The Prairie Island Indian Community in Red Wing, Minnesota has applied to the U.S. Department of the Interior to place into federal trust 110 acres the tribe purchased in 2015 for .4 million. Trust land is not subject to local land-use and zoning ordinances. Tribal leaders said they have no plans for the property at this time, but their top priority is housing. However, the Prairie Island tribe owns the Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Red Wing and although officials said developing a second casino is not likely, the idea has not been dismissed.
That raises concerns among area residents, if the land is taken into trust. West Lakeland Township officials said other, cheaper land is available for housing, and the tribe’s land is suited for commercial use. Former Township Supervisor John McPherson said, “I have talked with a lot of people, and not one of them said they want a casino to go in there. The neighbors are upset about it — very much so. There are some nice houses down there. I feel sorry for those owners.”
McPherson added if any buyer besides the tribe owned the land it could become a significant revenue-producing property. “I am really concerned about the fact that that ground will come out of our taxes. That’s my beef about it,” he said.
The Red Wing town board sent fliers to residents requesting comments on the tribe’s federal application within a 30-day period ending November 1. The Interior Department will consider the comments in the township’s overall response. Board Chairman Dan Kyllo said he would prefer that the tribe build housing on the acreage. “The Indians have total land-use authority for that land,” he said.
Tribal spokesman Eric Pehle said building a casino would take many years since it requires a separate permitting process. “It’s like path A and path B. It’s a very long, very hard process. They would have to go back and start from zero,” he said. Pehle affirmed the tribe’s commitment to building more housing, and noted it recently built an assisted care facility near Hastings. “That is the tribe’s No. 1 need right now,” he said.
On a smaller scale, residents in Sioux Falls, South Dakota are organizing against a video lottery casino that recently was granted an alcohol sale permit . The casino will be located in a room at the Hilltop BP gas station owned by Gary Cones in a residential neighborhood with a school and daycare center. Cones said, “It’s my home also, and I would never want anything to happen where we have a bar where people are going to get drunk. We’re not going to keep it as a bar. People who pay at casinos don’t drink a lot of alcohol.” Cones said the casino and bar both will close at 10 p.m. daily.
Neighbors, worried about crime, have asked the city council to reconsider situation, which will be discussed at the November 7 meeting.
