Officials in Acme Township, Michigan are expected to drop a legal challenge regarding the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians’ application to the U.S. Department of the Interior to take a 12-acre parcel in Traverse City into federal trust, making it tax-exempt. The tribe filed the application three years ago and plans to build an alternative entrance to its Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel on the acreage.
Acme Township Supervisor Jay Zollinger said, “The tribe applied to this, and the township did not contest it.” But Grand Traverse County officials appealed the tribe’s application due to “significant legal concerns” over the Interior Department’s ability to place the land into trust.
County Administrator Tom Menzel said the appeal was filed under a previous administration. He said he preferred to collaborate with the tribe instead of suing them. “Secondly, I don’t think we ever win at these,” he said. Menzel called the appeal “a barrier to good cooperation.”
Last year county officials filed an appeal over 160 acres of tribal land in Acme Township. Department of Interior judges upheld a decision to place that land into a tax-exempt trust. Because of that, tribal attorney Bill Rastetter said it made sense for county officials to drop the appeal over Parcel 80. “It works out best for all of us–the citizens of the county and the tribe–to be working together on government issues,” he said.
