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By Damian Mann Mail Tribune November 07. 2014 6:43PM $35 million Yreka casino could start next spring A $35 million casino in Yreka, Calif., has cleared all major hurdles and construction could begin early next year, officials from the Karuk Tribe said Friday. “By next spring, we should start digging," said Jaclyn Goodwin, self governance coordinator for the tribe. The Karuks, who hope to attract 30 percent of their business from the Medford area, say the casino would bring 350 jobs to Siskiyou County, where unemployment hovers around 11 percent. It would start at 36,000 square feet with 500 gaming machines, eight table games, a 100-seat restaurant and a large parking area. The cost estimate for the first phase is up to $35 million. The second phase would add 20,000 square feet to accommodate 300 more gaming machines, eight more table games and an 80-room hotel and more parking. No cost estimates were available for the second phase. The tribe’s plans have been approved by the California State Legislature, and it has agreements with the city of Yreka and the California Department of Transportation. One stumbling block has been an agreement with Siskiyou County that will soon head into binding arbitration. The county has asked the tribe to pay $416,000 a year to cover impacts to the law enforcement system, including the county-run jail. The tribe has offered to pay $100,000, but Goodwin said the tribe developed a separate agreement with the city of Yreka because the casino is located inside its boundaries. “The majority of the project impacts the city of Yreka,” Goodwin said. She said the tribe and the county will both submit proposals, and one will be picked as part of the binding arbitration agreement. Voters in Siskiyou County overwhelmingly opposed the establishment of the Karuk casino in the Nov. 4 election. However, the measure was just for advisory purposes and will do nothing to stop the casino. Siskiyou County Supervisor Marcia Armstrong said the county is asking for money to offset increased demand for the jail and social services that it anticipates from the casino. “We have to protect the citizens of Siskiyou County so they are not shouldering the financial burden,” she said. Armstrong said the county has had very little clout in being able to stop the casino, even though she and many other county residents oppose the idea. “I don’t think it will be beneficial for the county,” Armstrong said. An analysis of the impacts of the casino conducted by Siskiyou County estimated 136 casino-related arrests per year, which would cost $228,480. The Karuks number 3,686, with 418 members in the Yreka area. They have tribal lands in both Siskiyou County and Humboldt County. The main population centers are in Orleans, Happy Camp and Yreka. The Karuks' proposed casino appears to be drawing no opposition from its competitors: the Coquille Indian Tribe, which hopes to build the Cedars in Medford, and the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Indians, which could potentially lose Seven Feathers customers to Yreka. Yreka is less than 60 miles from Medford, Canyonville about 70. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm.     http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141107/NEWS/141109690 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->