Representatives of Liberty request reconsideration on slots machines for truck stop
Andy Aulakh, one of the owners of Liberty, spoke to the Monroe County Commissioners and requested that they reconsider their decision to opt out of permitting slot machines at truck stops in Monroe County. Liberty will be opening its newest travel plaza in Blakeslee before the end of the year.
The new Liberty Travel Plaza is scheduled to open on Dec. 28. The truck stop will feature Liberty diesel fuel, Sunoco gasoline and a Burger King. The new facility is located at Exit 284 off Route 80 in Blakeslee at the intersection of Route 115 and Commercial Boulevard. JUDY DOLGOS-KRAMER/TIMES NEWS
In November the Monroe County commissioners approved a motion opting the county out of a new law that would permit up to five slot machines to be installed in truck stops that sell more than 50,000 gallons of fuel per month.
“This was an easy decision for us since there are no truck stops in the county,” said Chairman John Moyer.
Last week representatives of Liberty, a petroleum distributor and travel plaza management company asked the commissioners to reconsider their decision since Liberty will be opening a truck stop in Blakeslee later this month.
“We completely understand why you made the decision that you did,” said Andy Aulakh of Liberty. “But we will be opening in Blakeslee by Dec. 28 and we would respectfully ask you to reconsider your position.”
Aulakh pointed out that the truck stop would only be permitted five slot machines and that would not be a threat to the Mount Airy Casino.
“Pennsylvania has the highest gas tax, and it is causing truckers to not stop in Pennsylvania,” Aulakh said. “The truckers will fill up in New Jersey and again in Ohio if we don’t give them reasons to stop here.”
Aulakh, whose company has a number of service plazas and hotels in Pennsylvania, said that the company’s revenue dropped significantly when the gas tax increase went into effect.
The Blakeslee truck stop will be the first stop west of New Jersey that caters to truck drivers. Aulakh said having the slot machines there would be an enticement to the drivers to stop and try the slot machines. He added that if they stop to play, chances are that they will spend money on fuel or food.
Aulakh added that the revenue from the machines is very small. Only 12 percent will be kept by the company; the remainder will be divided between the state, county and municipalities. He also added that it is unlikely that this law will cause an increase in the number of truck stops in the area.
“No one is going to spend $5 million to build a facility just to put in five slot machines,” Aulakh said. “That is what this facility cost.”
Moyer said that the commissioners would take Liberty’s request under advisement.
