Kenosha County Board approves agreement on new casino, now feds and governor to weigh in

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- After hours of debate, the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement to provide services for a new casino and hotel, should it be approved by the federal and state government.

The county's approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement came at 1:18 a.m. after hours of debate that at times became contentious.

The IGA is the latest step in a long process that now hinges on approval from the federal government and the Governor's office.

At the County Board meeting Tuesday night, Jan. 16, roughly 50 people rose during the public comment section of the agenda, speaking for and against the proposal.

The Menominee Tribe will partner with Hard Rock International on the project. The tribe claims the casino project will create 1,000 new construction jobs and will employ 1,000 people if it opens. They said it will also bring hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact.

But many people are skeptical of those numbers and don't feel it's worth the risk.

Of the many varied opinions shared Tuesday tonight, those for the casino essentially want the Kenosha area to reap the economic benefits of the casino. Those against it are morally opposed to gambling and don't want the impacts in their community.

Veronica King of Kenosha said during public comment, "My only concern is, as a clinician, the ripple effect of gambling use disorder. And the impact it has on families."

Ad Pastor John Engberg of the Chain of Lakes Community Bible Church explained he works with people addicted to gambling: "Addiction, and gambling addiction, is rampant. And it devastates families and I see it firsthand."

But we spoke with Jon Lucas, the Chief Operating Officer of Hard Rock International. He told us, "The moral piece of it: to suggest gaming is not here in Wisconsin, and right over the border in Illinois, is just foolish. It is here, and why not have those tax dollars be here in Wisconsin rather than going across the border or to a competitor up in Milwaukee."

Kevin Krantz of Bristol argued, "It's a quality-of-life issue. For the people in my neighborhood. This is not going to add to the quality of life."

But Bob Terry, a member of the Menominee Nation, countered, "It will only slightly increase the gaming opportunities that already exist. The true change a Hard Rock Casino will bring, is currently Kenosha receives none of the economic benefits from this. That will change."

Though approved by both the city and the county, the timeline for the casino project now gets murky. Both the federal government and the governor also need to also approve the plan.

There's no timeline for when the US Bureau of Indian Affairs could weigh in. But the Menominee Tribe wants that to happen while Governor Tony Evers is still in office, believing he's likely to support it.