Jan. 17, 2024 1:45a
(WGTD)---The Kenosha County Board voted narrowly early Wednesday morning to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the Menominee Indian Tribe that could increases the chances of a Hard Rock casino coming to Kenosha.
The vote--at the end of a six-hour-long meeting--was 10-9.
It came after supervisors--by a vote of 14-5--rejected a call for a county-wide referendum. Because the state legislature recently prohibited local governments from holding advisory referendums, the maker of the motion--Supervisor Terry Rose--proposed that adoption of the IGA be contingent on the approval by the voters of a binding referendum.
Casino supporters viewed the call for a binding referendum as a stalling tactic that could possibly jeopardize the project. Two previous casino referendums--held years ago--were both approved by the voters.
Earlier this month, the Kenosha City Council approved its own IGA by a vote of 11 to 6.
In order for the casino to become a reality, both the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the governor have to sign off on it.
The Menominees expect a decision from the BIA to come before the end of the year. If the agency approves, then the governor would have a year to render a decision.
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