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Residents React to Port Huron Casino Plans26 September 2002VANDERBILT, Michigan – As reported by the (Michigan) Record-Eagle: "Vanderbilt officials and residents want some explanations from Gov. John Engler and the Bay Mills Indian Community on their recent pact that would allow the tribe to build a casino in Port Huron. "The agreement probably spells the end of a similar Bay Mills plan to build a casino in Vanderbilt, a project the tribe proposed to the Otsego County village and Corwith Township four years ago. "The tribe gave the village $25,000 to plan for the casino, but Vanderbilt officials said more than that, not to mention countless hours, have been spent working on the project. "Village President Beth Haus was driving back from the Detroit area Tuesday afternoon when she heard the news. "….`I gave them the benefit of doubt that something would be here - there was not,' Haus said Wednesday. "…The pact would settle a Bay Mills land claim to 110 acres of state and private land in the Charlotte Beach area in the Upper Peninsula's Chippewa County. In return, the tribe would be allowed to take land for a casino in Port Huron into trust through the federal Department of Interior. "…Tom Shields, president of the Lansing-based Marketing Resource Group, confirmed Wednesday that the proposal to build in Vanderbilt is no longer on the table. "…The agreement with Engler limits Bay Mills to three casinos in the state and does not permit more electronic gaming facilities besides the three in Detroit and 20 tribal casinos across the state. Bay Mills has two casinos in Brimley. "Vanderbilt officials were hoping that similar land claim settlement legislation introduced by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, would have allowed a casino in their community. Stupak's bill also would have allowed the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to have a casino in an area that covers the northern three-quarters of the Lower Peninsula…" |