The Jackson County, Oregon Board of Commissioners recently voted unanimously to authorize a memorandum of understanding with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, allowing county officials to have input during the creation of an environmental impact statement regarding the Coquille Indian Tribe’s proposed casino in Medford.
Commissioner Doug Breidenthal said the possible impacts of a casino in Medford include increased public safety issues that could impact the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, the county jail and the sheriff’s office, as well as increased traffic, a rise in gambling addiction and pressure on nonprofit organizations. “We want to make sure all of those are addressed,” he said.
The Coquille Tribe operates a casino north of Coos Bay. It wants to convert the current Roxy Ann bowling alley and former Kim’s restaurant site into a casino with video gambling machines. Tribal officials said the facility would create more than 200 local jobs and raise money to fund tribal health care, education and housing programs.
The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe, which runs Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville, claims the Medford casino would lead to layoffs at its facilities and affect tribal programs that provide child care, clothing, energy bill assistance, food and other services.
The Cow Creek Band issued a statement in support of Jackson County entering into a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to provide input as the EIS is being drafted. Cow Creek Chief Executive Officer Michael Rondeau said, “If the Coquille were allowed to move forward with this casino, Oregon’s current gaming landscape would change dramatically. Proliferation of gaming would result.”
The Bureau of Indian Affairs will hold a second public comment period about the proposed casino when a draft EIS is released.
