MONTICELLO – The president of the Seneca Nation of Indians has told Sullivan County officials they would be willing to sit down with local, state and federal officials to reopen discussions about establishing a casino in Sullivan County.

Nation President Barry Snyder, Sr. was responding to letters written by County Legislature Chairman Jonathan Rouis and Thompson Town Supervisor Anthony Cellini. Both asked the Nation to consider expanding their gaming operations to the county.

“The Nation has significant aboriginal ties to the region and has previously considered whether to establish a Nation operated facility pursuant to our Settlement Act,” Snyder wrote.

Rouis said the county is “committed to moving forward” with a casino and the Seneca’s is a “viable” proposal.

“I think the timing is right for the economics of both the county and the state to move forward with the project,” he said. “This could provide instant stimulus funding that doesn’t require any government funds to make it move forward. It would be a lot of construction jobs and a lot of permanent jobs once the facility is built.”

Rouis said the county remains committed to supporting those tribes with which they have agreements to try to move the process forward.

Cellini, meanwhile, proposed a meeting between the Nation and the town, which Snyder called “a productive first step.”

The Nation chief said given the state’s political and budgetary situation, “such a meeting should happen as soon as practical.”

Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, Senator John Bonacic and all of the major labor unions throughout the Hudson Valley region also reached out to the Seneca Nation and its development and gaming partner Rotate Black.

Rotate Black, Inc. estimates that the Seneca Catskill Mountains Hotel and Casino will create over 5,000 jobs throughout the Hudson Valley, and generate approximately $160 million in exclusivity fees to state and local governments, which is greater than what is currently being paid state and local governments under the Nation's existing Class III compact for its three Western New York casinos. No other Indian nation in the state provides such sizable payments to state and local governments.