Casino proposals get mixed receptions in Wisconsin

Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000 | 8:52 a.m.

In the town of Lawrence, a Brown County Board committee agreed to consider a resolution supporting negotiations with the tribe and sent it to the full board.

The tribe's proposal there calls for a $49 million casino and hotel complex along U.S. 41.

The tribe has said it would pay $92.7 million over 20 years to Lawrence and Brown County, which predicts a $4 million budget shortfall next year.

In Lafayette County, about 60 people gathered for the first Citizens for Referendum meeting.

The group plans to petition the governor for a referendum on the tribe's proposal for a casino, convention center and hotel in Darlington.

Lafayette County board members voted 15-1 last Monday to pursue an agreement with the Lac du Flambeau.

"Even people in our group are not necessarily against the casino, but they are here to see that the democratic process takes place," said chairman Mark Ranum.

At the meeting, Lafayette County board members Kenny Taylor and Dick Buschan defended the board's decision.

"This was a chance to bail ourselves out of something," Taylor said. But you may have a point and if you do we will use it."

The tribe has indicated it may make a $4 million annual minimum payment over 20 years to the county, which also is anticipating a budget shortfall next year.

And in Kaukana, the tribe's proposal to convert a former greyhound park into a casino resort was postponed after strong citizen opposition at a special Common Council meeting on the matter.

Hundreds of residents, most opposing the city's negotiations for a casino, water park and hotel at the site, turned out at the Municipal Services Building.

The meeting was originally called to authorize a resolution establishing the gaming site on the city's north side near U.S. 41.

But opponents presented a petition signed by 1,064 people calling to end talks with the Lac du Flambeau and ban the city from negotiating a gaming facility in the future.

Although the petition was not certified, Kaukauna Mayor John Lambie removed the proposed resolution allowing gaming from the agenda.

"I believe it will kill a great economic opportunity for the city," Lambie said. "But the people have spoken."

He said the resolution was meant to "buy some time" in the city's negotiations with the tribe and the dog track's owners, Delaware North.

The petition now moves to the city's Legislative Committee meeting Aug. 14.

The committee can either recommend adopting the petition, which would effectively outlaw gambling in the city, or putting the issue to a referendum in either the Sept. 12 primary election or the Nov. 7 general election.