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.
The tax figures Evans quoted are the total tax burden on the property. The township levies about 4.2 mills while the total tax burden is about 51 mills. The township would get about 1/12 of the revenue Evans is quoting or approximately $2,900 on the property the tribe is requesting to be taken in to trust. Last year, the township received over $33,000 from the tribe for land that is not even in the township (the casino). It seems to me as though $2.900 vs $33,000 is a good trade. Hopkins Township is not responsible for any budget but its own. The tribe even stated they would work on an agreement to replace the lost revenue and still the Hopkins Township Board pokes a stick in the eye of the Tribe.
Hopkins township is making a huge mistake in my opinion. The Tribe has proven to be great neighbors and a fantastic asset the community. Get wise and get on board.
The Gun Lake Tribe has not only been a good neighbor to Hopkins Township, it has been financially generous to its surrounding governmental units, it has cooperated professionally with local law enforcement agencies, it has provided much, long-needed and generous employment opportunities to its members and the non-indigenous public, and has endured years of needless, wasteful legal wranglings over its right to maintain its casino without so much as a derisive word.
If we still resided in Hopkins Township I believe we would be more vocal about the shortsightedness of the Township Board. They seem to be cutting off their noses to spite their faces.
I hope they will revisit the issue and reverse their decision.
Considering Mark’s personal opinions on the tribe and his lack of willingness to even go and pick up the money the tribe is kind enough to share with the township, I can not say that this in any way shape or form surprises me. I feel bad for the residents of Hopkins Township who could benefit from a close partnership with the tribe and are losing out because of these petty battles.
I feel Hopkins Township should get nothing more from the Tribe because they have fought the Tribe at every opportunity. Of course, any agreement to replace lost taxes must include the township. The township is not the only tax supported body in the township. Hopkins Public Schools, the Village of Hopkins and the Hopkins Public Library are all tax supported and have been totally shut out of the casino shared revenue. My suggestion is 10% for the township, 20% for the library, 35% for the village and 35% for the school in any agreement that makes up for lost tax revenue. All the tax supported bodies in the township should benefit in any agreement to make up for lost tax revenue. The Township Board cannot be trusted to do what is good for all township residents. How much of the $200,000 they have so far received from the casino have they shared with the village, library or school? Zero dollars.