Beloit Daily News November 12, 2003 Strong support for casinoTribes say comments before BIA running 10-1 favorable
By Debra Jensen-De HartDaily News staff writer
As the proposed casino project for Beloit winds its way through the fourth year in the process, support for the project appears to be stronger than ever.
And some things have come full circle.
Take, for instance, the recent elections held by both the Bad River and St. Croix tribes of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians _ the two groups proposing the project.
Bad River Chairman Eugene Bigboy was defeated by Donald Moore Sr., the original chairman four years ago when the casino idea was first brought to Beloit.
After the original proposal came forward, the Bad River joined with the St. Croix to form a joint deal. At that time, the St. Croix Chairman was Jay Emory. He was recently defeated by David Merrill.
Both Merrill and Moore said they will continue to work towards implementation of the project.
Both recently visited with the regional office representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Snelling, Minn., where the casino application and about 4,000 pages of related comments from the public and reports continue to be examined.
``It was a very good meeting. We had a chance to speak personally with Director (Larry) Morrin. We told him we were eager to get the show on the road,'' Merrill said.
``They explained to us that the ball is in their court. Once they have completed sorting, cataloguing and cross referencing the submitted comments, we will be contacted to provide additional information.
``We've had a chance to do a preliminary review of the comments that were received. Support for the project is running at over 10-to-1 in favor. There is significant public support for our application,'' Merrill said.
``Newly elected Bad River Chairman Don Moore has always been a big advocate of the casino project and I am very happy to be working directly with him once more,'' he added.
At this point, the tribes are standing by ready to address concerns which may arise from the 4,000 pages of information, said Joe Hunt, public relations representatives for the tribes.
They are moving forward with plans for the temporary casino facility they will construct if the application gets the final OK, Hunt said.
The tribes are allowed to set up a temporary casino and have up to 18 months to complete the permanent structure under the agreement between the city and the tribes, he said.
The casino complex alone is projected to cost $175 million and generate 3,000 new jobs to the area.
The project also is expected to include a 500-unit hotel, 2,000-seat theater, a 300-seat buffet restaurant, 150-seat upscale restaurant, 150-seat coffee house, a 250-seat sports bar, 35,000-square-foot convention center and a 68,000-square-foot water park.
The tribal portion of the project will take up 26 acres put in trust.
Partnering with the tribes in the project is Rockford businessman Kurt Carlson.
Carlson has offered to build a number of businesses adjacent to the casino on city-owned land. Currently, he has the option to purchase nearly 139 acres located on the west side of Interstate 90 near the wastewater treatment plant.
But Carlson also said on Tuesday he is interested in about 70 acres adjacent to the property, which is privately owned.
The land is where a proposed power plant was to be located, but the plans did not come forward, Carlson said.
Meanwhile, his option with the city will terminate at the end of December, Andrew Janke, Beloit economic development director said. The city is proposing giving Carlson a one-year extension on the option which is expected to come before the Beloit City Council in December, Janke said.
When asked if the council plans on renewing the option, Council President Terry Monahan said he believes it will.
``I think everyone on the council supports it. In fact, there hasn't been anyone even running for council in the last three years who hasn't supported it,'' he said.
Monahan said he is aware there are pockets of people in the community who oppose the casino, but he also believes there is more universal support to get the project up and running.
``Although the project has taken longer than the city would have hoped, it is a viable project and it will bring jobs and tourists to the community,'' Janke said.
The application will continue to be scrutinized at the regional BIA office until all questions have been answered. Then the documents, along with a recommendation either for or against the casino, will be forwarded to the BIA office in Washington, D.C.
After that, it goes to Gov. Jim Doyle's desk for a final decision.
``I'm 99 percent sure it's going to happen. It's just a matter of when,'' Carlson said.
Like the tribes, he has been moving forward with development plans concerning an outlet mall he wants to construct, he said.
