By Supervisor Laura Belsky, Vice Chair – Kenosha County Public Works & Facilities
KENOSHA, Wis. — For nearly two years, Kenosha County has been asked to support a proposed Menominee/Hard Rock Casino without receiving even the most basic information required for responsible decision-making. As a County Board Supervisor and Vice Chair of Public Works, I have repeatedly asked straightforward questions about traffic impacts, environmental risks, economic assumptions, and the project timeline. What we have received instead are silence, missed deadlines, withheld documents, and shifting explanations.
Kenosha County cannot continue down a path where all the risk falls on our taxpayers, while all the control rests with the Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
A One-Sided Termination Clause That Leaves Kenosha Exposed
The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) contains a provision allowing either party to terminate the agreement if the Tribe fails to secure all required approvals by December 31, 2025.
Given the slow pace of federal review, it is increasingly unlikely the Tribe will secure both BIA trust land approval and the Governor’s concurrence by that date. This means that beginning January 1, 2026, the Tribe may choose to terminate the IGA at any time — with no financial obligation to Kenosha County and no remedy for taxpayers.
Why haven’t we taken steps to protect ourselves from being left with nothing after years of waiting? And why hasn’t the County insisted on renegotiating an agreement that no longer reflects two years of delays and unkept promises?
Nearly Two Years Later, Still No Basic Documents
In November 2023, the Menominee Tribe told the full County Board that several key documents were nearly complete and would be shared “within weeks”:
- The Environmental Assessment
- The Feasibility Study
- The Traffic Study
Almost two years later, none of these documents have been provided.
Despite repeated requests, the County has not received:
- Any version of the Environmental Assessment — although a version was sent to the BIA, it has never been shared with Kenosha County
- The Feasibility Study or any updated market projections
- Any Traffic Study or Wisconsin DOT feedback
- Any development plans, site plans, or phasing documentation
- Any confirmation that Hard Rock is contractually committed to the project
No major project anywhere in Kenosha County would be allowed to sit dormant for two years with zero documentation. Yet that is exactly what we are being asked to tolerate here.
Still No Clarity on What Would Actually Be Built
Perhaps the most basic unanswered question remains: What exactly is being proposed for the site?
After two years, the County still has:
- No building plans
- No elevation drawings
- No phasing schedule
- No architectural concepts
- No infrastructure plans
- No utility maps
- No parking or access design
- No emergency access plan
And most importantly:
No confirmation that Hard Rock is legally bound to build anything at all.
This raises fundamental questions:
- Is Hard Rock committed to the development — or merely the brand?
- Why is Hard Rock not contractually tied to the Tribe in a way that binds them to the project?
- Why can’t plans and phasing be submitted now, two years after approvals were granted?
Concerns only grow when compared with the Tribe’s own November 13, 2023 public presentation, where the following timeline was promised:
- April–June 2024: Approval to move the land into trust
- Oct–Dec 2024: Federal approval of development plans
- Jan–June 2025: Financing completed
- April–Sept 2025: Groundbreaking on the development
Not a single one of these milestones was met.
Kenosha County deserves to know what has changed — and why.
The Market Has Changed Dramatically
When this project was first introduced, the Tribe’s projections assumed Kenosha would capture large portions of regional gaming traffic. That is no longer realistic.
Since 2023:
- The Beloit Ho-Chunk Casino is nearing completion.
- The Waukegan American Place Casino received final approval in 2025 and will open a massive 200,000 sq. ft. permanent facility in 2027.
- Rockford’s Hard Rock Casino — the same brand tied to this proposal — has expanded again.
The Tribe’s original Feasibility Study projected that 50% of Kenosha’s expected gaming revenue would come from areas that now have casinos.
That is a major change — yet no updated feasibility analysis has ever been provided.
The Most Troubling Omission: No Environmental Impact Statement
Despite the scale of environmental, public safety, and infrastructure impacts, Kenosha County has not received an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) — and the BIA has not announced a timeline, scoping meeting, draft release, or comment period.
Instead, the Tribe submitted only an Environmental Assessment (EA) to the BIA — a limited document that:
- Does not require a public scoping process
- Does not require publication of a draft
- Does not require public comment
- Does not require a public hearing
For a development that would pave nearly the entire site, fill wetlands, and impact the Des Plaines River Watershed, an EA is not sufficient.
For a project that would also:
- Alter stormwater systems
- Increase downstream flooding risks
- Require major roadway expansions
- Eliminate natural water storage and filtration
…an EA is simply inadequate.
Residents deserve full transparency, a chance to comment, and a thorough analysis of environmental and infrastructure impacts — not a closed-door review.
