Proposed NM casino plans pulled

November 26

In New Mexico, the commissioners in Dona Ana County have voted against holding any talks regarding  the would-be plans proposed by a New Mexico Indian tribe from the northern section of New Mexico, for an off-reservation casino in Dona Ana county.

At their November 23rd meeting, Arturo Terrazas, one of the four commissioners, asked that the item up for discussion be voided from the agenda. With that, none of the other commissioners stood in the way.

The Jemez Pueblo tribe located northwest of Albuquerque along with a Santa Fe art dealer named Gerald Peters are planning to get a federal and state allowance to develop a casino in an area that is said to be virtually wide open for such a venture. The area currently has no other gaming competition.

The agenda item was for discussion of a proposed intergovernmental agreement on how the pueblo would compensate the county for the additional services required by the casino's operation and customers in Anthony.

In the proposed deal, the pueblo agreed to pay more than $1 million in payment installments for police, fire and emergency ambulance services over the next decade.

It is also reported that the pueblo promised another $1 million to train local workers who would be given hiring preference for the nearly one thousand jobs that would eventually be created by the building and operations of the planned casino.

Many county officials stated that they wanted more time to consider the requirements of the agreement.