Menominee Tribe to host community open house on proposed Kenosha casino

Submitted by admin on Tue, 09/01/2024 - 17:14

The event — open to Kenosha County residents including members of the County Board — is set for Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Kenosha Human Development Services, 3536 52nd St.

It will be held days ahead of the County Board’s Jan. 16 vote on an intergovernmental agreement with the tribe that includes $82 million in proposed revenue sharing from “net win” proceeds and other contributions over two decades.

The net win is the difference between the total amount wagered on gaming and the amounts the casino would pay out in prizes. The county is projected to receive more than $33 million the first 10 years, or 1% of the net win revenue, tribal sales taxes and annual payments to promote responsible gaming and charitable donations. The next 10 years, the county’s estimated revenue share would grow to more than $48.7 million, which includes 1.33% of the net win and all other contractual payments in the agreement.

Last week, the City Council voted 11-6 to approve its own intergovernmental agreement with the tribe, which hopes to work with Florida-based Hard Rock International and build a $360 million casino complex in the City of Kenosha on 60 acres just west of Interstate 94.

Under both the city and county agreements, the Menominee would apply to the U.S. Department of the Interior to place the lands in federal trust for gaming purposes, effectively taking them out of taxing jurisdictions.

Payments in the intergovernmental agreements are intended to help offset projected losses from tax revenues and costs for projected future increased costs of law enforcement and social services as a result of the casino. The County Board postponed voting on the agreement last month with supervisors calling for more time to vet it.

Representatives from both the Menominee Indian Tribe and Hard Rock International are expected to be on hand during the open house to meet with residents, answer questions and provide more information about possible amenities at the complex.

“We’re pleased to have another opportunity to share more information with the residents and County Board supervisors of Kenosha County,” said Tribal Chairwoman Gena Kakkak in a prepared statement. “We look forward to meeting and sharing more information with them, further establish and build our relationships in the community and discuss further details regarding the project. We hope to see you there!”

Kenosha County Finance Director Patricia Merrill will be in attendance to provide information as to the casino’s potential impact on the county budget. Also to attend will be James M. Klas, one of the principal authors of a recent economic impact study on the project.

Source: Kenosha News

Preview Image: Menominee Nation Hard Rock Rendering