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RESOLUTION THAT ST. CROIX COUNTY IS NOT IN FAVOR OF
CHIPPEWA MEADOWS CASINO
Resolution No. .2Q a �
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
WHEREAS, the Lac Comte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians,
the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, and the Sokaogon Chippewa
Community Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians have applied to the
United States Department of the Interior to have land located in the City of Hudson, St.
Croix County, Wisconsin placed into trust status for the purpose of operating a Class III
gaming facility (casino); and
WHEREAS, the City of Hudson has found through a study that there are
unresolved issues relating to the casino; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hudson has adopted a resolution of non - support for the
casino; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Troy has found through a study that the casino would
be detrimental to the Town; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Troy, which borders the City of Hudson to the south
(the area where the proposed casino would be located) has adopted a resolution opposing
the casino; and
WHEREAS, the Hudson School District's Board of Education has determined
that the casino would be detrimental to the school district; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota- Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission has found
through a hearing and through consideration of various studies that the casino would have
significant environmental impacts on the St. Croix River Valley and the St. Croix River;
and
WHEREAS, the YMCA has found through a study that the casino would be
detrimental to programs at its Camp St. Croix facility; and
WHEREAS, St. Croix County has found through a study substantial potential
detriment to the County, has requested additional information relating to potential
problems, and has not received any response; and
WHEREAS, other municipalities in St. Croix County have indicated support for
the casino in exchange for payments of money, but these municipalities are not directly
impacted by the casino; and
WHEREAS, in a letter dated April 8, 1998 to then State Representative Sheila
Harsdorf, Wisconsin Govemor Tommy Thompson addressed concerns about a casino in
the City of Hudson by stating:
I will not consider allowing a tribal casino at a dog track until there is
clear local support. Before I would discuss such a proposal with local or
tribal leaders, a resolution in favor of the project must be passed by the
county board and the city council or appropriate municipal government.
(A copy of the letter is attached.); and
WHEREAS, in order to honor the Governor's procedure in considering off -
reservation casinos, a resolution is appropriate.
THEREFORE, be it resolved that, based on the resolutions and the studies cited
above, the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors is not in favor of land in the City of
Hudson being taken into trust for the purpose of operating a Class III gaming facility, and
thereby is not in favor of the Chippewa Meadows Casino.
FURTHER, be it resolved that the County Clerk send a copy of this resolution to
the Governor of Wisconsin, and to State Senator Sheila Harsdorf, State Representative
Kitty Rhoades, State Representative Joe Plouff, and State Representative Mark Pettis.
Offered by the Administration Committee on January 23, 2000.
NEGATIVE AFFIRMATIVE , `
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STATE OF WISCONSIN
COUNTY OF ST. CROIX
I, Sue E. Nelson, St. Croix
County Clerk, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that
the foregoing is a true and correct copy of
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adopted by the Coun Board of Supervisors
at their meeting held awl 0-4 -v1 a 3 . a oc
Sus E. Nelson, St. Croix County Clerk
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• TOMMY G. THOMPSON
�l r -613, `! Governor
• State of Wisconsin
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• April 8, 1998
Representative Sheila E. Harsdorf
15 North Capitol _
Post Office Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708 -8952
Dear Representative Harsdorf:
Thank you for your letter regarding tribal gaming. I appreciate the time you took to write.
I understand your concerns about a proposed casino at a dogtrack in the City of Hudson. The
residents of Wisconsin made it clear, in a 1993 referendum, that they did not support an
expansion of gaming. I appreciate your interest in providing accurate information to your
constituents.
I will not consider allowing a tribal casino at a dog track until there is clear local support. Before
I would discuss such a proposal with local or tribal leaders, a resolution in favor of the project
must be passed by the county board and the city council or appropriate municipal government. If
after passage of such resolutions the community still appears divided over the issue, a local
referendum may be necessary to measure local support. Furthermore, it is vitally important the
Tribe or Tribes have agreements to pay for services provided by local governments.
As you may know, I have recently signed an agreement to extend the gaming compacts of the Lac
Courte Oreilles and Mole Lake Chippewa Bands. The compacts include a significant increase in
payments to the state, new gaming regulations, requirements for agreements to cover local
government costs from gaming, and most importantly no expansion of gaming.
I will be discussing the gaming compacts with leaders of other tribes over the next few months.
As I continue these discussions, I will remember your thoughts and those of the citizens of
Wisconsin.
Again, thank you for writing. I trust this letter addresses your concerns.
Since , -
TO . THOMPSON
Gov nor
TGT /jts
Room 115 East, State Capitol. P.O. Box 7863. Madison. Wisconsin 53707 • (608) 266 -1212 • FAX (608) 267 -8983
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