town Councilors also took up Mohegan Sun on its offer to visit the Connecticut casino.
PALMER - Resident Lawrence M. Jasak wants Mohegan Sun to show the town that it has the money - the $400,000 application fee to be exact - to open a resort casino off Route 32.
"If they are that committed, let's see the $400,000 check," Jasak told the Town Council at its meeting Monday night.
Jasak, who is pro-casino and has approached the council before about his concerns regarding the casino project, said he is curious how the process is going.
"We're hoping that Mohegan Sun is in line to make that next step for the town of Palmer and be the first applicant for Western Massachusetts," Jasak said.
"We really believe in this project and believe in this for the town of Palmer. We hope that Mohegan Sun believes as hard as we do," Jasak added.
Town Council President Philip J. Hebert said "we can't make them spend their money."
Town Manager Charles T. Blanchard has been negotiating with the Connecticut-based casino operator. Blanchard said he was not alarmed that Mohegan has not yet provided the $400,000 application fee to the state Gaming Commission.
The first day companies could submit the fee was Aug. 9,and so far, only Suffolk Downs, which has plans for a gambling resort at a track in East Boston and Revere, and Plainridge Racecourse, a harness track in Plainville, which is applying for the single slot parlor license, have made the non-refundable deposits.
Blanchard said Mohegan officials, at the public meeting held in May, made it clear that they would pursue the lone casino license for Western Massachusetts.
"Everything they're doing is consistent with that," Blanchard said.
"We have a team of consultants that they've approved . . . they've made it clear time and time again that they're committed to Palmer," Blanchard said. "From my experience since I've been here Mohegan has followed through on everything they've said."
Blanchard said Palmer is the only community, other than Taunton, where the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe wants to build a casino, that is formally engaged in the host community agreement process.
At-large Councilor Paul E. Burns said he shares Jasak's frustration, and said he also would feel better if Mohegan "plunked down" the $400,000 fee.
Contacted Monday night, Mohegan Sun released the following statement regarding the application fee:
“Our intent is to submit a complete and highly competitive application to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in accordance with the commission's regulations, guidelines and deadline. As submission of the initial application fee at this early stage is voluntary, our intent is to submit that fee when our license application is
completed.”
Burns said he thinks Palmer is better off than Springfield, where one proposal has emerged - Ameristar wants to build a casino at a site off Page Boulevard - and at least three others have been discussed for the downtown area.
"At least we know who the developer is," Burns said.
Burns noted that Mohegan officials said they would be willing to meet again with the council and public about the project.
"I can't see dragging someone in for answers that we're not going to get," Hebert said.
At-large Councilor Mary A. Salzmann said she thought it was too early for another meeting with Mohegan, and suggested November.
In other casino news, the council approved spending funds provided by Mohegan to pay costs associated with the host community agreement. Mohegan has given the town $50,000 toward these costs. The agreement details the responsibilities of the gaming operator, and conditions for building in a community.
Councilors also agreed to take up Mohegan Sun's offer to visit the Connecticut casino, to learn more about the operations there.