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MR. WESAW: I definitely appreciate the comments from the first guy. You are always fearful of what you <br /> don't know. That's why when we actually obtained the property and we had decided what we wanted to do <br /> with the property and asking for this request that's why I mailed out letters to everyone to include all of our <br /> neighbors here because we want to be transparent, we want to be good neighbors. So the question about what <br /> are we doing with the property? It's just what I'm asking for. We have a lot of Hoosier residents that in this <br /> area and we don't want them to have to drive all the way to Dowagiac. We want them to be able to come get <br /> services in the state that they live in. And because we area a unique tribe,we're one of only two federally <br /> recognized tribes that actually cross the borders,we want to be able to provide that service. The other thing I'd <br /> like to address is the parking, like I said, we have no plans at all to modify the parking. We figure it's going to <br /> meet our needs right now, so there won't be any additional lighting or any reconfiguration of it right now at this <br /> time. <br /> MR. EDWARD WILLIAMS: I'm an attorney with the Pokagon Band,address is 58620 Sink Road,Dowagiac, <br /> Michigan. I just want to touch on or clarify some concerns regarding the ownership of the property. Initially <br /> when the band sought to purchase that property one of the things we did was to form an entity WJC Holdings, <br /> LLC to go out and acquire property on behalf of the band. It's not an uncommon practice for entities when <br /> they're acquiring parcels to do so using a separate entity, number one to isolate any concerns with liability. <br /> Number two also to address concerns it's not uncommon for when people find out that the Pokagon Band or if <br /> it's some private company for example is looking at property, it's not uncommon for the price to all of sudden <br /> go much higher than the actual market value of the property. So that's the reason why these individuals were <br /> contacted with an individual representing WJC Holdings. The WJC Holdings the band does own that entity. <br /> We are the sole owner of WJC Holdings so that's why we're here today in that capacity. <br /> MR. URBANSKI: Can I ask a question? The property overall went to this whole thing, okay? Because I'm in <br /> favor of what's going to happen, okay,but the land, once the whole triangle of land from the By-Pass to 23 to <br /> Locust,will that be,will the Band pay property tax on that land or how does that work? Somebody just asked <br /> me about that yesterday and I was just curious. <br /> MR. WILLIAMS: No. Once the land goes into trust there will not be property, it won't be subject to the <br /> taxation of the city or the county. So there won't be property tax payments for those parcels. <br /> MR. URBANSKI: Do you provide your own police and fire protection? I know you have police protection in <br /> New Buffalo but... <br /> MR. WILLIAMS: We do,yes, yes and feel free to jump in at any time,Jason,but we do have and actually we <br /> have some brochures I'll hand out in just a second kind of explaining the Pokagon Band but we do have a tribal <br /> Police Department that will provide police protection services. Exactly. Does everyone have a copy of that? <br /> SOMEONE HELD UP A COPY OF THE BROCHURE THAT MR. WILLIAMS WAS GOING TO PASS <br /> OUT AND ALL BOARD MEMBERS REPLIED YES <br /> MR. WILLIAMS: We also, our use our property up in Dowagiac as an example,that's in trust,we also contract <br /> with local fire department to provide fire protection services. And I anticipate once this land goes into trust that <br /> we would do the same thing here as well. <br /> 33 <br />