Supervisors have agreed to open discussions with the Tejon Native American Tribe over how it’s going to govern itself on a proposed reservation inside Kern County’s boundaries.

Kiana Buss with the California State Association of Counties told supervisors Tuesday that the county can’t stop the group from building a casino, which they announced plans for last year.

“If the federal government acknowledges a tribe and determines that they have lands eligible for gaming, they can enter into a compact with the governor,” she said.

But that wouldn’t happen until that land enters a federal trust, tribal representative Kevin Wadzinski said.

The tribe has 300 acres in escrow near Mettler.

Both sides are also trying to figure out who would handle crime and fire response.

– Anthony Pollreisz