Traffic Impacts and Infrastructure Costs
The County has also not received the traffic analysis, despite reports that drafts include:
- Routing all I-94 traffic through Highway 158 (52nd Street)
- Restricting access from Highway 50
- Multiple new roundabouts
- Expanded frontage roads
- Widened right-of-way on private properties
- New medians, sidewalks, and bike lanes
- Major stormwater upgrades
- Potential private land takings
Who will pay for these improvements?
We still don’t have an answer.
A Brief Note on Recent Public Commentary
Questions have been raised by outside groups about DEI language in the City/Tribe agreement. My position is simple: my role is not to be for or against the casino, but to ensure due diligence and transparency. Workforce and contracting goals of this type are not unusual in large developments, and any legal questions should be directed to the parties who negotiated the agreement. Until the County receives the environmental, traffic, and feasibility documents that were promised, it would be premature to take a position on the project’s merits.
Kenosha Must Protect Itself
After two years of unanswered questions and unfulfilled commitments, Kenosha County must seriously consider:
1. Issuing notice on January 1, 2026, to terminate the IGA
2. Renegotiating the agreement based on current market conditions and actual impacts
3. Releasing the development corridor so the land is no longer frozen in uncertainty
Kenosha County cannot afford to keep this corridor idle while employers such as Eli Lilly, Haribo, Microsoft, and Uline continue to expand across the region.
Taxpayers Deserve Transparency
This is not about being for or against a casino. It is about responsible government.
Kenosha County deserves:
- Transparency
- Updated and complete studies
- A published environmental review
- Clear development plans
- Hard Rock’s binding commitment
- A modern, fair agreement that protects our residents
Until we receive the documents and clarity we were promised, Kenosha County cannot be expected to move forward blindly. I will continue asking the hard questions until our community receives the honesty and accountability it deserves.
22 Responses
Again, why is this even being considered in the first place? Hwy K west of 94 is predominately farmland. Keep this shit west of 94 where it belongs. Bristol is responsible for the commercial development starting west of 94, with Uline.
Ask the people living along Hwy Q and Hwy MB, how they like their formally quiet rural area now. All of the people making these decisions, don’t even live out here, and have probably never been here. These are developers and real estate companies from CHICAGO! I say fuck them, and fuck this development west of 94! Stupid is as stupid does.
The only reason we don’t know what they plan to build is because they don’t want us to know until we can’t do anything about it. Wake up Kenosha! You are about to get screwed if you don’t stop this dumb project. Remember the failed dog track? Learn from your mistakes, don’t repeat them.
Kind of like the massive solar panels being put in off of 45/C (south).
Yep
Kenosha county no longer a desirable place to live. The county board could care less about the residents. They just want tax revenue for their ridiculous pet projects. Vote them all out on their asses. Destroying our quality of life one development at a time. And yeah fuck you Steve Mills.
Should have bought the land and did what you wanted with it. Don’t hate the player hate the game. Why are the same politicians that make these decisions still there?
Great commentary / opinion piece.
Pick any Bold Paragraph Heading and you can see all these questions about effects on the people of this city and county. All good points.
All physical buildings and environment land points.
Except you are missing the most important point.
Social effects on the troubled gambler.
Burning up the Friday paycheck. Out till all hours of the night. Don’t forget, casinos are 24 hour a day operations. Every day of the year. Even Christmas Day !
There are countless studies on the social cost to the communities that casinos are in. Of the broken families, the domestic violence and abuse. The loss of homes because the money is gone. Increases in homelessness.
All these things happen when a person can just stop for a few minutes on the way home from work to get their fill of the thrill of the lights and bells and whistles.
A few minutes can turn to hours even though a person can gamble away a whole paycheck in just a few minutes. And with ATMs in every corner of the casino. Where does it end ?
But then Sure, why shouldn’t Kenosha jump on this bandwagon ? Every other community that is big enough is thinking about it !
But that’s my point. Waukegan has one now. Potawatomi is just 30 minutes up the road in the other direction. Free parking too !! And virtually every bar and gas station has machines.
If you want to gamble, you don’t need to drive far. But you do have to consciously decide to go. Not just swing in on your way home or on your way out.
And again, what’s in it for Kenosha ??
Certainly not tax revenue. Remember way back when the dog track was going to be a casino ?
It was hashed out then that the tribe is only obligated (actually not even obligated) to throw a few bucks to the local community. They don’t have to but they will.
But it will never be enough to cover our cost. Cost for more police. More social workers to help single parent homes. More people in jail. More drunks on the roadways. More people who lose their jobs because they forget what time it is or even what day it is !!
Again this isn’t about this area getting rich off of this “business”. It about saying we have a casino.
No thanks
You make some good points, but not everyone That walks into a casino has a gambling problem or WILL. If people want to gamble, they will find a way Whether it be here or 30 minutes down the road. There are too many “what ifs”. And casinos arent filled with criminals either!
