Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The: Brown County pushing for a casino deal

Brown County pushing for a casino deal

Officials feel `urgency' as Lac du Flambeau Chippewa move on other projects

By RICHARD P. JONES

of the Journal Sentinel staff

Thursday, August 31, 2000

The Lac du Flambeau Chippewa's agreement to build a casino in Lafayette County has Brown County officials negotiating in earnest with the same tribe to strike a casino deal in the Town of Lawrence.

"There is a sense of urgency, that if Brown County has an interest in being a player in this debate, there isn't a lot of time to spare," Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum said Wednesday.

Nusbaum said she and other local officials met Tuesday with representatives of the tribe in "a very serious, hardworking negotiating session." She said they had yet to discuss the details of any proposal.

The Lac du Flambeau last week announced that it would build a casino in Shullsburg in Lafayette County in southwest Wisconsin. The tribe and county earlier this month signed a 20-year deal that calls for the Lac du Flambeau to pay the county $80 million for putting the casino complex there.

However, the tribe hopes to open two off-reservation casinos and is continuing to look at other sites.

Nusbaum said she and other Brown County officials are aware of the tribe's attempt to convert a failed dog track into a casino just west of the Brown County line, in Kaukauna. The Kaukauna deal will be on the Sept. 12 ballot for Outagamie County voters. If local officials and voters agree to the off-reservation casino, such a proposal must be approved at the state and federal levels.

Judy Benz, Lawrence town clerk, said Wednesday the tribe had made an offer to purchase farmland off U.S. Highway 41.

Benz described a $49 million project, including a $19 million casino and $30 million hotel, with 200 rooms and three restaurants. She said Lawrence stood to gain 1,000 jobs and split $92.7 million with the county over 20 years.

Benz said the tribe also had offered to contribute $50,000 a year to the town's volunteer fire department. Furthermore, the tribe would pay the project's infrastructure costs, such as roads and water and sewer service.

However, tribal spokesman Dick Matty said he knew nothing about such a proposal.

"I actually don't know where those numbers come from," he said. "If we're talking a convention center and hotel of at least 150 to 250 (rooms), something like that, including a restaurant, casino and so forth, we're looking at a total of at least $100 million, however way you cut it."

Matty said the tribe is intent on building a casino at least twice the size of the one it now operates on its reservation in Vilas County. That casino has 753 slot machines and 16 blackjack tables.