MOORE HAVEN – The Seminole Tribe of Florida is building a new casino on SR 721 (Reservation Road) and they’re willing to help fund  improvements to the road the casino customers will travel.

Glades County has a grant agreement with the State of Florida for reconstruction of a portion of the road which has been deemed unsafe. “From Bullhead Grade north, the road is outright dangerous,” said one commissioner. The county has a grant from Florida Department of Transportation of about $8 million for repairs.

The Tribe is building a new casino and hotel on SR 721 about 3 miles south of the existing casino. “They are wanting to make improvements to SR 710 all the way from State Road 78,"  explained County Attorney Richard Pringle at the March 12 meeting of the Glades County Commissioners. He said the Tribe wants to improve the portion of SR 721 the grant will not cover.  

Commissioners considered an interlocal agreement between the Tribe and Glades County. The Tribe’s investment in the road improvements would be around $6.5 million.

The Tribe might also want to add cosmetic improvements to the portion of the road the county is rebuilding, subject to the county’s approval, Pringle added.

“The idea is to have a pretty road surface in place at the time the casino opens,” Pringle said. The new casino is expected to open by March 2025.

He said the Tribe is also having discussions with Florida Department of Transportation.

Commissioner Tony Whidden expressed concerns about some of the wording in the interlocal agreement. Commissioner Tim Stanley said he has family members who work for the Tribe and asked if he should abstain from voting. They agreed to table the issue until their March 25 meeting.

In January 2021, Glades County Commissioners lowered the speed limit on SR 721 from north of Brighton Reservation to the Glades County line to 40 mph due to the poor condition of the road surface.

At the Jan. 12 , 2021 commission meeting, James Hull of Aim Engineering told commissioners Florida Department of Transportation has provided some funding for repaving CR 721, but “the road is just caving in." The roadbed is not stable, he said. It is built on muck. Water from Highlands County drains through the area. Cleaning of the drainage canals to remove aquatic plants has caused the drainage canals to become larger which amplifies the problem. At that same meeting, Sheriff David Hardin said the Seminole Tribe has asked the speed limit be lowered on all of County Road 721 due to the number of accidents.