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MEDFORD CASINO PROPOSAL Medford cites 'conflict of interest' in study on Coquilles' proposed casino Company hired by BIA to conduct study has done work for Coquille tribe, city says Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 5:40 PM Updated Mar 13, 2015 at 12:49 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 5:40 PM Updated Mar 13, 2015 at 12:49 PM » Social News Medford officials fired off a 15-page letter this week to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs that claims a conflict of interest in a federal process over the Coquille Indian Tribe’s proposed casino in south Medford. The letter, written by Mayor Gary Wheeler, expresses concerns over the contractor hired by the BIA to conduct the environmental analysis. “It appears that the environmental contractor that the Department has selected and/or approved to prepare the EIS in this case is the same contractor that is used for virtually all gaming-related trust acquisitions and many other tribal projects — Analytical Environmental Services ('AES'),” the letter states. The Coquille tribe is a client of AES, which the city says presents a conflict of interest. The city expressed concern that AES would fail to objectively analyze the Coquille’s application with Indian Affairs. “Indeed, AES has been alleged to have a ‘revolving door’ with BIA, where employees of BIA and AES have switched jobs and has a history of conflict-of-interest complaints,” the letter states. The letter also listed numerous negative effects the city fears the casino would have on the area. The city’s concerns will weigh into the BIA's Environmental Impact Statement that will analyze impacts from the Coquilles' proposal to build a casino along Highway 99. The tribe would convert the current Roxy Ann Lanes bowling alley and the former Kim's restaurant site into a casino with video gambling machines. The Coquille tribe has asked the BIA to place the 2.42-acre property, excluding an adjacent golf course, in a government trust. In addition, the Coquilles have asked the federal Office of Indian Gaming Management for an exception to a prohibition on gaming on lands acquired after October 1988. Both the city of Medford and the Jackson County commissioners agreed Tuesday to become a cooperating agency after receiving an invitation from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The letter from Wheeler, co-signed by City Attorney Lori Cooper and Jena A. MacLean, an attorney with the Washington firm of Perkins Coie LLP, asked the BIA to consider a range of potential impacts, from traffic and crime to schools and social services. The city cited numerous issues it wanted raised in the federal analysis, including looking at studies that casino gambling may be related to domestic violence, divorce, bankruptcy, drug and alcohol abuse, risky or illicit sexual behavior and problem gambling. “The increase in the number of pathological gamblers is another concerning issue regarding the development of casino gambling, and there are increasing concerns regarding child neglect and family problems associated with casinos,” the letter sent by Wheeler on Thursday states. “It is safe to assume that there will be approximately 500 CFS (calls for service) per year at the proposed facility, with 450 that require a law enforcement response." Medford officials disputed the Coquille tribe’s claims that it wanted to place the casino on land already designated as reservation land, urging the BIA to undergo a more thorough process before making such a determination. Ray Doering, spokesman for the Coquille tribe, said he fully expects the BIA to look at a variety of potential issues. “That's the whole point of this,” he said. “That’s the idea of the EIS, which is to raise these concerns and address them.” Once the impacts are shown, he said the tribe will make a response. “Every business has an impact of some kind,” he said. “There are always pluses and minuses.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @reporterdm .   By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 5:40 PM Updated Mar 13, 2015 at 12:49 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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