Menominee Tribal leaders held an open house as the Kenosha casino vote approaches

 

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Less than a week before the Kenosha County Board prepares to vote on a proposed casino that has residents on both sides fired-up, an opportunity presented itself Thursday night to the community that's directly impacted. It was an open house in Kenosha hosted by Menominee Tribal leaders.

The Menominee Tribal leaders told CBS 58 that they're trying to be as transparent as possible. They invited the community at large to come out for two hours and ask any question that they would like. 

It was a meet and greet of sorts as the Menominee gear up for the next round in their quest to build a casino just off I-94, and just north of Highway 50. But those who live nearby have concerns and don't all want 60 acres to be turned into space for 15-hundred slots, a 150-room hotel, Hard Rock Café and Hard Rock Live venue with 2,000 seats. The proposal is similar, but smaller than the one former Governor Scott Walker vote down in 2009.

"You know, they were gonna be at the DairyLand Greyhound site which is about 220 acres. This site is 60 acres," said Samantha Kerkman, Kenosha County Executive.

Despite the smaller lot, some think the increase in crime could be just as big.

"They said if there is a crime happen, they have some way of handling it, that's what, they didn't say to prevent it, but handle it. And how does that make you feel? It didn't make me feel any good at all," said Titus Mathews, Kenosha County resident.

Some in the business community aren't feeling so good about the thousand jobs expected at the casino.

"So, my question is where are they gonna get these thousand people to work the casino without raiding our stock and putting us out of business?" said Art DeBaere, Kenosha City Tavern League.

"We want to be good partners. We are moving very, very cautiously forward with the potential employment in the area because we do not want to drain all of the employment opportunities as well," said Joey Awonohopay, Menominee Kenosha Gaming Authority Chairman.

Others left the open house with a sense of confidence and hoping the casino gets all the votes it needs to move forward.

"They're doing pull tabs and gambling machines in every bar, why can't we have the casino?" said Margie Hannes, Somers resident.

"Over a 20-year span, the IGA is expected to yield a projected $80 million to the county's bottom line to help offset costs to the county and help save the taxpayer money. And I'm hopeful that our county board will take what we have negotiated," said Kerkman.

The casino proposal moves on to the full Kenosha County Board for a vote on Tuesday, Jan. 16.