After a five year legal battle, the Glendale City Council has formally ended its opposition to a casino outside the city limits. The Tohono O'odham Indian Nation had proposed building the casino back in 2009. The tribe will now pay the city millions of dollars over the next 20 years as part of an agreement approved Tuesday night.
After losing several legal battles, the city agreed to support the plans for the casino. Under terms of the agreement approved last night, the tribe will commit more than $25 million over the next 20 years to the city.
Councilman Gary Sherwood, who supports the deal, says the casino will generate other projects. He says the city has already met with two developers.
"One has built a very large project in Phoenix. And they only became interested in the area because of the casino. And both of those don’t buy land and sit on it for four or five years. They buy land and start construction right away," Sherwood said.
As part of the agreement the city will try to convince state and federal officials to end their opposition to the casino plans.
Sherwood said he doesn’t believe the tribe has firm plans for construction yet, but he said he wouldn’t be surprised if there was gaming on the site by next fall.