By JIMMY LAWTON

St. Lawrence County’s legislative chairman Jonathan Putney says he is pleased the county received a $1.8 million payment from St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.

The payment is the first in a total of $3.75 million owed to the county for the casino compact after the tribe-withheld payment due to what it deemed a violation of an exclusivity agreement it had with the state.

Recently Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was able to strike a deal with the tribe. Under that agreement, the state will maintain the eight-county St. Regis Mohawk casino exclusivity zone, and the tribe will pay $30 million the state says it owes under previous agreements plus 25 percent of future gambling revenues to the state.

Of the $30 million, 25 percent ($7.5 million) will be divided between St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, providing $3.75 million to each county.

Putney said the payment is welcomed for the county, which has been struggling financially.

“I went to Albany went to witness the signature of the agreement. At that time the tribe agreed to a payment of $1.8 million to the county, that promise was followed through,” he said.

Putney said second payment will be held in escrow pending further discussions with the tribe,

“There is certainly a level of success that’s been meet and we hope negotiations continue to move forward,” he said.

Details on the agreement reached between the tribe and the governor follow:

• the tribe will make an immediate payment of roughly $30 million from the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino New York State to resolve past revenue sharing payments

• of the $30 million, 25 percent ($7.5 million) will be divided between St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, providing $3.75 million to each county, which includes the payments to the affected towns in each county

• the tribe has agreed to resume making regular revenue sharing payments according to the schedule in the compact, amounting to 25 percent of net gambling revenue. The state will divide 25 percent of its share between St. Lawrence and Franklin counties

• the state will exclude from casino siting legislation the eight county Mohawk exclusion zone in the North Country (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and Warren counties)

• the governor will convene discussions among the state, the tribe, and St. Lawrence and Franklin counties to resolve unrelated disputes involving land claims and New York Power Authority issues.