On July 25th, 2008, when Muskegon County Commissioner James Derezinski heard about the chance of having a casino facility in Fruitport Township, he immediately think about money that could be allotted for a new county jail and juvenile detention center. He is thinking about the subject for quite some time now ever since he began leading efforts to replace their old facilities.
A group of leaders from the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, who recently bought the former property of the Great Lakes Downs in Fruitport with the hope of developing a casino facility. The spokesperson for the organization, tribal economic development director Robert Memberto commented that he has discussed the casino issue with Derezinski and several officials about making a foundation that would help for the construction of a juvenile and jail facility.
Memberto said that entire concept is still being discussed and it could take several years to complete the needed requirements. He said that it is still too early to estimate how much the casino will cost.
The county is planning to ask voters for the approval of new property taxes for twenty years next May to pay for the new structures. The estimated building cost is $23 million. But an agreement with the tribe to establish a fund to help pay for the new facilities using casino revenues, could lower the cost for the juvenile and jail facility.
08/20/2008 04:40 PM
Davis Coulter