The Hopkins Township Board plans to formally recommend the U.S. Department of the Interior not allow the Gun Lake Tribe to take a 130-acre parcel on 12th Street near 129th Avenue into trust.

The board Monday night voted 4-1 to have Supervisor Mark Evans and the township attorney draft and send by mail its opposition to the tribe’s request, which would take the land off the township’s tax rolls.

Trustee Bob Modreske, in making the motion, said, “I feel we’re disserving our community by removing the parcel from the tax base. At one level, it drives up the price of land for all others, especially farmers. At another level, it means all others will have to pay more taxes and it will be costly because of increased traffic, police and courts.”

Evans concurred and said he will begin work on crafting the letter before the March 11 deadline that was extended last month because the original notice was sent to the wrong address.

Evans then asked County Commissioner Gale Dugan about the county’s stand on the issue. Dugan replied that he was told by County Administrator Rob Sarro that long-standing county policy on such matters has been to remain silent.

Evans then replied that the County Board of Commissioners is displaying its approval by not opposing it, a sort of “not to decide, is to decide” argument.

John Shagonaby, representing the tribe, owner of the Gun Lake Casino across the expressway, said there are no specific plans yet on what to do with the property, but told the Township Board, “If there is a payment in lieu of taxes, we would be willing to talk about it.”

Evans, Modreske, Treasurer Sandra Morris and Trustee Chuck Wamhoff voted to send the letter to the Department of the Interior. Clerk Eric Alberda cast the dissenting vote.

James Nye, a spokesman for the tribe, said last month, “The parcel is currently under lease for agricultural purposes. The parcel is in the federal trust diligence process at this time.”

He  said use of the property won’t change from its current use for agricultural purposes.

Nye said tribal properties should be held in trust because the tribe is a sovereign government and seeks to have its landholdings under its jurisdiction.

Evans acknowledged he misspoke the month before about the tax revenue the township brings in for the parcel, but noted the Nowak property is third highest at $33,338 for 2017. Consumers Energy is the largest taxpayer in Hopkins Township, at about $116,000 and Wamhoff Farms is second at $37,374.

Evans said the combination of the Nowak property and the land now occupied by the tribe’s Jijak Foundation results in more than $100,000 in lost tax revenue per year if this trust s approved.