|
|
|
Looks like the Silver Slipper Casino Grand Opening, previously scheduled for Halloween, will be delayed until Saturday.
The city of Waveland has been working for months along a three-mile stretch of county land between the city and the casino.
Mickey Lagasse, Hancock's building official, stopped the work that was being done on county land Friday, because he said the city did not have official approval to use the property. Lagasse said most of the line has been installed, but no connections have been made.
Lagasse said Waveland and its contracted engineering firm did not receive permission from the Hancock Board of Supervisors to run gas lines through county-owned property.
"There was no formal permission given to the city and we issued a cease order on the work until the city can work it out with the Board of Supervisors," Lagasse said.
The Silver Slipper Casino is expected to open on Nov. 9, and Chief Operating Officer John Ferrucci said this week's delay will not affect the casino's target date.
"Since early on, the city had been moving a little too slow and even with a best-case scenario, even without this work stoppage, the gas was not going to be ready in time," Ferrucci said.
The casino already has completed work on converting its equipment to run on propane. Ferrucci said the casino plans to use propane for about a year.
Waveland Public Works Director Ron Calcagno said the city has an agreement with its gas company, CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP) , which allows the city to purchase gas and then resell it to costumers who otherwise would be unable to receive it.
Waveland can run lines out of its city limits, but the city must pay to install the lines and obtain the proper permits to use the land outside the city limits.
By running natural gas lines from the city through the county and to the casino, Waveland could eventually sell the product to dozens of customers living along the gas line. The federal government is funding most of the project.
Mayor Tommy Longo said the gas line potentially could be a "huge revenue stream" for the city, especially with the massive condominium projects being proposed in the county near the line.
"It will eventually make up for some of those customers that we lost after the storm," he said. "And it's no cost to the city."
Calcagno said the work should be completed before the end of the year and that his department and the engineering firm are in the process of settling the dispute with the county.
|
|