Menominee tribe turns in proposal to Governor, meeting set for Wednesday

KENOSHA -- The Menominee tribe finds itself working against both the clock and two other tribes Tuesday night.  Leaders have until midnight to submit a lengthly proposal to Governor Walker for an $800 million casino in Kenosha. 



The biggest problem remains getting the Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk to agree to it.



 \"I think that's the nature of this business,\" casino project spokesman Michael Beightol said.  \"This is not an unexpected road they've been going down.\"



We're told Menominee Chairman Craig Corn has spent Tuesday finishing the proposal.  It needs to prove they've met the governor's three criteria: no new net gaming (that would include the tribe  closing one of its two existing casinos), community support and consensus among all 11 tribes.



 \"There are things in our proposal that actually include the compacts, but then go beyond the  compacts to address the concerns of the other tribes,\" Beightol said.



But it still doesn't seem like the Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk will be on board.  A Forest County  Potawatomi spokesman referred CBS-58 to a statement released Monday, saying nothing had changed - the tribe remains firmly against the casino.



And Monday at a stop in New Berlin, Governor Walker explained the Ho-Chunk's opposition.



\"They're concerned with any off-reservation gaming just because it threatens their ability to  survive,\" Walker said.  \"That's a tougher hurdle, but again, i said [to the Menominee], ' Make them an offer they can't refuse.'\"



The Menominee apparently did that with the Oneida tribe last week, offering them a business  relationship based on banking in the new casino.  Beightol says the tribe has a  quiet confidence Wednesday will work in their favor.



\"Quite frankly, the leadership of both of the tribes know it's the right thing,\" Beightol said.  \"When  people come together and gather around a table and talk about how they can work together, good  things happen.\"

 

The Menominee tribe will meet with Governor Walker Wednesday morning in Madison.  Stay with CBS-58 for full coverage of those meetings.