From the Romulus Roman:
Romulus officials hope a year-long moratorium regarding the expansion of Indian gaming that was put into place by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs will be lifted, or at least more flexible, under a Barack Obama administration.
City officials met with a representative from the Hannahville Indians last week, and all involved said they felt they would receive more consideration for the tribal request to build a casino in Romulus.
“I think that once there’re more Democrats in Washington, and more people who are interested in helping Michigan, we will turn this around,” said Romulus Mayor Alan Lambert.
“I think there will be people up there who understand that we’re in trouble here – Michigan is in bad shape.”
Romulus and the Hannahville Indian Tribe signed an agreement in 2005 to provide, at the bare minimum, $6 million in casino earnings to the city each year the casino is operational.
Depending on how much is taken in by the casino, that figure could increase, but is capped at $20 million per year.
When the bureau halted Indian gaming, the city was left in limbo. The situation was exacerbated when, earlier this year, another deal with the Sault St. Marie Chippewas was negated after Congress voted down a bill that would have allowed that tribe to build on reservation land.
The casino would be located on a vacant parcel of land at Vining Road and I-94. Initially, the casino was part of a “racino” concept that would have included a harness racing track.
Canada-based Magna Entertainment backed out of that deal, and a track has since opened nearby.
At the time the Hannahville deal was signed, Romulus offered support to two other tribes – the Grand Traverse Band and [Sault] Indians.
If the city signs a deal with the Grand Traverse Band, the process would play out exactly the same way as it did for the Hannahville tribe.
The process of obtaining all the permits – plus the scrutiny of the state and the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington – played out over an 8-month period, but the city and the tribe were eventually told by bureau officials that no decisions would finalized, Lambert said.
Once a casino is constructed, the site technically becomes reservation land, which means the city cannot collect property taxes. The revenue stream created by the deal ensures the city will receive a stable amount of cash in return for having a casino.
A casino would have to apply—and be approved for—a license with the Michigan Gaming Control Board before it could open.
Romulus voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative that paved the way for gaming in the city in December 2003.
Five years down the line, Lambert hopes there will be a breakthrough for one or both of the tribes, if for no other reason than the jobs gaming could provide.
“We spoke, and the tribe and the city are confident 2009 will be the year we get a casino,” Lambert said.
Turtle Talk 