|
|
|
Shawnee city commissioners have deferred action on a public hearing until the Feb. 6 meeting to annex Kickapoo Tribe property.
The deferment comes at the request of the Kickapoo tribe because the tribe’s legal counsel is still working on a memorandum of understanding, which will outline the relationship between Shawnee and the tribe, Shawnee Community Development and Planning Director Justin Erickson said.
“The tribe and the city have been in negotiations over the last six to eight weeks and because of the complexities and the need for both sides to ... hammer out the details, we’ve had to continually delay it.”
If the annexation request is approved, it will bring almost 60 acres of Kickapoo property into the city limits for a proposed gaming facility the tribe wants to construct.
If approved, Shawnee would most likely provide municipal services, including water, sewer and fire protection, and enforce specific building codes. However, the tribe will not be required to pay sales tax to the city because it is a sovereign entity. The memorandum of understanding must iron out a compensation agreement between the city and the tribe, Erickson explained.
“What it’s really going to come down to is any additional monies the tribe may be able to supply the city, in lieu of sales tax collections,” Erickson said.
The city is examining agreements between other tribes and municipalities throughout the state to work out a “fee for service” type of agreement.
The tribe will be able to build a casino whether it is annexed or not, and it does have alternative ways to receive water and sewer services, Erickson said.
“Because they’re a sovereign nation they probably ... can choose who they get water from,” Erickson said. “They’ve indicated they want to be annexed into the city and want to get city utilities.”
The Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma filed a resolution for annexation of almost 59.06 acres into Shawnee City Limits on Oct. 25. The annexation is to facilitate construction of gaming facilities that will be built in phases over the next few years.
The first phase of construction would consist of one 15,000 square-foot building, with roughly 250 parking spaces.
The property is located northwest of the intersection of MacArthur Street and Acme Road, east of U.S. 177.
The annextion would only include tribal land, Erickson said.
The annexation was deferred to the Jan. 17 commissioners meeting during the December commission meeting.
Representatives of the Kickapoo Tribe had not returned phone calls for comment as of press time.
Shawnee city commissioners have deferred action on a public hearing until the Feb. 6 meeting to annex Kickapoo Tribe property.
The deferment comes at the request of the Kickapoo tribe because the tribe’s legal counsel is still working on a memorandum of understanding, which will outline the relationship between Shawnee and the tribe, Shawnee Community Development and Planning Director Justin Erickson said.
“The tribe and the city have been in negotiations over the last six to eight weeks and because of the complexities and the need for both sides to ... hammer out the details, we’ve had to continually delay it.”
If the annexation request is approved, it will bring almost 60 acres of Kickapoo property into the city limits for a proposed gaming facility the tribe wants to construct.
If approved, Shawnee would most likely provide municipal services, including water, sewer and fire protection, and enforce specific building codes. However, the tribe will not be required to pay sales tax to the city because it is a sovereign entity. The memorandum of understanding must iron out a compensation agreement between the city and the tribe, Erickson explained.
“What it’s really going to come down to is any additional monies the tribe may be able to supply the city, in lieu of sales tax collections,” Erickson said.
The city is examining agreements between other tribes and municipalities throughout the state to work out a “fee for service” type of agreement.
The tribe will be able to build a casino whether it is annexed or not, and it does have alternative ways to receive water and sewer services, Erickson said.
“Because they’re a sovereign nation they probably ... can choose who they get water from,” Erickson said. “They’ve indicated they want to be annexed into the city and want to get city utilities.”
The Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma filed a resolution for annexation of almost 59.06 acres into Shawnee City Limits on Oct. 25. The annexation is to facilitate construction of gaming facilities that will be built in phases over the next few years.
The first phase of construction would consist of one 15,000 square-foot building, with roughly 250 parking spaces.
The property is located northwest of the intersection of MacArthur Street and Acme Road, east of U.S. 177.
The annextion would only include tribal land, Erickson said.
The annexation was deferred to the Jan. 17 commissioners meeting during the December commission meeting.
Representatives of the Kickapoo Tribe had not returned phone calls for comment as of press time.
