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Casino near Braman gets approval from Kay Co.
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| A new casino is planned for this property near Braman, Okla., owned by the Kaw Nation. It now is occupied by the Kanza Travel Plaza. The Kay County Commission on Monday issued a letter of support for the tribe’s plans to build the gaming facility. (Donita Clausen/Traveler) |
By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
Plans for a new Kaw Nation casino in Kay County have the approval of county officials, neighboring Indian tribes and the mayor of Braman, Okla.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) apparently is in the final stages of approving the plans, said an official with the Kaw tribe's development agency.
Nancy Walton, marketing director of the Kaw Enterprise Development Authority (KEDA), said Tuesday that she is optimistic that the new casino will become a reality.
"We are very hopeful," said Walton, whose office is in Ponca City. "This is as close as we've gotten, and it's been 20 years in the works."
On Monday, the Kay County Commission issued a letter of support for the tribe's plans to build the gaming facility on 21.25 acres of property at the intersection of Interstate 35 and U.S. 177 near Braman.
The property now is occupied by Kanza Travel Plaza, a gas station and truck stop with a restaurant, retail shop and seven-unit motel. A 300,000-gallon water tower being constructed on the property is expected to be completed by the summer of 2010.
"It will provide an uninterrupted supply of water to the property and to rural areas to the north and east," Walton said.
An employee at the travel plaza on Tuesday confirmed that there is a plan to build a casino. She referred all questions to KEDA.
The Kaw tribe hopes to build a 36,000 square-foot casino employing 200 to 250 persons, Walton said. That's about half the size of the tribe's South Wind Casino east of Newkirk.
But the size of the new casino depends on what happens with on-again, off-again plans to build another casino south of Wichita, she added.
"I don't think anybody knows where they are at on that," she said, referring to Wichita-area casino developers.
If a major casino south of Wichita is built, the Kaw tribe likely will build a smaller 9,000 to 10,000 square-foot facility, Walton said. It would have 75 to 100 employees.
Braman Mayor Jerry Johnston said Tuesday that the Braman town board supports the new casino for economic reasons.
"I'm on the town board and the town supports it," Johnston said. "Why wouldn't you support 150 to 200 jobs, especially in these times."
Braman's school population is dwindling to the point that the town may have to close its high school, he said. A new casino bringing new jobs could help keep the high school open.
Walton said the tribe already has passed a series of hurdles in its casino application with the BIA.
According to Walton, the BIA concluded there are no negligible adverse effects of building a new casino near Braman after it completed rigorous environmental assessments and examinations of other factors: water and air quality, wastewater treatment, traffic, socio-economic conditions, environmental justice and wildlife concerns.
The Kay County Commissioners said in their letter of support that the project not only would greatly benefit the town of Braman but also the entire county.
"It would bring much needed employment opportunities to our county," commissioners said in the letter.
The commissioners' letter will be mailed to the Department of the Interior and copied to the governor of Oklahoma. The governor will review the information and make a final decision, Walton said.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) apparently is in the final stages of approving the plans, said an official with the Kaw tribe's development agency.
Nancy Walton, marketing director of the Kaw Enterprise Development Authority (KEDA), said Tuesday that she is optimistic that the new casino will become a reality.
"We are very hopeful," said Walton, whose office is in Ponca City. "This is as close as we've gotten, and it's been 20 years in the works."
On Monday, the Kay County Commission issued a letter of support for the tribe's plans to build the gaming facility on 21.25 acres of property at the intersection of Interstate 35 and U.S. 177 near Braman.
The property now is occupied by Kanza Travel Plaza, a gas station and truck stop with a restaurant, retail shop and seven-unit motel. A 300,000-gallon water tower being constructed on the property is expected to be completed by the summer of 2010.
"It will provide an uninterrupted supply of water to the property and to rural areas to the north and east," Walton said.
An employee at the travel plaza on Tuesday confirmed that there is a plan to build a casino. She referred all questions to KEDA.
The Kaw tribe hopes to build a 36,000 square-foot casino employing 200 to 250 persons, Walton said. That's about half the size of the tribe's South Wind Casino east of Newkirk.
But the size of the new casino depends on what happens with on-again, off-again plans to build another casino south of Wichita, she added.
"I don't think anybody knows where they are at on that," she said, referring to Wichita-area casino developers.
If a major casino south of Wichita is built, the Kaw tribe likely will build a smaller 9,000 to 10,000 square-foot facility, Walton said. It would have 75 to 100 employees.
Braman Mayor Jerry Johnston said Tuesday that the Braman town board supports the new casino for economic reasons.
"I'm on the town board and the town supports it," Johnston said. "Why wouldn't you support 150 to 200 jobs, especially in these times."
Braman's school population is dwindling to the point that the town may have to close its high school, he said. A new casino bringing new jobs could help keep the high school open.
Walton said the tribe already has passed a series of hurdles in its casino application with the BIA.
According to Walton, the BIA concluded there are no negligible adverse effects of building a new casino near Braman after it completed rigorous environmental assessments and examinations of other factors: water and air quality, wastewater treatment, traffic, socio-economic conditions, environmental justice and wildlife concerns.
The Kay County Commissioners said in their letter of support that the project not only would greatly benefit the town of Braman but also the entire county.
"It would bring much needed employment opportunities to our county," commissioners said in the letter.
The commissioners' letter will be mailed to the Department of the Interior and copied to the governor of Oklahoma. The governor will review the information and make a final decision, Walton said.
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casino player wrote on Nov 20, 2009 8:51 AM: