Lac du Flambeau Chippewa abandon plans for casino in Ashwaubenon

Tuesday, June 13, 2000 | 5:30 a.m.

Tom Maulson, chairman of the Lac du Flambeau band of Lake Superior Chippewa, said the tribe needs overwhelming support for its project and he doubted that would ever happen in Ashwaubenon.

"We feel that even with a scheduled referendum, it may not be enough to continue to propel this to success," he said in a statement. "Our tribal council has decided to seek other gaming facility possibilities."

Maulson declined further comment when reached at his home in Lac du Flambeau.

The referendum in the village was scheduled July 11.

Steve Kubacki, a spokesman for the village, said the village board must now decide whether to vote to cancel the referendum.

The tribe told village leaders there was interest in the casino in the Madison area and in other communities in Brown County, Kubacki said.

The chairman of the Town of Lawrence in Brown County has said his community would be interested.

Local officials confirmed the tribe is interested in a site just south of the Dane County village of Belleville in the Town of Exeter.

The Lac du Flambeau band operates a casino just west of Minocqua in northern Wisconsin. The tribe has been looking throughout Wisconsin to build another casino, but proposals were rejected in the Milwaukee suburbs, Johnson Creek, Belgium and Sheboygan.

The plan for Ashwaubenon called for the tribe to split $92.5 million in payments to the village and Brown County over 20 years, starting with $3.5 million annually and gradually increasing to $5.5 million.

Exeter Town Chairman Bill O'Connor said the tribe approached the town about a month ago looking for about 45 acres for the project, but the idea really depends on Belleville because the complex would have to hook up to the village's sewer and water system.

Still, O'Connor called the proposal exciting.

"That was something I never thought about in my wildest dreams," he said.

Belleville Village President Paul Ziehli said the village board discussed the proposal Monday.

"We need more information," Ziehli said.

An off-reservation casino by the tribe would require approvals from local governments, the governor and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.