Casino news source: Baraboo News Republic - http://www.wiscnews.com
Casino project may hurt local economy
By Brian D. Bridgeford
Warning of the loss of millions in income and about 200 jobs, a lobbyist for the Ho-Chunk Nation and the Ho Chunk Casino will be meeting with city and county officials next week trying to rally opposition to a proposed in casino in Beloit to be operated by two northern Wisconsin Chippewa tribes.
Madison-based attorney Mike Rogowski is scheduled to meet with Sauk County's Executive and Legislative Committee on Tuesday morning and the City Council's Administrative Committee early that evening. He said he represents the Ho-Chunk on a variety of issues, including at the state Capitol.
During Tuesday's meetings, Rogowski said he will ask both governments to write letters to Dirk Kempthorne, secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, asking him to oppose the Beloit casino project. Kempthorne oversees the federal agency responsible for relations with American Indians, the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Two Wisconsin tribes, the St. Croix Chippewa and Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, have proposed building an off-reservation casino, hotel and convention center in Beloit. It would have 3,000 slot machines and 75 gaming tables, according to Joe Hunt, the Beloit project spokesman quoted in the Online Casino News. The project plans also include a 500-room hotel and a 35,000-seat convention center.
Rogowski said the new casino would have a negative economic impact on the Ho-Chunk Nation's gambling businesses, particularly the Ho-Chunk Casino between Baraboo and Wisconsin Dells. He is visiting areas where the Ho-Chunk have business interests and casinos to build opposition to the Beloit project.
A study commissioned by the Ho-Chunk Nation estimated losses from competition with a Beloit casino at more than $30 million across the Nation's gambling enterprises, Rogowski said. In the Baraboo area, it estimated about 200 jobs lost.
"There would be a loss of potentially hundreds of jobs, tens of millions of dollars in income," Rogowski said. "(That) does not even account for related vendors and related jobs (lost) in the community."
County Board Chairman Marty Krueger said Rogowski's meeting with the county's Executive and Legislative Committee follows a meeting he had with Rogowski and Ho-Chunk Legislature Rep. Alvin Cloud of Wisconsin Dells. Sauk County and the Ho-Chunk may have some common interests, he said, so it is important for the two parties to talk about the issue.
"There's no doubt there could a sizable economic impact to their operations here in the county," Krueger said. "Because I believe they are the largest employer in Sauk County, we should at least take a look at the resolution.
"I'm in favor anytime of improving relations between units of government," he said.
Committee member Joan Fordham of Baraboo said she has heard of studies that suggest a Beloit gambling operation is not going to have a large impact on our area. However, she said she needs to reserve comment on the issue until she has more information.
"This will be the first time the E&L Committee has discussed this officially," Fordham said. "I don't have any other information on it, other than seeing the TV ads."
Newly appointed Baraboo Alderwoman Elizabeth Brickl also said she wants to study the matter more before taking a stand on it.
Administrative Committee Chairman Gene Robkin said his position prevents him from making any comment until city officials hold their meeting with Rogowski. "My job is to make sure it gets fairly discussed," he said.
Calls to the St. Croix and Bad River Chippewa tribal and casino offices were not returned Friday. |
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