AUBURN - The Seneca-Cayugas talks with state officials have stalled, but Chief Paul Spicer is hoping a $70,000 check may spur discussions for economic development and gaming in Cayuga County.
The new leader of the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma made his first trip to Auburn Thursday to pay the roughly $70,000 in taxes owed on the tribe's Aurelius lands. He presented Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Herb Marshall with the check.
"It's what we owe," Spicer said. "It was an honest payment. We need to be current on tax liability."
Dolly Pewitt, another Seneca-Cayuga official in town, said that the tribe's business committee had unanimously voted to make the "good-faith" payment. The tribe plans to continue paying property taxes in the future, she added.
The Seneca-Cayugas had claimed land it owned in Aurelius was sovereign, but it agreed to give up that status as part of a settlement with the state. That settlement, however, lost support from Gov. George Pataki following a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this year that said tribes do not automatically have sovereign status on lands they own within a land claim area.
But while talks with state officials may have lost momentum, the tribe is eager to establish a relationship with local leaders.
Spicer was only in town for an overnight stay, but he's hoping that the brief visit is the beginning of a strong partnership and a "fresh start" with city and county officials. While Spicer had to catch a flight back to Oklahoma, Pewitt and Katie Birdsong, another tribe official, will stay in Auburn until today. The women plan to return several times throughout the year to discuss economic development in the county.
"We're forming a task force with city and county officials and tribe (members) to explore the feasibility of joint ventures," Spicer said, noting that he's hoping to discuss the development of some light industry projects. "We feel that the skill level in this area would support these ventures."
Tribal officials declined to elaborate on what they meant by light industry, but Auburn Mayor Tim Lattimore said he would be eager to work with the Seneca-Cayugas on projects because they were paying taxes. Lattimore met with the Seneca-Cayuga delegation Wednesday night, and the group stopped by Thursday morning's Auburn City Council meeting.
Pewitt said the tribe is in the beginning stages of the task force.
"We're still very much interested in gaming," she said, noting that she couldn't yet comment on past plans for a gaming facility in Aurelius.
Some Aurelius residents have expressed concerns about such a facility, said Ray Lockwood, R-Aurelius. When Lockwood talked with Spicer, the chief said that an Aurelius gaming facility was possible as part of an economic development package, Lockwood said.
Aurelius Supervisor Ed Ide said he was perplexed that Lattimore and Marshall would be entertaining any deals involving gaming given the recent federal court rulings. As for working with the tribe on other economic development ventures, he said more details are needed.
"We would have to see what their plans are and how they intend to arrive at their goals," Ide said.
Lockwood agreed.
"I think we've got to explore all kinds of economic opportunities," he said. "I'd sure like to listen to what they have to offer."
Pewitt said that an earlier pursuit of a casino in the Catskills is on hold right now because the tribe's primary focus is on appealing the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals' land claim decision. She also said that given the recent elections, new officials haven't had time to discuss the possibility of asking the Bureau of Indian Affairs to put the land in trust.
Pewitt was unsure if the payments would have any effect on the land claim. Marshall said that he did not see a connection between the payment and the land claim
He said that the chief discussed business developments but did not get into specifics.
"They were really very easy people to talk with," Marshall said. "They seem to be very interested in doing something positive here" and having community support, he added.
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
"It's what we owe," Spicer said. "It was an honest payment. We need to be current on tax liability."
Dolly Pewitt, another Seneca-Cayuga official in town, said that the tribe's business committee had unanimously voted to make the "good-faith" payment. The tribe plans to continue paying property taxes in the future, she added.
The Seneca-Cayugas had claimed land it owned in Aurelius was sovereign, but it agreed to give up that status as part of a settlement with the state. That settlement, however, lost support from Gov. George Pataki following a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this year that said tribes do not automatically have sovereign status on lands they own within a land claim area.
But while talks with state officials may have lost momentum, the tribe is eager to establish a relationship with local leaders.
Spicer was only in town for an overnight stay, but he's hoping that the brief visit is the beginning of a strong partnership and a "fresh start" with city and county officials. While Spicer had to catch a flight back to Oklahoma, Pewitt and Katie Birdsong, another tribe official, will stay in Auburn until today. The women plan to return several times throughout the year to discuss economic development in the county.
"We're forming a task force with city and county officials and tribe (members) to explore the feasibility of joint ventures," Spicer said, noting that he's hoping to discuss the development of some light industry projects. "We feel that the skill level in this area would support these ventures."
Tribal officials declined to elaborate on what they meant by light industry, but Auburn Mayor Tim Lattimore said he would be eager to work with the Seneca-Cayugas on projects because they were paying taxes. Lattimore met with the Seneca-Cayuga delegation Wednesday night, and the group stopped by Thursday morning's Auburn City Council meeting.
Pewitt said the tribe is in the beginning stages of the task force.
"We're still very much interested in gaming," she said, noting that she couldn't yet comment on past plans for a gaming facility in Aurelius.
Some Aurelius residents have expressed concerns about such a facility, said Ray Lockwood, R-Aurelius. When Lockwood talked with Spicer, the chief said that an Aurelius gaming facility was possible as part of an economic development package, Lockwood said.
Aurelius Supervisor Ed Ide said he was perplexed that Lattimore and Marshall would be entertaining any deals involving gaming given the recent federal court rulings. As for working with the tribe on other economic development ventures, he said more details are needed.
"We would have to see what their plans are and how they intend to arrive at their goals," Ide said.
Lockwood agreed.
"I think we've got to explore all kinds of economic opportunities," he said. "I'd sure like to listen to what they have to offer."
Pewitt said that an earlier pursuit of a casino in the Catskills is on hold right now because the tribe's primary focus is on appealing the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals' land claim decision. She also said that given the recent elections, new officials haven't had time to discuss the possibility of asking the Bureau of Indian Affairs to put the land in trust.
Pewitt was unsure if the payments would have any effect on the land claim. Marshall said that he did not see a connection between the payment and the land claim
He said that the chief discussed business developments but did not get into specifics.
"They were really very easy people to talk with," Marshall said. "They seem to be very interested in doing something positive here" and having community support, he added.
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.