VERONA - The public comment period is over and a decision on the Oneida Indian Nation's land into trust application could come at any time. The Nation originally asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs to place 17,000 acres of Nation land in Oneida and Madison counties into trust with the federal government. Land in trust is not subject to government taxation.

The Bureau recommended 13,000 acres for trust - including Turning Stone Casino. A final decision can come at any time. A Department of the Interior Official will make that final determination of just how much, if any, Nation land goes into trust with the federal government.

In letters to Bureau of Indian Affairs, or, "BIA" officials, the Oneida Nation talks about their preferred alternative to the 13,000 acres the BIA suggested be placed into trust. It is their original request for 17 thousand acres.

Similarly, a letter to BIA officals from Madison and Oneida Counties advocates for their original desire - that no nation land be placed into trust.

It might look like a lack of desire by the counties and the nation to compromise, but actually, the two sides are meeting Wednesday at Turning Stone Casino to talk and see if they can come to some kind of agreement that would keep them out of court, and help them avoid decades of complex legal maneuvering.

County Executive Anthony Picente says he realizes compromise means no one is completely satisfied.

"We're not going to be entirely happy," Picente said. "They're not going to be entirely happy, but we need to move on. We need to move this issue beyond what we have been doing and bring some finality or at least some comfort that this cloud doesn't hang over our head again for another 34 years."

Once again, a decision on the Land into Trust Application could come at any time. Picente isn't sure when that will be, but he does expect to talk with BIA officials later on Tuesday and might have a better idea after that conversation.