Joint talks are first between the two bodies since 2005

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners and the Tribal Council of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians held their second-ever joint meeting last week.

Tribe, county meet

It had been nearly two years since the elected leaders of the two largest governmental bodies in Leelanau County had held a meeting together. Neither of the meetings – on July 21, 2005 in Peshawbestown or on May 23, 2007 in Leland – included an agenda. The meetings were designed to provide an informal opportunity for leaders to discuss issues of mutual interest, according to tribal and county officials.

“The fact that the two governments can sit down and discuss issues is a good thing,” said county administrator David Gill. “Hopefully, this will pave the way to our taking some action jointly on a variety of issues in the future,” he said.

All seven Leelanau County commissioners, including county board chairman Robert W. Hawley, were present. Five of the seven Tribal Council members, including tribal chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum, were present. Tribal Council members Connie TwoCrow and Sandra Witherspoon were absent.

According to minutes of the meeting, Hawley opened discussions by bringing up the status of wireless Internet service that is being installed throughout the county – also a topic at the July 2005 joint meeting.

“There were comments on how this will benefit the county, and encourage new businesses to locate their offices here,” according to minutes. “Discussion followed regarding how to best get new businesses to come to Leelanau County, and then families will follow. It is difficult to have affordable housing and no jobs…”

Hawley also noted that the tribe provides management of the sewage treatment plant at the county Law Enforcement Center through a contact and thanked them for that service. County Commissioners and Tribal Councilors also discussed the cost of providing fire and rescue service throughout the county.

Tribal treasurer Joseph “Buddy” Raphael spoke of the decline in business at the tribe’s Turtle Creek Casino, “most likely because…of the new construction going on,” according to minutes. “(Raphael) stated that in the next five years, they will most likely pass New Jersey in revenue from casinos. He also spoke of the pay scale for this area, and the jobs that the casino generates.

“The resort has a mostly lower scale, service positions, that do not attract most people to those positions,” Raphael said, according to minutes. “The casino does have higher scale positions, and most people would rather work there.”
Other topics during the one hour and 45 minute discussion included:

• Planning and zoning issues and their impact on economic development and jobs.

• What types of jobs young people are looking for and initiatives undertaken by local schools.

• The county’s and the tribe’s respective Economic Development Corporations and the roles they play.

According to minutes, Hawley concluded by saying the one thing participants could take away from the meeting was “that Leelanau County must work to be more sustainable in the future.”

Hawley said: “Encouraging business to come to this area, educating workers so that they can become more productive employees, and affordable housing, are all things to work on in the coming year.”