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9:56 a.m. - GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — A man who opposes an American Indian casino here has started a petition drive against it. City officials passed a resolution last month that expresses interest in a casino project proposed by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. The tribal chairman says fears about the casino are unfounded. Jerry Hjelden, a longtime resident of Grand Forks, said his petition drive is aimed at dissuading city officials from becoming involved. The petition seeks the withdrawal of tentative support from city officials. ``In essence, the costs far outweigh the benefits. That's the bottom line,'' Hjelden said. Cities with casinos face higher costs, from paying for extra policing to paying for social costs associated with gambling addictions, he said. Hjelden is working to collect signatures with four others, including Jeff Schirle, one of the ministers on staff at Hope Covenant Church. Schirle said a casino would raise crime rates and increase bankruptcies. ``I don't want us to be apathetic,'' he said. ``Let's take a look at what can happen. We can have nice bright lights at the south end of town, but at the same time, what if a lot of those lights are the flashing lights on squad cars? Tribal Chairman Ken Davis said Indian gambling is heavily regulated. Davis said that with the recent letter of encouragement from the City Council, the tribe is continuing to pursue the casino idea, but it is too early to talk about the specifics of the project. The petition will be presented to the City Council after it is ready, Hjelden said. He has no timeline. This is cache, read story here
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