Opinion | Trust

Editorial: Shakopee land-into-trust an issue for election

Friday, November 4, 2011

"In a nutshell, Mayor John Schmitt and his opponent in next Tuesday’s city election, Brad Tabke, agree that Shakopee is doing basically well. Tabke, however, thinks the city could be doing much more and so he decided to run against Schmitt.

It was a tough call, but we think Shakopee would be best served by the re-election of Schmitt to a two-year term.

Tribal relations. Tabke is right: The city has had a “horrible relationship” with the tribe. But much of that has stemmed from recent attempts — some successful — by the tribe to place land in Shakopee into trust status, including about 750 acres in 2008. Of the approximately 3,100 acres the tribe owns in Scott County, about half is in trust. When trust status is granted by the federal Bureau of Indians Affairs, the land goes off the tax rolls and gives the tribe autonomy over how the land is used. The city, county and school district cannot afford to lose more taxable land. Neither candidate addressed the latest application by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community to place additional 122 acres of land in Shakopee into trust status. Schmitt and the rest of the City Council in the past rightly opposed placing the land in trust without a good reason. Tabke’s apparent acquiescence on the issue troubles us."

Get the Story:
Editorial: City would best be served with Schmitt (The Shakopee News 11/4)