The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians says a meeting to discuss the tribe's off-reservation casino was not "secret."

Miko Beasley Denson, the tribe's newly elected chief, updated business leaders about the proposed casino in Jackson County. But local officials were upset because they weren't told of the meting.

The tribe says Denson was invited to the meeting and didn't chose who else was invited. "We regret that the inclusion of some, but not all elected officials in Jackson County, may have given the impression that the tribe intended to exclude or circumvent the elected political leadership of Jackson County or any of its municipalities," the tribe said in a statement.

The casino site is more than 200 miles from the reservation. The county is holding a non--binding referendum on the project in November but the tribe says it will proceed regardless of the outcome.

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Choctaw adviser says meeting was called by local leaders (The Mississippi Press 9/12)