Jerry Hjelden, a resident of Grand Forks, has started a petition against a casino project proposed by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Although the project is still under examination, and only preliminary talks have been held among city officials and the Turtle Mountain Band, Hjelden is willing to stop it before the talks get further. So, he has started to collect signatures from other residents who oppose the project, in order to prevent city officials taking part in it. In their turn, the latter have expressed their interest in Turtle Mountain Bands project, although they do not support it, as it was stated in the resolution they passed last month.
Hjelden said that the cost of the project is much larger than the benefits it can bring to the area in the long term. Taking into account other areas experience, Hjelden said that the social expenses connected with gambling addictions residents have to face are too big. Hjelden is not alone in his venture. Four more people are helping him in collecting signatures, like one of the ministers of Hope Covenant Church, Jeff Schirle, who said that he was concerned about the potential harm a casino might be for the community and the danger for family values that having a casino implies. He also said that crime rates are likely to raise, as well as bankruptcies.
Ken Davis, chairman for the Turtle Mountain Band tribe, said that these fears are unfounded. He also said that Indian gaming is regulated by the state, the National Indian Gaming Association, and the tribe itself, for there is no need to fear an increase of crime rates.
Eliot Glassheim, a member of the City Council, said he was glad Grand Forks residents were opposing the project. However, he had initially expressed his interest in the project. Glassheim added that the proposal is going to be on hold for some time, while the tribe tries to get support from Washington, D.C. Even if they eventually get support, Glassheim said that the City Council is willing to hear peoples voices regarding the project.
Hjelden and Schirle will be handing their petition to the City Council soon. However, this petition does not ask for a referendum but aims to prevent a future support of city officials to the casino project. With the collection of signatures, Schirle said, they just pretend to show the City Council how much opposition exists against the proposed casino. Hjelden and Schirle are expecting thousands of people to oppose the project and sign against it.
