If a proposed Cayuga Indian Nation settlement goes through, Seneca and Cayuga

counties stand to gain up to $12.8 million a year from its casino revenues.

Under terms of the proposal, the Nation would drop its land-into-trust applications for dozens of acres

in the two counties and give up its right to seek trust status on future land purchases, which include

another 180 acres the Nation is about to close on in Seneca Falls.

In return, the Nation will be permitted to designate a specified amount of land in the counties that it

would own as restricted-fee lands and would share revenue from a proposed gaming facility with the

counties and state.

The settlement, proposed by attorneys for both sides, could also prevent the Cayugas from

resuming their gambling operations in the two counties and would place a limit on any land the tribe

could hold in either county,said Seneca County Attorney Steven Getman.

David Dresser, chairman of the Seneca County board's Native American Affairs Committee, said this

morning that the counties learned the federal government was planning to accept the Nation's trust

applications.

“Yes, the Secretary of the Interior has the power to impose Indian reservations on these two

counties where there has not been an Indian presence for over 200 years,” he says in a release.

“There is, moreover, no question that the Department of the Interior intends to do just that.”

Dresser said the proposed revenue for the two counties is “substantially” more than they would

receive in annual payments in property taxes to the counties, municipalities, schools, fire districts and

other affected entities.

“Because these financial and legal guarantees hold the counties and the state harmless, and

because this agreement would once and for all bring closure to the Indian land claim that has beset our

counties since 1980, I fully support this proposal and urge my colleagues and the residents of both

counties to do the same,” Dresser says. “Given the open-ended nature of the federal trust

process and the absence of any compensation for lost taxes and regulatory control when land goes into

trust, we really have no alternative.

Cayuga deal in the works: Seneca County could get millions in casino rev... http://www.fltimes.com/news/article_0fafa129-91d1-5425-a390-581737...

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Steven Getman Attorney Franklin & Gabriel Law Office

Steven Getman County Assigned Counsel, 2008-2011

Steven Getman Seneca County Stop-DWI Coordinator, 2007

Steven Getman Seneca County Attorney, 2002-2007

Steven Getman Seneca County DSS Attorney, 1995-2001

Steven Getman Attorney Midey & Swinehart, 1995-2001

Steven Getman Seneca County Public Defender, 1995

Steven Getman Seneca County Law Guardian Panel, 1992-1995

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