PELICAN RAPIDS, MINN. (KFGO) - A packed house expected Thursday night for a regional informational meeting about a controversial plan to build a casino on a lake east of Pelican Rapids.
Many property owners around the lake and surrounding area are opposed to the Star Lake Resort and Casino proposed by the White Earth Nation. This week's public hearing will discuss a recently completed Environmental Assessment Worksheet.
Ty Dayton, President of the Star Lake Concerned Citzens Group, says a 30 day public comment period ends June 21. After that, the county will determine whether to forward the casino plan to the County Planning Commission for review of a conditional use permit or the board could call for an environmental impact statement which requires a much more detailed study of the project.
Dayton says the group's review of the initial assessment is that there are some things that have been "glossed over" and it's important the public comments are heard.
Dayton says there are other concerns about the proposal. It's in a remote part of Otter Tail County and already suffers from a workforce shortage.
Thursday's public hearing is at 7 p.m. at the Pelican Rapids High School auditorium. Dayton says the venue has room for 500 people and he expects it could be standing room only.