- Details
- By Chez Oxendine
- Gaming
The White Earth Nation plans to seek federal trust status for 80 acres in Clay County, Minn., cutting the acreage in its proposed casino trust application by nearly three-quarters to address local concerns.
Tribal leaders met with Clay County commissioners on Oct. 13 to outline the proposal, down from roughly 300 acres initially considered. The application has not yet been submitted to the federal government. The land sits along Highway 336 and County Road 74 in Glyndon Township. The project requires federal trust and gaming approvals, including concurrence from Minnesota’s governor.
The trust action must be approved before any off‑reservation gaming construction can begin. With county support and swift federal action, the tribe could have the gaming project moving forward by 2028, tribal leaders said.
Tribal Chairman Michael Fairbanks told commissioners the project reflects the tribe’s long‑term push for jobs, services and regional investment, saying economic development must move forward alongside environmental protection.
"Economic development not only brings jobs and healthcare, it strengthens the whole area," Fairbanks said. "We have nothing to hide; we will work through all these questions together."
Nate Mathews, special projects manager for White Earth Nation’s utility, said the tribe has completed feasibility studies, socioeconomic analysis, soil borings and monitoring wells, and is preparing environmental review materials for federal agencies. He told commissioners the tribe is proposing a joint working group with Clay County, Moorhead, Dilworth and township officials to negotiate agreements covering public safety, utilities and payments in lieu of taxes.
Commissioners raised concerns about traffic impacts on Highway 336 and County Road 74, noting that a southern access point may require major upgrades or an interchange. They also questioned potential effects on the Buffalo Aquifer, one of Moorhead’s primary drinking water sources, and asked for monitoring well data collected on the parcel. Several commissioners said they would need more information on utilities, emergency services and infrastructure costs before considering a letter of support.
The tribe said environmental review will include coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration because part of the site overlaps a runway protection zone. Mathews told commissioners the Bureau of Indian Affairs requires proof the site can receive necessary services, but does not require full engineering designs at the application stage. He said the Nation anticipates a best‑case trust determination toward the end of 2028.
Next steps include sharing groundwater data with Moorhead Public Service, continuing traffic and utility modeling with Moore Engineering, and forming the proposed intergovernmental working group. Commissioners agreed to work with county administration to structure representation for that committee.
"We’re eager to move forward in a good way," Mathews said. "We want to give you all the information so we’re on the same page together."
