LdF board OKs another payment to the tribe

The Lac du Flambeau town board is working with the town’s legal counsel to develop a proposal intended to resolve the long-running road easement dispute with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

The dispute centers around expired easements on portions of tribal land on four roads: Annie Sunn Lane, Center Sugarbush Lane, East Ross Allen Lake Lane and Elsie Lake Lane. 

The tribal council is seeking nearly $10 million for, by its calculations, past damages since easements for tribal land on the four roads expired more than a decade ago.

In a letter to tribal president John Johnson, Sr., dated April 8, town chairman Matt Gaulke stated that the town “does not have the capacity to raise that amount of money.”

He also told Johnson the length of easement access permits are an issue; under a new road ordinance passed by tribal members in August of last year, those permits can’t be more than one year in length. 

In his letter, Gaulke asked if the tribe would consider granting access permits for a duration of five to 10 years.

After an hour-long closed session during the town board’s May 1 meeting, the board reconvened for a two-minute open session and Gaulke made a statement regarding the road issue. 

“We are, and have been, working on a proposal for the tribe,” he said, adding that another closed session with legal counsel was scheduled for Thursday, May 9, at 2 p.m. “to go over what, hopefully, will be a final draft of that (proposal.)”

“So, yes, we have been working on something and they’re finally getting close to it,” Gaulke said.

Before the meeting adjourned, town supervisor Gloria Cobb made a motion to pay the tribe $44,000 for the May 12 to June 12 time frame and town supervisor Bob Hanson seconded her motion. 

The monthly payments to  keep the roads open after they had been barricaded by the tribe for a few months in early 2023 began at $20,000 last May before the town board approved an agreement with the tribe to add $2,000 each month. 

According to town clerk Susan Schoonover, the total paid to the tribe since the monthly payments began last year is $456,000. 

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].