LAC DU FLAMBEAU - A tribal referendum to continue funding the Shullsburg Gaming Fee-To-Trust application for the development of an off-reservation gaming facility on tribally owned lands in Shullsburg failed to pass by a slim margin Thursday, according to the Lac du Flambeau Band.
This referendum was conducted with the tribe's engagement with the Bureau of Indian Affair's federal application process.
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians reported the results as 138 yes votes and 140 no votes. A total of 278 votes were cast, with no spoiled or invalid votes.
The Tribal Council will continue to work with the Shullsburg Work Group to seek alternative funding sources for the application process.
The Tribe submitted a fee-to-trust land application for gaming on property it owns west of Shullsburg in March 2013, and held a public information meeting in April in Shullsburg to share its plans for the facility.
In an earlier, special referendum Sept. 19, 2012, members of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians voted decisively to move forward with the trust land application for the off-reservation gaming facility in Shullsburg.
That ballot garnered 217 votes in support of putting the Shullsburg land into trust for gaming and 141 opposed. Voter numbers was termed as "average" by tribal leaders.
Bureau of Indian Affairs began the formal process of preparing an Environmental Impact Statement with a scoping meeting with Shullsburg citizens Aug. 15, 2013. Scott Doig, an environmental impact specialist with the BIA, said the Shullsburg meeting, to gather local knowledge, was part of determining the scope of the study, which will be extensive.
Comments from citizens were spilt for and against the casino. Some main issues drawing comments included more jobs for the community versus low-paying jobs for local employees at the casino; increased traffic and visitors in the area versus gamers not coming to shop; and increases in taxes to support infrastructures versus the casino not being required to pay taxes.
This referendum was conducted with the tribe's engagement with the Bureau of Indian Affair's federal application process.
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians reported the results as 138 yes votes and 140 no votes. A total of 278 votes were cast, with no spoiled or invalid votes.
The Tribal Council will continue to work with the Shullsburg Work Group to seek alternative funding sources for the application process.
The Tribe submitted a fee-to-trust land application for gaming on property it owns west of Shullsburg in March 2013, and held a public information meeting in April in Shullsburg to share its plans for the facility.
In an earlier, special referendum Sept. 19, 2012, members of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians voted decisively to move forward with the trust land application for the off-reservation gaming facility in Shullsburg.
That ballot garnered 217 votes in support of putting the Shullsburg land into trust for gaming and 141 opposed. Voter numbers was termed as "average" by tribal leaders.
Bureau of Indian Affairs began the formal process of preparing an Environmental Impact Statement with a scoping meeting with Shullsburg citizens Aug. 15, 2013. Scott Doig, an environmental impact specialist with the BIA, said the Shullsburg meeting, to gather local knowledge, was part of determining the scope of the study, which will be extensive.
Comments from citizens were spilt for and against the casino. Some main issues drawing comments included more jobs for the community versus low-paying jobs for local employees at the casino; increased traffic and visitors in the area versus gamers not coming to shop; and increases in taxes to support infrastructures versus the casino not being required to pay taxes.