06-13-22 issue

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Vol. 18, No. 43

July 13, 2022

Polson City Commission tables casino decision By Kristi Niemeyer For the Valley Journal

Fundraiser pg. 9

Pride pg. 14

Park

pg. 17

POLSON — The four action items on the Polson City Commission agenda at last week’s meeting – including the proposed annexation of tribal lands for a proposed casino – were all punted down the road, mostly for lack of sufficient information. The most controversial topic was the proposed annexation of nearly 80 acres of land belonging to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and located west of the Polson bridge. According to a presentation made May 2 to the City Commission, the Tribes are planning to build a 26,100-square-foot casino on the site, with access from Irvine Flats Road. The first phase would include the casino, with future plans calling for a hotel and events center, RV park, residential housing and a commercial area. If built, the project would shift most gaming operations now housed at KwaTaqNuk Resort to the new facility, which could accommodate up to 350 machines (the resort now has 227). KwaTaqNuk would then revert to its original purpose, serving as a destination resort and restaurant, with a limited number of gaming machines.

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF S&K GAMING

Pictured above is an illustration of the proposed CSKT casino, which would be located west of the Polson bridge, with access from Irvine Flats Road.

At the May meeting, commissioners approved a Resolution of Intent to annex the property, with a public comment period and final vote initially slated for June 6, then rescheduled for last Wednesday, July 7. During the comment period, the commission received five letters and a petition with 63 signatures from people opposed to the annexation (17 signees were city residents). Comment during the hearing and the subsequent meeting was largely negative as well. In addition to issues with the w w w.va l le yj our na l.net

potential negative impacts of expanded gaming on the community, people expressed concerns about the casino’s effect on an already congested Highway 93 corridor and on access to services such as fire and ambulance. City manager Ed Meece, who said city administration favors the annexation, pointed out that, if annexed, the future tribal development would need connections to city water and sewer systems “built at their cost to our specifications,” as opposed to installing a private water/sewer system. Once built, the casino

would be treated like any other commercial customer, paying for water and sewer services. He also told the commission that city and tribal staff are discussing a potential Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) agreement that would help offset the costs of providing city services to the property. The city has other PILT agreements in place with the Tribes, including for KwaTaqNuk Resort, which pays the city $50,000 annually in lieu of taxes, and with the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority.

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