Aug. 23, 2000 - Tribe, county discuss casino impacts as freeway offramp advances

By ERICA BROOKS, Staff writer

After years of reported refusal to meet with the Miwok Tribe to discuss plans for the proposed casino in Shingle Springs, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors yesterday opened a door to potential dialogue.

At the request of a tribal spokesman, the board voted unanimously to direct county department heads to look for potential impacts the casino would have on the surrounding county.

"I think it's a really signifigant step," said Dick Moody, the spokesman who addressed the board on behalf of the tribe Tuesday. "It's a completely about-face move on the part of the county."

No supervisors could be reached for comment as of press time.

Moody showed up at yesterday's meeting after the board refused the tribe's request to agendize an agreement between the county and the tribe.

The agreement, signed by the tribe on Aug. 11, sets down a series of guidelines between the two governments in regards to the casino, and includes the county's support of a proposed freeway onramp and offramp, giving commercial access to the Shingle Springs Rancheria.

"By gaming on the rancheria," said Moody, "we not only don't use any county roads, but we're not anywhere near a school or a church."

When the board turned down the tribe's request for agenda time, Moody attended the meeting and spoke during the public forum section.

Moody encouraged the board to look at impact and mitigation measures brought up by the casino, in agreement with the tribe's compact with the state.

So far, said Moody, the only organizations to comment on potential impacts have been fire departments and the Sheriff's Department.

Moody pointed out that the tribe will only be responsible for the mitigations they know about.

"You can't mitigate something they don't bring to your attention," he said.

In response, the board unanimously approved the direction to county staff.

Moody said the move broke a long silence on the county's part.

"Up to this point, the county hasn't responded to five letters that we sent," he said. "It's a pretty interesting step in a direction that they've never taken before."

The board has made no secret about its opposition to the tribe's project, even unanimously passing a resolution June 13 opposing the construction of any casino in El Dorado County.

The freeway access addressed in the tribe's proposed agreement would give the rancheria the needed commercial access to operate a casino on the grounds north of Highway 50.

The alternative site, a smaller spot south of the highway, has sparked heated opposition because of a nearby school and church.

Moody said that, if the county signs the tribe's agreement, the tribe will have the license on the south parcel changed to exclude gaming.

Meanwhile, Moody said Tuesday's vote was an important gesture from the county.

"I'm really pleased," he said just after the meeting. "We feel that we're making progress."