What’s the upside ?
Kinda like the Buc-ee’s that’s going in in Oak Creek. Other than Buc-ee’s make money, is it really needed ? Every other gas and food station will take a hit. Kwik Trip will lose sales. They’ll survive but they will take a beating.
Though nobody can stop Buc-ee’s from coming.
The way Native American/Indian Casinos are structured, there is no upside for the community. None.
But there is a downside.
Is that what you want ?’
You know who loves casino’s? Criminals.
We do not need nor want a casino here in Kenosha. We have enough trouble without it.
Agree. Plus, they don’t pay taxes, ever. It will become Indian reservation land forever. If this was such a sure thing, it would have been built decades ago. Dumb to support this.
Excellent points. Send Evers a message – we do not want this in Kenosha and the tribe has not completed the required obligations. It should not and cannot go forward. Casinos in general have a negative effect on the surrounding property values and the increased congestion and social costs exhibit a negative risk-benefit profile. Gambling is an industry that consciously exploits the predictable weakness of the most vulnerable people. According to multiple sources, crime increases substantially when casinos are developed. Anywhere from 8 to 30% and the crime isn’t simply relocated to the area surrounding the casino, it’s actually created by the casino.
Home prices can decrease anywhere from 4% to 10% and on top of a heavy inflationary cycle and predicted recessionary economy, this is a significant impact to the people that live and work in southeastern Wisconsin.
Mainly, casinos exacerbate existing social problems in the community such as poverty and addition. 14.8% of Kenosha residents live in poverty and the addition of an entity entirely designed to spend money will not benefit the people casinos are explicitly designed to target.
As Mr. Frum stated in The Atlantic “Casinos don’t encourage non-gaming businesses to open nearby, because the people who most often visit casinos do not wander out to visit other shops and businesses. A casino is not like a movie theater or a sports stadium, offering a time-limited amusement. It is designed to be an all-absorbing environment that does not release its customers until they have exhausted their money.”
A Casino does NOT represent the interests of the people.
https://www.citizensagainstgambling.com/stop-the-kenosha-casino/
…..Casino employees are Prohibited from Gambling at the facility that they work in ?
Undoubtedly this Casino like all the others will employ hundreds of locals.
Let’s encourage the Casino to hire persons that currently live below the poverty line. Let’s require the Casino to have a 24 hour day care facility on site for all employees to use. Free of charge.
Can you imagine how many adults with families, one parent or two, that will try to get jobs here ??
Decent paying jobs. Free daycare. Every opportunity to have good work, child care and a chance to finally rise up into a self sufficient human beings ?
I may even support this “if” one goal was to increase the overall financial health of local families with decent wage earning work and child care that was part of that pay package.
That alone will help the social health of the community. God knows they can afford it !
Anyone ever hear the profit numbers from Potawatomi in Milwaukee ?
Over $300. Million a year ! Last time I heard a number it was closer to $400. million
If this is going to happen, then let’s help those that need help.
It’s probably the only card we have left to play !
Lmao this is the most made up stats I’ve hear in quite a while. You do realize that AI isn’t always accurate, right?
I just want to know where the hell the Fleet Farm is! I’m tired of driving from East Kenosha to Lake Geneva
Kevin, I realize this is an opinion piece not written by you. Just wondering, though, if you personally have reached out to casino developers to get their side of this story. I’m also curious to hear if they reach out to you after reading this editorial.
Great article!
Also worth mentioning that the mayor of Kenosha is in favor of this project as he believes the Tribe will help pay for additional police and a new fire station closer to I-94. Wishful thinking with zero guarantees.
I personally don’t want a Casino as commenters have pointed out, you can get your gambling fix just about anywhere! Besides, we have enough trouble in Kenosha as it is. Hard pass!
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” – Edward Abbey
Did Samantha Kerkman have anything to do with this debacle?
So, Belsky didn’t care that a highways superintendent stole half his salary for 10 years and is still employed on the taxpayers dollar, still destroying the department from the inside on a daily basis, getting worse every day. Boldt & Freitag installing the revolving door in Highways, and she votes to give Boldt a raise.
But, she cares about the nothingburger that is coming of this casino.
Deal with the actual problem at hand. The senior leadership in public works is failing the taxpayers.
This whole casino project is ridiculous and we should take the opportunity to exercise the December 31st deadline and ax this deal 1201 a.m. January 1st. It’s never been a good idea to have signed on to something that will give up land forever with no upside, and it’s never been a good idea to have less than a handshake deal with people who have kept none of their previous projects. Kill this stupid casino and put the land up for sale, it’s way too valuable to give to a shell game of a Florida Indian tribe