It also stated that failing to comply with the health order could impact a tribe’s ability to “obtain assistance and reimbursement for emergency protective measures such as law enforcement and other measures necessary to protect public health and safety.” “This will, at a minimum, include restricting access to tribal lands by the general public,” the letter read. In it, Gore said if the tribes did not comply with the county health order, he would be forced to “take measures to protect public safety.” The Sheriff sent a second letter to the tribes on March 19, the day before the expected closures. In a letter sent on March 18, Gore informed the tribes that any establishment that refused to follow the county’s new rules would be in violation of the public health order - an order the sheriff had the power to enforce.Īlthough casinos were in operation at the time, five tribal governments announced that same day that they intended to close on March 20.
