Seneca and Cayuga County officials will soon meet to discuss the Cayuga Indian Nation land claim settlement, according to the Cayuga County Legislature chairman.

Chairman George Fearon announced during Monday night's Legislature meeting the establishment of a six-person committee to represent Cayuga County when negotiations begin with Seneca County in regard to the land claim.

“The committee will meet with Seneca County to get common ground on the issue,” Fearon said.

A proposal would allow the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York to construct a casino in the Catskills. Included in the deal, the tribe will make up to 10,000 acres of land it owns exempt from property taxes. The tribe would share revenues with both Cayuga and Seneca counties and discontinue its efforts to have its land placed into a federal trust.

Cayuga County legislators selected legislators Michele Sedor, D-Sennet, Ray Lockwood, R-Aurelius, and Paul Dudley, R-Cato, to voice county interests during the meeting.

The committee will also include one representative from both the towns and villages that could be affected by the claim.

Legislator Dave Pappert,

R-Auburn, noted the importance of also asking a city representative to sit on the committee.

“You can't cut a municipality that represents a third of taxpayers,” Pappert said.

Cayuga County has requested that Seneca County also create a six-member committee. Once both committees meet they will select a date to meet with land claim representatives. No meeting date will be set until after committees first meet.

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net