By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. — The Baxter Springs City Council has approved a resolution supporting Penn National Gaming’s plan for a phased-in approach to a casino in Cherokee County.

The casino company’s contract calls for it to initially invest $125 million in the casino that it plans to open in May 2010. It would invest an additional $100 million over the next several years under the contract for a project that also includes a hotel and event center.

Penn National Gaming has paid its $25 million privilege fee to the state.

Penn originally had proposed an initial investment of $250 million.

Officials with the company have said competition from the $301 million Downstream Casino Resort nearby was the reason for the cautious plan. The competing casino, a project of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, is scheduled to open July 5.

The resolution will be presented at a meeting of the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, at the Columbus Community Center. The meeting will include a public comment session after a lunch break.

The council also voted to designate Mayor Huey York as the city’s representative at the meeting.

Councilwoman Lori Wren voted against both measures.

In other business Tuesday, the council:

n Approved the mayor’s appointment of Sean Cearnal as a firefighter.

n Heard from cable television engineer Chris Tuttle that the upgrade of the city’s cable system is on schedule, though it was slowed some by recent rains.

“We should be all right to swap everybody over by September,” Tuttle said.

n Paid bills and payroll totaling $229,253.