Airport Authority Revives Casino Plan For Airport

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Airport Authority Revives Casino Plan For Airport

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As a deadline for submissions looms Friday, the Connecticut Airport Authority is reviving its proposal for a third state casino while Enfield Square Mall says it may enter the gambling sweepstakes.

The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes are accepting proposals until 4 p.m. Friday.

Sources in Enfield Thursday afternoon said Madison Marquette, which owns the Enfield Square Mall on Elm Street, will decide Friday morning about whether to submit a proposal for a casino to the tribes. The town has not endorsed Madison Marquette's proposal. In early October, Enfield Square Mall management met resistance from nearly 200 Enfield residents saying they didn't want to see a casino built in their town. Enfield Mayor Scott Kaupinhas said the town would not support submitting a proposal to the tribes.

"We haven't made a final decision, we won't make a decision until tomorrow morning," Enfield Square Mall Manager Marty Pelosi said Thursday afternoon. Enfield officials say the mall has told them thay plan to submit a bid. Mayor Scott Kaupin said Thursday afternoon that the mall has told the town they were planning to submit a proposal.Meanwhile, the airport authority says that despite local opposition, it will make a casino pitch.Kevin Dillon, the authority's executive director, confirmed Thursday that it will submit the proposal to the Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohegans by Friday's deadline. Dillon said the authority revived the proposal earlier this week after the tribes posted on their joint web site for the casino that submissions did not have to be complete.Two weeks ago, the Windsor Locks board of selectmen rejected the project.Part of the reason behind the rejection in Windsor Locks was that two of the three selectmen were not running for re-election in Tuesday's municipal elections. The fallout of such a major decision might then be left to officials who aren't now in office. But there also were concerns about the cost of expanding the town's police force and other disruptions.Approval from the Windsor Locks selectmen would still be required as well as public hearings. Dillon said the authority planned to go before the board at its first meeting later this month.Dillon said the casino could be located either in a new terminal that will be built or on top of a new transportation center. An interim casino could be opened in the Sheraton Hotel."It could be opened immediately," Dillon saidThis story was updated at 6:33 p.m. on November 5, 2015 to add more details about the rejection by the board of selectmen in Windsor Locks.

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