Resident asks Clay County commissioners to require economic, environmental and traffic studies before trust application for casino

Julian Gilbert of Glendon addressed the Clay County Board of Commissioners during the citizens-to-be-heard segment, urging commissioners to seek more information before supporting White Earth Nation’s pending trust application for a proposed casino site.

Gilbert said the Bagley White Earth casino—opened in 2017—generates roughly $1 million a year and estimated its local tax contributions at about $68,000 in sales tax and $288,000 in property tax, figures he offered as context for potential revenue loss if land were placed into tribal trust and thereby exempted from local taxation. He suggested funds could be used to help build the Heartland Trail through Clay County.

Gilbert also asked the board to require an environmental impact study and a traffic study for the proposed site, citing past incidents near Bagley including a fatal hit-and-run and recent driving-under-the-influence incidents in a casino parking lot. He recommended a 90-day public comment window for Clay County residents before any county backing for trust placement.

Commissioners responded that the authority to place land into trust rests with federal processes and tribal governments, not the county; one commissioner told Gilbert, “the ability to place the land in the trust is not within the county commission's purview.” Staff and commissioners said White Earth representatives are expected to attend a meeting next week to present details and answer questions.

Gilbert said he would email written notes to commissioners. The board did not act on the request during the meeting; staff said they will gather additional information and expect White Earth representatives to attend a future session.