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FireKeepers board approves $270,263.86 in Tier II reimbursements; members ask Tribe to consider direct payment for casino event costs
Summary
The FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board on June 2 approved $270,263.86 in Tier II reimbursements for 2021 — $195,705.14 to Emmett Township, $65,366.51 to Calhoun County Courts and $9,192.21 to the Sheriff's Office — and discussed whether the Tribe or casino should pay special-event traffic-control costs directly.
The FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board voted unanimously on June 2 to approve Tier II reimbursements for the 2021 calendar year totaling $270,263.86.
County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott presented the Tier II applications and said the total requested was $270,263.86. The largest request, Emmett Township's $195,705.14, was higher than the prior year and largely related to the township's phased sewer project; the request also included attorney fees, engineering costs and public safety response at the casino.
Scott said the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office requested $9,192.21 for traffic control for casino events and for lodging of inmates arrested for offenses outside Tribal court jurisdiction; the Calhoun County Courts requested $65,366.51 for costs for cases the court tracked as related to casino incidents, including staffing costs for clerks, judges and magistrates.
Board members discussed whether extra traffic-control or other special-event costs tied to casino operations should continue to be reimbursed through the FLRSB or be paid directly by the Tribe or the FireKeepers Casino. Chairman Derek King asked Member Dorie Rios to "speak with Tribal Council to address special events at the casino and whether there should be a direct payment consideration for costs associated with them." Emmett Township Public Safety Director Ken Cunningham said he had been informed that costs attributable to the casino's operations should be submitted to the FLRSB. King said, in his view, intentional special-event costs "should be paid out of the casino security fund or another budgeted operating source."
Member Dorie Rios moved to approve the applications for Tier II funding for 2021 totaling $270,263.86; Member Deb Belles seconded. Roll call vote was recorded as Yes 6, No 0, and the motion carried.
The board expressed hope that future reimbursements for special-event costs could be handled by direct payment arrangements. The meeting adjourned at 11:04 a.m.; the next meeting is scheduled for June 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
