A request from the Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation to acquire land in Calexico to build a casino and a hotel was approved 4-1 by the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

The project would be located near Highway 111 and Jasper Road and would have 2,000 slot machines and 200 rooms, according to a report to the board. The casino is expected to cost about $175 million and employ about 2,400 people, said County Executive Officer Ralph Cordova during his presentation to the board.

The land in question has a tax-sharing agreement between the county and Calexico, according to Cordova, “so we are getting some money from this.”

But land acquired by tribes after 1988 can’t be used for gaming unless the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with state and local officials approves it, said Cordova, and only if the governor concurs.

For the procedural investigation the Attorney General’s Office needs the board to say if they are in support of the land acquisition, against it or hold no position, Cordova said.

Though most of the supervisors supported the issue, there was a dissenting voice.

“If somebody were here to ask for approval (of) something this critical — this big, I would expect they would come before us so we could talk to them,” said Supervisor Gary Wyatt, referring to Manzanita tribe members who weren’t present at the meeting.

“This is primarily about the Manzanita tribe,” he said, “and certainly nobody is here from the Manzanita tribe. I’m a little disturbed by that.”

There are ongoing issues with the Torres Martinez tribe in which tax agreements haven’t been honored, Wyatt said. Because of this he would like to see that agreements are established before the county moves forward, Wyatt said.

There is an agreement between Calexico and the tribe addressing the issues of the sales tax, responded Cordova. The tribe agreed to voluntarily collect and remit that tax to the state, he said.

That same type of language was found in the Torres Martinez tribe agreement, Wyatt said, adding such wording gives the tribe a choice to collect or remit taxes.

“This is a long time coming,” said Supervisor John Renison. “Bottom line is the citizens of Calexico want this,” said Renison referring to the casino, and it is an economic development tool.

“My feeling is this is something the county should endorse,” he said, as the tribe, Calexico and the county can work out any concerns.

“I’ll support (it),” said Supervisor Michael Kelley referring to the project, if the issues are addressed.

Some Calexico City Council officials appeared toward the end of the discussion.

“I appeal to each and every one of you to have the right mind frame, and that is that we work together and we see this (casino) as a larger entity,” Councilman Bill Hodge said, “and that we work together to bring this development.”

Before the vote, a committee was appointed by Supervisor Jack Terrazas, who selected Renison and Supervisor Ray Castillo, who will be meeting with local officials and the Manzanita tribe.

Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com