As for the building of a temporary casino, Carlson said part of the hotel/convention center which sits on trust land could be built to accommodate those needs. A parking lot also would be finished and patrons would exit onto Colley Road, he said.
And some things have come full circle.
Take, for instance, the recent elections held by both the Bad River and St. Croix tribes of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians _ the two groups proposing the project.
Bad River Chairman Eugene Bigboy was defeated by Donald Moore Sr., the original chairman four years ago when the casino idea was first brought to Beloit.
After the original proposal came forward, the Bad River joined with the St. Croix to form a joint deal. At that time, the St. Croix Chairman was Jay Emory. He was recently defeated by David Merrill.
Both Merrill and Moore said they will continue to work towards implementation of the project.
Both recently visited with the regional office representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Snelling, Minn., where the casino application and about 4,000 pages of related comments from the public and reports continue to be examined.
``It was a very good meeting. We had a chance to speak personally with Director (Larry) Morrin. We told him we were eager to get the show on the road,'' Merrill said.
``They explained to us that the ball is in their court. Once they have completed sorting, cataloguing and cross referencing the submitted comments, we will be contacted to provide additional information.
``We've had a chance to do a preliminary review of the comments that were received. Support for the project is running at over 10-to-1 in favor. There is significant public support for our application,'' Merrill said.
``Newly elected Bad River Chairman Don Moore has always been a big advocate of the casino project and I am very happy to be working directly with him once more,'' he added.
At this point, the tribes are standing by ready to address concerns which may arise from the 4,000 pages of information, said Joe Hunt, public relations representatives for the tribes.
They are moving forward with plans for the temporary casino facility they will construct if the application gets the final OK, Hunt said.
The tribes are allowed to set up a temporary casino and have up to 18 months to complete the permanent structure under the agreement between the city and the tribes, he said.
The casino complex alone is projected to cost $175 million and generate 3,000 new jobs to the area.
The project also is expected to include a 500-unit hotel, 2,000-seat theater, a 300-seat buffet restaurant, 150-seat upscale restaurant, 150-seat coffee house, a 250-seat sports bar, 35,000-square-foot convention center and a 68,000-square-foot water park.
The tribal portion of the project will take up 26 acres put in trust.
Partnering with the tribes in the project is Rockford businessman Kurt Carlson.
Carlson has offered to build a number of businesses adjacent to the casino on city-owned land. Currently, he has the option to purchase nearly 139 acres located on the west side of Interstate 90 near the wastewater treatment plant.
But Carlson also said on Tuesday he is interested in about 70 acres adjacent to the property, which is privately owned.
The land is where a proposed power plant was to be located, but the plans did not come forward, Carlson said.
Meanwhile, his option with the city will terminate at the end of December, Andrew Janke, Beloit economic development director said. The city is proposing giving Carlson a one-year extension on the option which is expected to come before the Beloit City Council in December, Janke said.
When asked if the council plans on renewing the option, Council President Terry Monahan said he believes it will.
``I think everyone on the council supports it. In fact, there hasn't been anyone even running for council in the last three years who hasn't supported it,'' he said.
Monahan said he is aware there are pockets of people in the community who oppose the casino, but he also believes there is more universal support to get the project up and running.
``Although the project has taken longer than the city would have hoped, it is a viable project and it will bring jobs and tourists to the community,'' Janke said.
The application will continue to be scrutinized at the regional BIA office until all questions have been answered. Then the documents, along with a recommendation either for or against the casino, will be forwarded to the BIA office in Washington, D.C.
After that, it goes to Gov. Jim Doyle's desk for a final decision.
``I'm 99 percent sure it's going to happen. It's just a matter of when,'' Carlson said.
Like the tribes, he has been moving forward with development plans concerning an outlet mall he wants to construct, he said.
As for the building of a temporary casino, Carlson said part of the hotel/convention center which sits on trust land could be built to accommodate those needs. A parking lot also would be finished and patrons would exit onto Colley Road, he said.
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