KENOSHA, Wis. — A long-discussed proposal to build a Hard Rock casino and hotel in Kenosha moved forward this week after federal officials released a key environmental review — and the accompanying announcement suggests local officials may have worked closely with tribal leaders in preparing the public rollout.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has published a Draft Environmental Assessment evaluating the potential impacts of placing land in Kenosha into trust for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin so the tribe can develop a casino-hotel complex offering Class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The environmental assessment, which followed more than a year of federal review and technical studies, analyzed potential effects on air quality, water resources, traffic, public services and biological resources. Federal reviewers concluded the proposed development would result in insignificant environmental impacts and would comply with federal and state air-quality standards.
The document also found the project has been designed to avoid altering wetlands and other protected aquatic resources and that mitigation measures would protect water resources and floodplain conditions.
Menominee Tribal Chairman Joey Awonohopay described the release of the environmental assessment as a major step forward for the long-running effort to bring a casino development to Kenosha.
“This is a long-awaited opportunity, and we are excited to have arrived at the next phase in this process,” Awonohopay said in a statement. “The EA release marks an important step forward for our tribal members, the people of Kenosha County, and all of Wisconsin.”
According to the federal analysis, the project could generate more than 1,000 permanent jobs once fully operational, along with substantial employment during construction. The review concluded the development would produce positive economic effects for Kenosha County and the surrounding region through employment, income generation and related economic activity.
But the announcement also raised questions about how closely local leaders were involved in the tribe’s messaging.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
The official press release issued Friday by the Menominee Tribe included quotes from Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman and Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala praising the project and urging public support. The inclusion of those statements in a tribal announcement suggests the two local officials may have coordinated privately with tribal representatives ahead of the release to help prepare the messaging.
Kerkman said the federal government’s publication of the environmental assessment moves the project into a public comment phase and encouraged residents to participate.
Bogdala called the casino development an opportunity for economic growth, saying the project would bring jobs and investment to the city.
The environmental assessment is one step in a lengthy federal approval process. The Department of the Interior must ultimately decide whether to place the land into trust for the tribe, a prerequisite for the casino project to proceed.
If approved and built, the proposed Hard Rock development could generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the State of Wisconsin and local governments while providing revenue for the Menominee Tribe to address major needs in health care, infrastructure and education for its more than 9,000 members.
15 Responses
Ah the long fought for by the clicks of Kenosha elites.
Cough, cough, Bull Shit it won’t have an environmental impact.
If your enjoying your crime rates now, you’ll really enjoy what follows after a casino is put in. And oh yeah that wonderful traffic congestion.
This casino will bring more of the following to Kenosha County:
Drugs, drinking (OWI’s), traffic, more drugs, gambling, and all-around degenerate behavior.
And yes, some jobs dealing cards at the blackjack tables and front door security to keep the gun violence outside in the parking lot.
But don’t worry, while our community donates their paychecks, a small percentage of folks will line their pockets with the cash.
The same people who *itch and moan about how bad the economy is and who they blame for it, are the same ones who support this and will be the first ones spending their assistance checks in this, ‘economic opportunity’ parlor.
We already have a ton of alcoholics and drug attics, do we really think that this is best for our city?
I agree with the comm about increased social problems. How many more police are we going to be asked to hire? How many more vehicles? Will the increases in taxes (from the poorest) be enough to cover these additional expenses?
no no no no no! We don’t want a casino here
Potterville
Bedford Falls dissolved in 2020
Isn’t it wonderful that Indians have been given a monopoly financial scalping license?
Yeah “jobs and investment” and “positive economic effects”. Any $ benefit from job growth is made from money taken in minus PROFIT minus other expenses. So minimal $ benefit. And the money spent there will not be spent on the food, movie going, local restaurants n bars, idk – car repairs… that it otherwise would have gone to. It’s like an entertainment Walmart moving in, and you usually leave empty handed. I enjoy casinos once a year or so but NIMBY. Not needed here!
Once the city announces the trolley may be extended West, it’s coming. Drag the “Gamblers” downtown to sit in taverns and look at empty storefronts. Check some real estate records, lots of cornfield been sold to certain people [or developers] lately with many “hidden” partners. It’s coming.
Will they have any “rent by the hour” rooms in that hotel? Follow me?
Potawatomi is getting Shafted
Kerkman , Evers 2 peas in the same pod.
Kerkman is a democrat with an R behind her name
This will bring down home values and crime rates will definitely increase! I’m all for gambling addicts, broken homes, and higher crime, just not located so close to our community. The so-called leaders of Kenosha are so fixated on the casino money that they couldn’t care less about the impact of the community their suppose to serve! We have enough gambling forums around us. We certainly don’t need an Indian Casino in our backyard to get our fix!
Building our community off the backs of people losing their money with some called game called gambling. Remember the house almost always wins. Go to Vegas. Get away from downtown area- look around, that’s not prosperity. One big lie, prosperity my ass..