Kenosha Casino Alert!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2023
Contact: Lorri Pickens, Lorri@citizensagainstgambling.com; 920-659-4489
Download press release here: CASINO
Lack of Detail and Transparency in Kenosha Casino Process Puts Kenosha Residents at Risk
Kenosha, WI – Intentionally deceitful, embarrassing, and shameful – that sums up Kenosha’s City Council Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) which was the subject of a last minute public hearing on a secretly negotiated deal for a Kenosha Casino. The agreement lacks important details, including a traffic study, renderings, and a specific description of what the tribes actually propose. Instead, the agreement includes a number of “to be determined” notations and does not include secondary agreements pertaining to labor and tourism promotion.
Historically, the City and County have entered into a joint Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the proposed Kenosha casino. This time around, the City and the County have elected to operate with independent IGAs, both of which lack critical detail to safeguard the well-being of Kenosha citizens.
In order to ensure the best interests and safety of Kenosha citizens, the City and the County should do the following:
- Draft a joint City-County Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA)
- Update Menominee Ordinances governing a Kenosha casino, to reflect current city, county, and state laws. These ordinances have not been updated since 2004 and include the wrong parcel of land to be placed in land trust.
- Replace “to be determined” language with complete detail of what will be built, when it will be built, internal and external site renderings, a complete traffic and economic impact study, and ancillary agreements for labor and tourism promotion.
- Redraft the language of the Intergovernmental Agreement to include both the Menominee and Florida Seminole Tribe to ensure proper oversight of both tribes.
- Hire an independent land trust expert to review the IGA and ensure the interests of the city, county, and its residents are duly represented.
Kenosha County will hold three separate committee meetings this week to discuss details of a separate IGA. Passage by any one of the County’s committees will send it to the County Board floor for a vote on November 21. The City will vote on its IGA on November 20.
Citizens are encouraged to attend the committee hearings on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week at the Kenosha County Administration Building, 1010 56th St, Kenosha, WI and voice their concerns.
Committee of the Whole: Tuesday, 11/14 at 6:30 p.m. – County Board Room
Legislative Committee: Wednesday, 11/15 at 6:00 p.m. – 2nd Floor Committee Room
Finance Committee: Thursday, 11/16 at 6:30 p.m. – 2nd Floor Committee Room
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