Charles Enyart, the chief of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, was in Lima, Ohio, on Thursday to promote the tribe's casino proposal.

The tribe met with local officials, media outlets and the public. Some people said they supported the proposal but others were opposed.

City officials expressed concerns about an intergovernmental agreement the tribe wants to be signed by today. Instead of paying for the land up front, the tribe will put the money for the 270-acre site in annual payments to the city.

The tribe has filed a land claim in Ohio and hopes to settle for gaming rights. Under legislation pending in the Senate, tribes will no longer be able to open casinos on land taken into trust as part of a land claim settlement.

Get the Story:
Tribe on hot seat with local officials (The Lima News 3/31)
Tribe hears pros, cons at forum (The Lima News 3/31)