Deadline looms for proposed bingo hall in Shabbona
"The federal government has set an
Oct. 1 deadline for all interested parties to submit documentation
regarding a proposed gaming facility in Shabbona.
The deadline
was set after DeKalb County State's Attorney Ron Matekaitis sent a
letter to the National Indian Gaming Commission in May requesting a
clear determination from the federal government as to whether land
owned by a Kansas-based Indian tribe is a reservation.
The
proposed 24-hour electronic bingo hall would be built on 128 acres the
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation purchased for $8.8 million in April
2006. That land is part of 1,280 acres - which also includes much of
Shabbona Lake State Park - given to Chief Shab-eh-nay in an 1829
treaty. The Potawatomi, descendants of Shab-eh-nay's band, claim their
rights to the land were never extinguished, making the land a
reservation.
Others, including Matekaitis, aren't as sure. The
county plans to submit its documents to the gaming commission within
the next week or so, Matekaitis said.
“We are not satisfied that it has been established as a reservation,” Matekaitis said.
Although
the tribe has purchased the land it would like to build the bingo hall
on, under federal law, ownership is not enough. An Indian gaming
facility can be built only on land that the government recognizes as a
reservation. If the bingo hall was built and then the land was
determined not to be a reservation, the facility would have to close.
The
original deadline was in July, but it was extended to Oct. 1,
Matekaitis said last week. Each party can submit information to assist
the commission as it makes its decision. Interested parties will most
likely include Matekaitis' office, the Illinois Attorney General's
Office, the tribe and organizations like the DeKalb County Taxpayers
Against the Casino.
Each group will have 15 to 30 days after the
Oct. 1 deadline to respond to the submissions of the other parties,
Matekaitis said.
Several telephone messages left Monday for acting tribal chairman Rey Kitchkumme were not returned by press time.”
It looks like the tribal council will end up throwing away 14 million dollars on that Shabbona land in Illinois. I say we vote out those bums on the tribal council starting next year.
Posted by: Name Withheld | September 18, 2007 at 10:31 PM
i agree we get rid of all our chairs but leave the worthless ones in. we leave the ones that dont do anything alone. if they aint gonna help us vote them all out.
Posted by: name withheld | September 19, 2007 at 09:21 AM
They should be voted out, they never show up for work and if you don't believe that call the toll free number to the PBPN government center at 1-877-715-6789 and find out who showed up for work that day.
Posted by: Bill | September 19, 2007 at 09:58 AM