HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 25 2015 YMCA Letter o` ii
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U 4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake,MN 55372
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February 17, 2015
United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs VIA EMAIL&U.S. MAIL
Midwest Regional Office
Attn: Regional Director
5600 West American Boulevard,Suite 500
Bloomington,Minnesota 55437
Re: Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Fee to Trust Application
Division of Fee to Trust TR-4609-P5
Dear Ms. Rosen:
Pursuant to the Notice of Non-Gaming Land Acquisition Application ("Application") dated
January 20, 2015,the City of Prior Lake submits the following response.
On January 15, 2015 the City of Prior Lake became aware of an application filed with the BIA
by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community("SMSC") to transfer approximately 93.34
acres of land ("Property")into trust and to declare it part of the SMSC reservation.A majority
of the Property,approximately 87.34 acres,is located within the City of Prior Lake. The SMSC
subsequently emailed a copy of the application to the City. The City immediately contacted
the BIA and was given thirty days to comment from the receipt of notice dated January 20,
2015.
I. INFORMATION REQUESTED BY BIA:
In answer to specific questions asked by the BIA in the notice dated January 20, 2015:
a. Property Taxes. The Property has been tax exempt for a number of years due to
ownership by the YMCA, a tax exempt organization.
b. Assessments. There are no existing assessments on the Property.
c. Services. The City provides police services to the Property. The City has also
provided and maintained access to the Property over Pike Lake Trail. The City and
SMSC cooperatively provide fire services to the Property.
Phone 952 447.9800/Fax 952.447.4245/www.cityofpriorlake.com
Regional Director, Midwest Regional Office
U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
February 17, 2015
Page 2
d. Zoning. The Property is zoned agricultural and is guided urban low density (0 to 4
dwellings per acre).
II. POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THIS APPLICATION:
The City applauds the SMSC planned use for the subject property as natural preserve but
does have a number of comments as indicated below:
a. Outlet Channel. An outlet channel which provides drainage for the region runs
through the Property.The City is concerned that the transfer of the Property to trust
will negatively affect the easement if the BIA does not accept the easement as part
of the transfer of the Property into trust. The entire region relies on the easement
for drainage and the City encourages the BIA to ensure the survival of the easement
if it takes the Property into trust.
b. Use of Property. The Property has been used as a natural area available to the
citizens,including in particular the use of the Property as a YMCA camp for children,
many of whom are from the inner-cities of the metropolitan area, who otherwise
may not have access to natural areas. SMSC has used the facilities and natural areas
for supporting various youth programs. The SMSC has verbalized its intent to
continue the YMCA lease,however there is no assurance that such use will continue.
The City requests that the BIA consider the importance of this natural area to all
citizens and the impact if the SMSC changes the use of the Property to urban
development of some sort in the future.
III. CONCERNS WITH RESPECT TO FUTURE APPLICATION:
a. Cumulative Effect. The SMSC has actively been purchasing land within and
surrounding the City of Prior Lake and transferring that property to trust. The
cumulative effect of multiple transfers of property within and surrounding the City
into trust is significant. The SMSC has indicated that it currently owns
approximately 4122 acres in the Prior Lake/Shakopee area and that 1844 of those
acres are held in trust.
In Prior Lake,the amount is 1886 total acres owned of which 960 acres are in trust.
The SMSC has informed the City of its intent to transfer all property it owns into
trust.The continuation of trust transfers includes a substantial amount of property
and will have an extensive impact on the City's economic development,
transportation and infrastructure network, and orderly annexation and growth as
mandated by Minnesota Statutes and Metropolitan Council policy, tax revenue,
planning, operations and ability to provide necessary services. The City requests
that the BIA consider the cumulative impact of trust transfers on the City of Prior
Lake as shown below:
Regional Director, Midwest Regional Office
U.S. Dept.of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
February 17, 2015
Page 3
Trust Request Total Acres Total Acres in Total Acres Total Acres in
Date/Name Owned (PL) Trust(PL) this Request Trust After This
Request(PL)
1/20/15 1886 960 87 1047
YMCA
The City appreciates the BIA's consideration of these matters and encourages the BIA to
contact the City if it has additional questions.
Respectfully submitted,
i ''-#. 4'61f'"
enneth L. Hedberg
Mayor, City of Prior Lake
cc: Charlie Vig,Chair,SMSC