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Casino for Ontario?
While rumors and speculation have
swirled around the casino issue for a number of months locally,
one former elected leader said he has been aware of a plan by the Burns Paiute tribe for a gaming facility for some time. “We've known about that (a gaming facility) for three years,” former Malheur County Judge Russ Hursh said Friday. Casino for Ontario? Well, maybe 4/12/06 Larry Meyer Argus Observer Ontario Rumors circulating regarding a casino for the Ontario area may be put to rest, one way or another, in the near future after a Burns Paiute Indian tribe official confirmed an announcement will be released in the next few weeks. Burns Paiute Indian Tribal Chairman Chester D. Adams said Tuesday he could not comment regarding a proposed casino for Ontario, but said a public release, in seven to 10 days, would address the issue. He did not confirm or deny the rumor a casino was planned for Ontario. While the Burns Paiute Tribe is keeping its plans under wraps, at least one state official and one local elected leader confirmed Tuesday active discussions have been conducted regarding the prospects of a gambling casino in Ontario. Lonn Hokland, communications director for Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski said Tuesday, there have been talks with the tribe about a casino in Malheur County. However, he stressed, "We've not received a proposal or applications." Oregon state Rep. Tom Butler, R-Ontario, also confirmed the tribe is interested in the Ontario area for a casino. "They have made inquiries," Butler said. Butler also said, though, he is not aware of the tribe's current plans. According to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, to place a casino in Ontario, the tribe would have to get approval from the state through a negotiated compact with the governor's office, which must be approved by the U.S. Secretary of Interior. The tribe must also adopt a gaming ordinance approved by the chairman of the National Gaming Commission. A spokeperson for the gaming commission said no ordinance has been submitted. Butler said one key issue regarding a proposed local casino is that Oregon's policy is one casino per tribe, and the Burns Paiute band would need to create a proposal to close the Old Camp Casino on the reservation outside of Burns to establish a new one. The Warm Spring Tribe agreed to close a casino on its reservation in Central Oregon, to get the governor to sign off on a proposed casino in the Columbia Gorge. Ontario City Manager Scott Trainor asserted, beyond vague rumors, city officials know little about a possible casino or any endeavor by the Burns Paiute Tribe. Trainor said, however, he called Adams about the rumors, and was told the tribe would make some announcement within the next few weeks. Trainor also declined to speculate where the tribe planned to situate any possible enterprise. He said rumors have ranged from north of the North Ontario Interchange to south near the Oregon/Idaho border. http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2006/04/12/news/local_news/news03.txt Also see: 4/16/06 - While rumors and speculation have swirled around the casino issue for a number of months locally, one former elected leader said he has been aware of a plan by the Burns Paiute tribe for a gaming facility for some time. “We've known about that (a gaming facility) for three years,” former Malheur County Judge Russ Hursh said Friday. Those plans, Hursh said, include more than just a casino. Hursh said the tribe also wants to create a distribution center locally for their art and jewelry. Although he did not have a specific location, Hursh said the tribe prefers a site near the end of the extension of 18th Avenue, close by the freeway, where there is a proposal for on and off ramps east of the existing Idaho Avenue interchange. http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2006/04/16/news/local_news/news04.txt |
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