Town of Lac du Flambeau Sends Proposal, Gets Legal Questions in Response

The vice-president of the Lac du Flambeau tribal council has sent a response to a proposal submitted by the town regarding the dispute over expired easements. The meat of the proposal is that the town grants the tribe a permit for right of way for the installation of broadband fiber optic cable for two town roads in exchange for the tribe’s granting of monthly access permits from the tribe for the four roads in question. The town requested a response from the tribe by the 7th. Tribal Council VP George Thompson asked for more information on who can legally grant access to public utilities, information including ownership of Thoroughfare and Moss Lake Roads as well state laws that apply to the town’s request. Thompson also said he found it disturbing that the town was onboard with the broadband project and now is using it as a bargaining chip.