The Gun Lake Tribe of Potowatomis has purchased a 20-acre parcel of land in Watson Township from owner Richard Funk.
The site is on the southwest corner of the intersection of 124th Avenue and 20th Street, just south of the line with Hopkins Township. The Jijak Foundation camp is just a couple of miles down the road north on 20th in Hopkins Township. Its State Equalized Valuation has been pegged at $156,000.
There is no word yet as to whether the Tribe intends to take the land into trust and off the tax rolls, like it did with Jijak and another Hopkins Township parcel, the former Nowak property, near the corner of 129th Avenue and 12th Street. The latter piece of land has been subject of controversy and the Hopkins Township Board has hired a Lansing attorney to oppose the land being taken off the tax rolls.
Watson Township Supervisor Kevin Travis made it clear Thursday evening that Watson doesn’t want any controversy.
“This board is very much willing to work with the Tribe,” he told board colleagues Thursday night at their regular meeting. “We want to negotiate.”
Trustee Michelle Harris said she’d like to see the Tribe help fund some public safety equipment as an example of goodwill.
Tribal spokespersons have been contacted, but haven’t yet had a chance to respond.
