Hopkins Township Board must end its futile war with Tribe

ACHTUNG: The following is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor.

“There are no coincidences, but sometimes the pattern is more obvious.” — Neil Innes, the Bonzo Dog Band, 1969

It’s likely that at least four members of the Hopkins Township Board regard persistent critiques by citizen Bob Beck simply as a pain in the petute.

But Beck is right when he says the board is wasting taxpayers’ money and continuing costly negative relationships with the Gun Lake Tribe by fighting everything its neighbors are trying to do. It’s time to call for an end to Hopkins’ war on the tribe.

Beck most recently reported that the board already has spent more than $14,000 on a high-powered Lansing attorney to fight the tribe’s latest request to the U.S. Department of the Interior to take into a trust a commercial parcel used for farming into a trust. The township maintains that if the tribe gets its way, a loss of local tax revenue will result.

Beck last month said local taxes on the property at 12^th Street and 129^th Avenue amounted only to about $450 in the past year.

Township Supervisor Mark Evans has claimed there’s a much higher loss of tax revenue because the Jijak Foundation site also was allowed to be taken into a trust. However, that land was not taxed before the Tribe took it over because it was used by the non-profit Mel Trotter organization.

I urged the Township Board to change course and begin negotiations with the tribe on a cost-sharing arrangement. I maintain it’s still the better idea.

Unfortunately, the pattern that is obvious here is the Township Board’s continued hostility toward the Gun Lake Tribe and the casino.

Evidence:

• Hopkins Township was the only municipality to vote against filing an amicus brief on behalf of the Gun Lake Casino in David Patchak’s (and others) last gasp attempt to block the existence of the tribe’s business.
• Evans provided negative commentary about the tribe’s effort to set aside land for the Jijak Education and Environmental Center.
• Evans inexplicably has refused to pick up the checks the tribe issues semi-annually and I don’t recall him being present for any of the photo-op public relations presentations for the tribe.
• An agreement with the Hopkins Area Fire Authority has been stonewalled for too long.
• The Township Board has filed a complaint alleging the Casino Revenue Board has distributed receipts incorrectly. One of the more bizarre charges is that the Henika District Library has been shut out, as if the township has grave concerns about Henika’s finances.

As I wrote in an editorial almost a year ago:

“Many have asked why Hopkins Township has had negative relations with the tribe and casino. Some say they believe it grinds the board that the casino is located just across the expressway from Hopkins Township’s borders, yet the bulk of the economic benefits go to Wayland schools and to Wayland Township. Some also have suggested the customary “gambling is evil” explanation, yet so many still play the stock market or get in on the March Madness bracket pools.

“Another troubling example is of a double standard that it’s extremely rare to see or hear of anyone making a fuss when a church takes over a former commercial property, thereby also taking it off the tax rolls. One solid example recently was New Life Church replacing Snap Fitness on Pine Street in the City of Wayland. I did not see or hear any wailing and gnashing teeth over the subsequent loss of tax revenue.

“Hopkins Township must somehow end its unproductive war against the Gun Lake Tribe. Its objection to the U.S. Department of the Interior is a waste of time and money and it is likely to be unsuccessful. The township would do much better instead to sit down at the negotiating table and see what can be done on its behalf and on behalf of the tribe.”

Hopkins Township’s behavior in this ill-advised war with the tribe is about as futile as U.S. wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. There comes a time when it is prudent for one of the combatants to swallow his pride, declare victory and go home.

COVER PHOTO: “War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” — Edwin Starr, 1970