Though the Seminole Tribe of Florida has its hands full negotiating a new gaming compact with Florida Gov. Rick Scott, it's also busy trying to close a deal on a new casino 1,500 miles north of its tribal lands.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker made it official last week, turning down a long-planned Hard Rock casino the Seminoles and the Menominee Indian Nation had planned in Kenosha, Wis. But all of a sudden both tribes have new hope the project isn't dead.
They have been invited to consider building their Hard Rock in Illinois, just across the state line, 10 miles from Kenosha.
The town of Zion, Ill., with hundreds of acres offered for development, has expressed an interest in the Menominee going forward with the project there.
An employee in the city of Zion Economic Development Department sent a letter last week to the Menominee. "I can only imagine how disappointing it was to hear that Gov. Scott Walker rejected the project," the letter read. "I believe the project belongs in this area."
Zion Mayor Lane Harrison told WISN-12 News in Milwaukee the topic hasn't been discussed by the board, but admitted he is interested.
Each person has a single vote including myself, so without the full support of the council, we wouldn't even consider something like this, Harrison said. "Certainly, we have the land available, but in the end, it would still have to be a decision for the governor and Illinois Legislature."
Said Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen, If it doesnt happen here, 100 percent -- we believe its going to happen on the Illinois side of the border.
Allen claims hes already fielding calls from Illinois and hes warning officials in Wisconsin that an opportunity for an $800 million development and 10,000 jobs is slipping away.
Walker said he will not change his mind, despite the hundreds of protesters who crowded the Wisconsin Capitol rotunda last week, and even in light of the Menominee offer to contribute $220 million toward the construction of a new Milwaukee Bucks arena in exchange for the governor's approval.
In fact, about a dozen members of the tribe, among the poorest Native Americans in the country, walked more than 150 miles from Kenosha to Madison, asking Walker to meet with them and discuss the proposal.
Walker's initial rejection of the proposal was based on his concerns that the risk to taxpayers would be too great. He said the Menominee had never mentioned the Bucks deal until after he rejected the casino.
The jobs are something we looked at. But, again, if youre on the hook for $100 million -- its a pretty high hurdle, said Republican Walker, on the brink of a 2016 presidential run.
Now, the Illinois government will have a chance to step in. The strategy dates back four years, when then-Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois wrote in a memo that a Lake County casino brings back Illinois dollars that are currently being spent at Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee.
New Gov. Bruce Rauner has said hes open to expanding gaming in northern Illinois -- bemoaning revenue lost to neighboring states.
A lot of our residents leave and give big tax revenue to Indiana. Im not sure thats very smart, Rauner said.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter @NancyLBSmith
