Commission threatens to close Indian casino

Tuesday, April 22, 2003 | 9:49 a.m.

TAMA, Iowa -- A lawyer for the elected Meskwaki Indian tribal council says the National Indian Gaming Commission is threatening to close the tribe's casino unless the elected council is returned to power.

"They told us verbally that unless the casino and the funds are immediately returned to the control of the elected tribal council, they're going to shut down the casino," Dennis Johnson, a Des Moines lawyer, said Monday.

Homer Bear Jr., chairman of the new council, said Monday that he was unaware the commission was threatening to close the casino.

Bear said he understood that as long as the tribe's gaming commission operated as a regulatory body, federal authorities would not step in.

A spokesman for the commission, Richard Schiff, said attempts were being made to resolve the dispute without formal action.

The casino's continued operation has been in question since late last month, when the new seven-member council took control of tribal operations. Bank accounts were temporarily frozen and a federal lawsuit was filed.

Members of the new council say they were appointed by the tribe's hereditary chief. They took control of casino operations March 26 and began occupying tribal offices.

The new council said it seized control because the elected council ignored petitions for recall elections. The elected council raised questions about the validity of those petitions.