Warm Springs rejects Madras casino

Thursday, May 25, 2000 | 10:02 a.m.

Tribal members on Wednesday voted down a proposal to build a casino in the nearby Central Oregon town of Madras.

The tribe has been struggling over what to do since Gov. John Kitzhaber last fall blocked their controversial proposal to build an off-reservation casino in the Columbia River Gorge town of Cascade Locks.

Some members of the tribal council had hoped a casino would help make up the gap from falling timber and dam revenue.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs already operate a small casino at its Kah-Nee-Ta Resort 10 miles from U.S. 26 on the reservation, but a casino in Madras was expected to make three times as much - $9 million a year.

But some members were against plans for the $25 million casino in Madras, saying they wanted to keep jobs on the reservation. Others feared the tribe would have to buy or lease additional land in Madras. The tribe owns nine acres in a Madras industrial park.

In emotional public debates on the reservation, some tribal members brought up long-simmering feelings of resentment towards Madras, where some say they have been the target of prejudice and police harassment.

The 582-287 tribal vote surprised Madras officials, who had welcomed the possibility that the tribe might build a casino, provide jobs and boost an already growing local economy.

Tribal voter Ginger Smith, who had written letters to the tribal paper Spilyay Tymoo opposing the Madras site, said many tribal members felt there were issues more important than money.

She said many people would prefer building a casino on the reservation, rather than sending tribal investment and jobs 14 miles away to Madras.

Consultants had estimated that a casino on the highway in Warm Springs would bring in half the revenue of one in Madras.

Bill Bellamy, Jefferson County Commissioner, said he expects the reaction to be mixed in Madras, relieving people who don't like gambling and disappointing retail businesses who had looked forward to increased traffic.

"In the end, the site was not the best site," Bellamy said. "And that probably was a major factor. Even the tribal members didn't see any beauty to the site."

Because of opposition from gorge conservationists and the local community to the Hood River site, the Warm Springs had proposed swapping that land for an old rock quarry in Cascade Locks if the governor would agree.

Although the governor didn't agree, the tribe went ahead and bought the Cascade Locks property, an island that could be developed as a resort.

Now people are wondering what the tribe will do next.

"We'll be looking forward to talking with them and finding out what their read is on it and where they want to go," said Michael Lang, conservation director of the Friends of the Columbia Gorge, which has raised concerns about the scale and location of a casino in the gorge.