By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — Cattaraugus County lawmakers urged Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday to resume negotiations with the Seneca Nation of Indians for “a new, fair and equitable” gaming compact.
The original 2002 gaming compact that led to construction of the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca expired Dec. 31, 2023. Since then, a series of extensions have kept operations running while negotiations continue.
County Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr, R-Gowanda; Majority Leader Kelly Andreano, R-Olean and Vice Chairman Ginger Schroder, R-Farmersville were sponsors of the resolution.
County Administrator Kelly Reed said after the meeting the county hasn’t received any revenue sharing from New York State since 2024. She said it wasn’t clear how much the county and City of Salamanca and the Salamanca Central School District would receive or when.
“The economic benefits generated by the Seneca Nation are significant economic drivers for the region and critical to the health, welfare and safety of their members,” the resolution states.
Not only is New York State “ a major beneficiary of the collective economic drivers for the region from a healthy and vibrant Seneca Nation,” but local municipalities “rely on the fees supported by the compact to fund essential public services, including essential police and fire protection.”
Schroder criticized the governor for prioritizing the making of an instructional video on snow shoveling over more important state obligations including negotiating a new gaming compact with the Seneca Nation. “I think it’s a terrible shame that we have a state legislature and a governor, in particular, who are ignoring their obligations to the Seneca Nation,” she said.
The legislature was unanimous in urging Hochul “to immediately resume negotiations in good faith to bring about a resolution acceptable to all stakeholders as quickly as possible.”
Legislators were also unanimous in their opposition to the electricity and natural gas rates and delivery charges requested by New York State Electric and Gas to the state Public Service Commission.
The proposed electricity rate hike of 18.4% and 35% increase in delivery charges would be effective May 1, and the gas rate hike of 22% and 39% increase in delivery charges would be effective June 23, according to the resolution sponsored by all 15 legislators.
Legislators accepted a bid of $42,920 from Catamount Color, Essex, Vt., for printing 100,000 copies of the 2026 Enchanted Mountain Activities Guide and $14,975 for a fold-out county recreation and activity map insert.
County lawmakers adjourned in memory of Gerry E. Zimmerman, the former county Probation director from Olean who retired in 2019 after 23 years of service with the department.
After he retired, Zimmerman fulfilled his lifelong calling, obtaining a master’s degree in Divinity from United Lutheran Seminary in May 2023.
Before his death earlier this month, he served as pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church in Portville and Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Wellsville.
