By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
The Lac du Flambeau band of the Chippewa tribe is proposing a $50 to $100 million casino-convention center development on 60 to 120 acres in the Plover area.
The village of Plover released a fact sheet from the band on Monday, Aug. 21, to share the information with the public before a Sept. 12 advisory referendum on the casino issue.
The village also released the wording on that referendum: "Should the Village Board support a resolution inviting a hotel, convention center and casino complex to the village of Plover?"
Although a specific site isn't identified, the fact sheet says the site would be along Interstate 39, near an interchange.
The proposal says the casino, including office space and parking, would occupy 20 of the acres. That are would be sovereign territory for the tribe and would be removed from the taxrolls.
The hotel-convention center complex would have a minimum of 300 rooms, about triple the size of the band's Lake of the Torches Casino in Lac du Flambeau. The convention center would be 55,000 to 60,000 square feet to serve 1,500 to 2,000.
The fact sheet doesn't include any information about the casino, but Lake of the Torches has 705 slot machines and 16 blackjack tables. However, a copy of the proposal from the Lac du Flambeau handed out at the Portage County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, Aug. 22, says the gaming facility will have 2,500 machines and 40 to 60 blackjack tables.
More than 1,200 people would be employed full-time at the complex, the release says, with wages ranging from $4.25 per hour plus tips to $20 per hour plus benefits. The Lac du Flambeau proposal said another 300 part-time employees would also be hired.
The fact sheet says the tribe would pay $4 million for 20 years to be divided between the village and county and property taxes would exceed a total of $1.4 million, including $250,000 for the village.
In addition, the hotel/motel tax is estimated to generate $209,000 to $234,000 annually to Plover, and the tribe would pay utility connection fees for service charges and make payments in lieu of taxes and community gifts in support of community services.
In addition, the release estimates several hundred jobs could be generated by the convention/tourist trade, although new jobs may increase competition for scarce labor.
Social costs and community service costs aren't identified. Security will be provided at the complex's expense, but increased public safety protection from police and fire is expected.
The fact sheet says the overall economic impact of the project is unknown. "Those opposed to the project say dollars spent on gaming activities will be lost to local trade. Those in favor of the project point out that trade will be brought into this area via the interstate highway and the network of state highways. Further, gaming dollars from the Portage County area are now spent in other places."
The release doesn't summarize discussion about moral issues of gambling. "Further, it is probably inappropriate to do so here. However, the discussion of the morality of facilitating gambling opportunities is acknowledged."