<p>More concerns occupied Aquinnah selectmen as the Wampanoag tribe clears land for its planned bingo hall.
The constant presence of dump trucks rumbling through the town as the Wampanoag tribe clears land for its planned bingo hall was a matter for concern last week for Aquinnah selectmen, who openly aired their frustration over the lack of information and details from the tribe about the project.
Clearing on the former Wiener property for the bingo hall facility began about three weeks ago. Since then, large dump trucks have regularly carted dirt from the proposed site to tribal land at the bottom of Church street.
At a meeting Thursday, town administrator Jeffrey Madison said the trucks start rolling at around at 8 a.m. and continue every 10 minutes or so.
He said the condition of Church street, its steep grade and the presence of children add up to a safety concern.
“I don’t think that it’s a safe situation,” Mr. Madison said. “The blacktop there is an inch thick, and it’s cracked to heck . . . something’s going to happen.”
Selectman Julianne Vanderhoop asked police chief Randhi Belain if there was anything the town could do.
The chief said State Road is a public highway, and he had not seen the trucks speeding or committing other traffic violations.
“What are you going to do?” the chief said. “They have a right to get to their property, don’t they?”
He said if the town is concerned about safety, he could provide a police detail at the tribe’s expense.
But selectmen and Mr. Madison pushed back at the assessment.
“If the rear wheels on the backs of these trucks wobble back and forth, then is that a safety issue?” selectman Jim Newman asked. Chief Belain replied that it would be.
Aquinnah librarian Rosa Parker asked the selectmen if they had a timeline on the project, saying that she had counted 15 trucks in the previous hour and a half. The library is located at the corner of Church street and State Road. Mr. Madison said he also received calls from residents who live on Church street worried about school bus drop-offs.
Expressing deep frustration, selectmen said they had no timeline on the project and had received no details from the tribe.
“We are trying to demand answers, which we are finding no response to,” Ms. Vanderhoop said. “What we want the community to know is that the town of Aquinnah, the community, the selectmen, have been trying to do something. We have been trying to do something since January. And now, never mind the disrespect to our environment . . . but there’s a personal aspect to it. And that’s tragic.”
In the end selectmen voted unanimously to send a letter to the tribe asking that the trucks use back roads and avoid school bus routes with construction vehicles.
Earlier in the meeting, selectmen voted unanimously voted to raise rental fees for the tribe’s lease at the Cliffs by eight per cent. The rental hike was the first since the lease began five years ago.
“They’re going to be making millions,” Mr. Madison said. “I don’t mean to be flippant here, but you know, there’s an element of hostility between the town and the tribe right now . . . not of our making either.”
The frustration morphed into a sort of gallows humor as the meeting came to a close.
“Are you going to stand in the road, or lie in the road?” Mr. Newman asked Ms. Vanderhoop.
“I’m going to come to the library, and my truck is a big one,” Ms. Vanderhoop replied.
Comments
The community of Aquinnah is
Jason MVThe community of Aquinnah is no longer a community....it was a special one, RIP. So sad it is no longer
shame
r chilmarkshame
Is the construction traffic
Mr. B ChilmarkIs the construction traffic damaging Church Street? If so, whose responsibility is that?
They have totally failed at
Chappy EdgartownThey have totally failed at every project they have taken on why would this be any different. This time the entire island will be negatively effected! Even us on Chappy!
Because I am sure that they
BT WTBecause I am sure that they have some 'connected' gambling 'experts' advising them. Oh joy, just what the island needs.
I bet the element of
TheyWereHereFirst Oaks bluffI bet the "element of hostility" has a little something to do with the Town suing the Tribe over and over again. Maybe the town could fix Church road with the money they spend on fruitless lawsuits.
this is going to be a total
mike edgartownthis is going to be a total failure. people are not going to board a ferry, to come here to play slot machines. if the tribe is depending on islander support, forget it.....what an embarassment......
I will go. Can't wait for it
Kenny FalmouthI will go. Can't wait for it to open!
I served as an Aquinnah
Michael Stutz CartagenaI served as an Aquinnah assessor.
The smallest town is supporting a federal Indian tribe that doesn’t reimburse it, resulting last year in a 14% budget increase, averaging 8%/yr the past 23 years, an obviously unsustainable rate, that will collide with the Proposition 2.5 ceiling, it is only a question of when.
The casino construction and controversy will likely accelerate the town’s arrival at the tax levy ceiling.
Yet, Aquinnah Selectmen and Fincom have refused to address the tax ceiling issue, which has long been the elephant in the room.
Perhaps a casino in Aquinnah will finally open the eyes of Aquinnah BOS and Fincom to the impending fiscal cliff that, to date, they refuse to see!
Some of those that are
charlie callahan so boston/edgartownSome of those that are whining about this bingo hall damaging the aesthetics of the island are some of the same mega rich ones who have torn down perfectly nice homes and replaced them with monstrosities that are ugly and would be out ofplace nywher, but especially in a place like this. as long as they got what they wanted, they complain when others want to do something, but it was ok when they wanted to do it. The aesthetics on the vineyard disappeared in the 80's when the real big projects started coming about. It's called hippocricy and it's rampant on this island
I totally agree on the point.
Jason MVI totally agree on the point....see below direct from the Tribe. Case in point.
Actually I feel that we
keren Tonnesen Oak BluffsActually I feel that we should not allow undeveloped land (which should really be called habitat) to be ravaged to build said mansions. Only tear-downs of existing structures. You have only to look at the real estate magazines to see hundreds of expensive and expansive properties available. If these millionaires and billionaires need something so customized to their egos that they can't buy an existing mansion then they certainly have the $$$$$$$$ to tear one down and go ahead rather than destroying "virgin" habitat. I was told that this is what the landbank is now doing as there is not so much untouched land to purchase - they are buying properties with homes and tearing them down to recreate undeveloped land again.Is this true?
From the Tribe web site...
Jason MVFrom the Tribe web site....just sayin..."The Tribal Council is dedicated to the conservation and careful development of our tribal land and other resources, to promote the economic well-being of all tribal members, to provide educational opportunities for ourselves and our posterity, to promote the social and cultural well-being of our people, and to strive for harmony with the surrounding communities"
Death knell for everything we
Emily Edgartown.Death knell for everything we hold sacred about Aquinnah. How very tragic.
As someone who lives 7 miles
Mary Papenfoth CTAs someone who lives 7 miles from Foxwoods and 10 miles from Mohegan Sun, I get the issues. But it’s going to happen. Yes, we have skyscraper hotels where tranquil forests used to lie, but those forests originally were Native lands for a people that were displaced, jobless, homeless and a burden on the state. They found a very profitable way to support their tribal descendants. Both tribes have worked very hard to make their facilities as attractive as can be allowed with building codes etc. Construction of any type takes time, is noisy and unpleasant, even Mac Mansions. Eventually it does end and a partnership will be more valuable than hard feelings. You may find you can compromise and work jointly eventually on island projects for the benefit of all islanders. I wish all parties the best.
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