MOORHEAD, Minn. – White Earth Nation officials shared plans to build a casino, convention center, hotel and truck stop on the 280 acres the tribe bought near Moorhead with the Clay County Commission on Tuesday.
Tribe officials say they plan to build an up to 110,000 square foot gaming floor with 1,200 slot machines and 12 table games. The convention center and banquet areas would accommodate concerts and be up to 120,000 square feet. There would also be multiple restaurants and bars and the tribe is looking to build employee housing. The land the tribe bought last year is off the Sabin exit for Interstate 94 along State Highway 336.
White Earth says the tribe plans on hiring 550 people and have a $19 an hour minimum wage with a lower wage for tipped workers.
The tribe wants the Clay County Commission to support putting the land into a trust with the federal government which allows them to not pay property taxes. White Earth officials say they have not applied to put the land into a trust yet.
Commissioners shared concerns about an aquifer in the area providing water to the county. They also said water, sewer and electricity would need to be brought to the proposed facilities which would come from the county.
Citizens spoke about their issues with the project including a possible increase in law enforcement and fire department calls to the casino without the tribe paying property taxes funding those services. They also shared concerns about the tribe’s transparency with the project saying if the land is put into a trust, the county would have no say with anything being done with the land.
