Editorial: Meskwaki Tribe should compromise on racetrack site

The tribe holds a lien over the dog track, NCC fairgrounds and Electric Park Ballroom by virtue of its $9.1 million Chapter 11 bankruptcy bailout of NCC in 1995.

The lien, which Nelson contends is "tantamount to a restrictive covenant on the land," allowed the tribe to foreclose on NCC property if NCC ever tried to expand gaming at the track or fairgrounds without tribal consent. It followed the defeat of two 1994 referendums to add slots at the dog track

From the tribe's perspective, it stood by NCC in its time of need in the mid-1990s and would like to see some consideration for that assistance.

“When the National Cattle Congress asked for help we were there, but we never expected that we would never get paid back,” Judith Bender, tribal chairwoman, said in a prepared statement.

“We’d like the Greyhound Park to be developed so that the entire Waterloo-Cedar Falls area benefits,” she said. “We recognize the history and tradition that the National Cattle Congress has played over the years in the Cedar Valley, and while it’s unfortunate that this had resulted in litigation, we believe a promise is a promise.”