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Casino sewer deal in doubt after ruling
09/02/06 Decision kills sewer agreement by Bret Yager Siuslaw News "We hoped it would work and it didn't. It's disappointing to have had so much community support and to have it turned back with this delay." Nola Xavier, City Councilor A new land board ruling has derailed sewer plans for the Three Rivers Casino. 8/31/06 Ruling leads Florence to drop sewer to casino The city of Florence should rework a plan to extend sewer service to a proposed expansion of the Three Rivers Casino, the state Land Use Board of Appeals ruled this week. The decision came in response to an appeal by a member of the local anti-casino group, PACT, who argued that the service violated a state regulation that prohibits the extension of city services beyond urban growth boundaries. The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw now will build their own wastewater treatment plant, a spokesman said. http://www.oregonlive.com 8/31/06 Register-Guard Eugene, Oregon Casino sewer deal in doubt after ruling The decision may prompt the Indian tribe to build its own wastewater treatment system. By Winston Ross The Register-Guard Florence - The city's deal to provide sewer services to the Three Rivers Casino is in jeopardy, after a ruling from the state Land Use Board of Appeals this week. The decision may prompt the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians to build its own wastewater treatment system to serve planned expansions on the 100-acre Hatch Tract. That would mean the city loses $200,000 annually - the amount the tribe agreed to pay to hook into Florence's wastewater treatment system. The tribe also agreed to pay $54,000 annually into a marketing fund to promote tourism. "If the decision by the tribe is that we're going to build our own wastewater plant, the city of Florence has just lost out on $2.5 million in revenues on top of what they would normally get for sewer services over the next 10 years," said Bob Garcia, the tribe's economic development director. The tribe has yet to decide what its next move will be, however. Florence resident Deby Todd filed the appeal in April, claiming the city hadn't made its case in asking for an exception to state land use laws, which prevent cities from extending sewer services outside their urban growth boundaries. City attorneys argued that they had no jurisdiction over tribal properties and thus didn't have to analyze what the extension would be used for, said Jim Just, executive director of the Goal One Coalition, which represented Todd in the appeal. The state sided with Todd, which means the city will have to explain why it doesn't include the casino and other developments on the Hatch Tract in the growth boundary, rather than asking for an exception. "It's a real learning experience," said city manager Rodger Bennett, who said he'd have to review the decision and consult with attorneys and the tribe before deciding the next move. "Doing it over means there are more opportunities for public participation in the decision," Todd said. "The city cuts corners, bends rules and tries to skirt the public process. Hopefully they'll do it right this time." Winston Ross can be reached at rgcoast@oregonfast.net. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/08/31/e1.cr.casino.0831.p1.php?section=cityregion ===============
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