Kenosha casino complex plans advance with Common Council vote of approval

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- An incredible turnout Wednesday night for a big vote in Kenosha, years in the making. 

The Common Council voted to approve the casino, advancing it to the county board for a vote later this month.

Kenosha Common Council approves the casino which advances it to the county board for a vote later this month @CBS58

— Michele Fiore (@michelehana) January 4, 2024

Nine years ago, the Kenosha casino got a lot of "yes" votes to build a casino at the old Greyhound Park. "Yes" from the Common Council, "yes" from the county board, and "yes" from the feds. But when it got to Governor Walker's desk, it was a "no."

The Menominee tribe's back, and this is just one step at bringing that casino here. 

The community's fired up, and both sides showed up, leaving standing room only at the Kenosha Common Council's special board meeting Wednesday night. Strong opinions were voiced during the public comment portion of the meeting. 

"I say vote 'no,' even if it's hard to do, because it's the right thing to do," said Kenosha resident Kathleen. 

"I'm here to support the casino," said Salem resident Rick Wallace. "Reason being, we don't have a lot of entertainment in Kenosha."

These are renderings of what the Menominee tribe's hoping to build just off I-94, just north of Highway 50. Gaming tables, 150 hotel rooms, pool, a large live entertainment venue and a Hard Rock Cafe.

Construction workers expressed great interest in jobs that would come from the project, but some are skeptical of that.

"I'm here to oppose bringing a casino to Kenosha for various reasons. There is already a serious labor shortage here in Kenosha. That will only add to it," said Tim Stocker, Kenosha County board supervisor. 

"I'm not saying that the intentions aren't there, but the economy's not there and the market's not there. So in the end, business is going to do what's best for business and once they lose control of that 60 acres, there's no going back," said Lorri Pickens, executive director of Citizens Against Expanded Gambling. 

The following is a statement released by the Menominee Indian Tribe after the Wednesday meeting: