Today, the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi-Yokut Tribe and Kings County signed an intergovernmental agreement in which the Tribe will fund infrastructure projects, community-improvement programs, and economic-development support to the county in exchange for a major expansion of Tachi Palace Casino Resort near Fresno, California.
Under the agreement, the Tribe will build a new county fire station and training facility, funding construction and assisting with staffing costs, equipment purchasing and maintenance, and utility expenses.
In addition, the Tribe will provide assistance to the county for law enforcement, fire protection, emergency services, wastewater treatment, and solid waste disposal.
The Tribe also agrees to improve the intersection at the casino entrance to accommodate for increased traffic, plus implement additional measures to reduce traffic volume in and out of the casino, such as encouraging the use of mass transportation for casino patrons, increasing employee carpooling/ride-sharing and exploring the possibility of a regional bus stop.
“The county and the Tribe’s agreement is mutually beneficial and we are proud of our cooperative relationship,” said Doug Verboon, Kings County Board of Supervisors Chairman. “From supporting law enforcement and fire services to improving the environment and the economic development that supports our area, we believe this agreement is a win-win for Kings County and the Tribe.”
Also under the agreement, the Tribe can pursue the following economic-development projects of its own:
- A 35,000-square-foot 2,500-seat event/bingo center
- A new 120,000-square-foot 200-room hotel tower
- 12 new gas pumps and 12 diesel pumps, a 6,000-square-foot convenience-store expansion, 60 Class II machines, and a 3-car wash bay at the existing Yokut Gas station
- 200 additional homes for Rancheria housing
- A 20,000-square-foot conference center attached to the hotel
- An increase of the current footprint of the Tachi Palace Casino to include additional gaming space, a 150-seat food and beverage area including a sports bar, and a new entrance
- 1,000 additional Class III gaming devices
- 1,200-space guest parking lot
The new agreement will commence December 1 after final approval by Tachi-Yokut members. It will take the place of the recently expired 2003 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which provided that the Tribe contributed funding to the county for various projects and services.
The agreement runs concurrently with the term of the Tribe’s State Compact, or until the project ceases to be open to the public and the Tribe ceases to conduct Class III Gaming, whichever occurs earlier.
“Our Tribe and Kings County will continue to have a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and supportive actions,” said Leo Sisco, Chairman of Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi-Yokut Tribe.
