By Karen Mahoney~Correspondent
The Salem Town Board passed a non-binding resolution supporting the approval of a Menominee Tribal casino at the former Dairyland Greyhound Park in Kenosha. This, after the announcement last week by state representative Samantha Kerkman of a partnership between the Tribe and Seminole Hard Rock International to bring the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to Kenosha. This news is likely to please local fans of gambling and online gambling. Those using sites like netent casino will know exactly what to expect from this development with their familiarity with hundreds of slot and table games available directly on the website.
The resolution passed unanimously, though wording in the resolution presented to the board by Kerkman was changed. Supervisor Dennis Faber was in favor of the casino but was uncomfortable with the wording.
“I am disappointed with the resolution as it says exactly how many jobs will be created, but I don’t believe that they know there will be 3,300 direct and 1,800 indirect jobs,” he said. “It could be more or less. I am also not certain of the payroll amount of $150 million as that could also be more or less. I support the casino, just not the way it was written.”
Supervisors Ted Kmiec and Dan Campion supported the casino, which has been in discussion for the past nine years. Before it opens, it’s likely that players are using online sites to play poker, multihand blackjack and roulette so get prepared. Gambling is rather popular in the area, hence the 9 year discussion and the casino is expected to please a lot of people.
“It is a game changer having Hard Rock International involved in this,” said Campion. “If you have been to one of those centers, it is an awesome place. It is not a floating boat or your average casino. I am all for it. It will bring in good jobs and a number of people coming into the area. We will have a lot of Illinois money in here, especially with the North Shore and Winnetka people coming in because of Hard Rock. It will be right by the airport too, so all the services are right there and I don’t see any downsides.”
Though Supervisor Mike Culat admitted that he is not in favor of gambling, he admitted that if we don’t do something here in Wisconsin, the casino would happen across the border.
“I am in favor of the resolution and I agree, it will possibly bring a lot of business to the area,” he said. “We can change some of the ‘woulds’ to ‘coulds’ in the resolution. It is a substantial investment for the area.”
Slow No Wake hours
The Salem Town Board also approved an ordinance amending the Town Code regarding slow no wake operation on Hooker Lake.
Originally slow, no wake hours began a half hour before sunset to 10 a.m. from Tuesdays through Thursdays.
After the board met last week to discuss the hours, they decided to amend them and make the hours uniform.
They voted unanimously to prohibit operation in excess of slow no wake speeds between the hours of sunset and 10 a.m. every day, either on the shore zone or the traffic lane.
The ordinance takes effect immediately.