The Gun Lake Tribe, Wayland Township and the Gun Lake Casino has received interesting responses to their request from neighboring governments to file an amicus brief on their behalf in a lengthy lawsuit now before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dorr Township Thursday night was the latest to weigh in and narrowly approved the action, 4-3. The dissenting votes were cast by Clerk Debbie Sewers and Trustees Terri Rios and John Tuinstra. The move follows unanimous votes in favor of filing the brief by the City of Wayland and Martin Township and a narrow 3-2 vote in Leighton Township.
It appears those who oppose filing the brief oppose the existence of the casino because of their moral stands against gambling.
Wayland Township resident David Patchak more than a decade filed the suit against the tribe taking the land into a trust for the casino, and he and his backers have failed at every level in the court system. However, the Supreme Court earlier this year agreed to hear the case once again for final determination.
The casino opened for business in February 2011 at Exit No. 61 (Bradley) on the U.S.-131 expressway and during its operations since has offered revenue sharing of between $26,000 and $30,000 for each of the four government units. The casino’s largest beneficiary is the Wayland Union school district, which gets about $1.5 million annually.
Each of the government units was asked to provide information about how much it gets in revenue sharing annually.
“It’s like we’re being a character witness,” Treasurer Jim Martin explained. “But we’re not part of the lawsuit.”
Tuinstra acknowledged he has opposed the casino and worked against it for years, said his position is nothing against the tribe and he’s “had the chief in my house (to explain it.” He brought up Watson Township Treasurer Christine Bogdan’s addiction that led her to embezzle public money.
Rios said, “I’m still trying to figure out how this affects us.”
She maintained gambling negatively impacts more than just the addict, but also his or her family.
Martin explained, “If they (the tribe) lose the case and the casino closes, we will lose $26,000 a year.”
Leighton Sept. 14 had its close 3-2 vote, with Supervisor Steve Deer and Treasurer Char Troost voting against the resolution. Hopkins Township has yet to vote on the issue.
In other business Thursday night, the Township Board:
• Reported in response to a written question that the gazebo that once graced the corner of 142 Avenue and 18th Street downtown had to be scrapped because it had fallen apart when it was taken down.
• Was told by Fire Chief Gary Fordham that the department in August helped a 77-year-old man escape injury when the mower he was riding flipped and fell on top of him.
• Voted to approve paying the bills, but heard an objection from Rios about taking such actions after the checks already have been cashed. John Tuinstra, who voiced the same objections about four years ago, said the matter deserves another look.
• Learned from Road Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Sandel that the reconstruction project for 144th Avenue between 14th and 17th Streets has begun, with hopes the preliminary work will be finished by Nov. 10. Cost has been estimated at $498,000 and paving should take place next spring. She noted that state law forbids using any of the road funding for anything other than roads and can’t be used for landscaping.
• Approved, after lengthy debate, a request from the Parks and Rec Commission to spend $50,000 on starting work on a new pavilion with bathrooms and concession.
• Approved spending $27,804 with the Ted Hartleb Agency of Kalamazoo for insurance, adding a $399 expense for cyber insurance against hacking.
