Beloit Council to vote on land sale to Ho-Chunk
BELOIT — The Beloit City Council will decide Monday night whether to sell 41.5 acres of city property to the Ho-Chunk Nation at the site of the tribe’s proposed casino for $1.87 million.
The nation already owns 32 acres at Willowbrook and Colley Roads just off Interstate 90-39 near the stateline, a site where it wants to build a casino, hotel and convention center.
The city of Beloit owns 41.5 acres in three parcels contiguous to the casino site, which the city would sell to the nation in a land contract.
The council will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the sale in closed session, then reconvene in open session to consider approving the sale, according to the agenda.
According to a draft of the land contract purchase agreement included with the agenda, the nation would make a $187,195 down payment at closing, and the balance would be paid off monthly over 10 years with a 4-percent interest rate.
The Bad River and St. Croix Chippewa previously had an option with the city to buy all but 1.2 acres of the land in the proposed sale.
The Chippewa tribes’ application to build a casino at the site was denied by the federal government in 2009.
The city plans to use about $160,000 from the sale to reimburse the sewer fund, which the city used to buy the property in 1982. The balance of the proceeds will be used for debt service on the tax-incremental financing district for the area and other TIF expenses to support the casino project, according to the proposed resolution to authorize the sale.
After the TIF district expires in 2022, the money would go into the city’s general fund.
The nation still is waiting for approvals to build its 145,000-square-foot gaming facility, which also would include a 300-room hotel and a 35,000-square-foot convention center.
The Ho-Chunk in spring 2012 submitted its application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the off-reservation project in Beloit. The application review typically takes up to two years, and the Wisconsin governor has the final say on approval of the project.
Feb 17, 2013 at 9:44 p.m.
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The tribe already owns the land for the casino. This land would be for additional development.
Feb 17, 2013 at 4:05 p.m.
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Note to "Beatrice"...You are correct on one thing..people ARE watching their money closer these days...HOWEVER...there is definatly money spent on gambling!! Casinos are definatly NOT beginning to phase out!!! Absolutly not. My husband and I do like to gamble at Ho-chunk in the Dells. Not ashamed to admit that. Eat a good meal, take in a show,do a bit of gambling. That place is always always packed! FULL of people. Too many people, and at all hours of the day and night. Gambling is not a thing of the past. Its going strong..economy issues or not.
Feb 17, 2013 at 3:41 p.m.
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Give nonindians the same right the have casinos then
Feb 17, 2013 at 2:45 p.m.
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wow..so they're trying to bring jobs here, but because they're native americans, forget it? come on...and the comment about "it's not holy land"...dolt sums it up nicely...
of course people gamble, and it's in no way being phased out as beatrice stated...tourism dollars is what they are after here, people...and that is a good thing...there are so many 'out-of-staters' who come here to spend money already, this would be just another stop on their way to the Dells or farther north...sell them the land and let them build...
Feb 17, 2013 at 11:59 a.m.
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Beloit City Council is not going to listen to anyone who doesnt agree with them. Did you read the article. Theyre going to have aclosed meeting, then vote FOR the stupid cansino. Its a done deal.
Feb 17, 2013 at 11:45 a.m.
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make them pay cash for it. the guy from Janesville dropped 26 million of someone else money with them. the city will not give me a 4% 20 year loan.
Feb 17, 2013 at 7:54 a.m.
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Very Bad for nonindians
When will those in power open their eyes
This is only good for the indians
Feb 17, 2013 at 7:52 a.m.
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Very Bad for everyone
When will those in power open their eyes
This is only good for the indians
Feb 17, 2013 at 6:59 a.m.
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Beloit has been trying to get this stupid thing built for over 10 years. It a STUPID idea. It's time to give up and go after legitimate business to bring jobs here.
Feb 16, 2013 at 11:07 p.m.
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Sure you can buy it. BUT it's not holy land, so no casinos!!
How retarded. I guess I should open up a casino, I have just as much right as they do. Talk about discrimination. Holy Cow!!
Feb 16, 2013 at 7:23 p.m.
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Rather than set monthly payments, perhaps the Tribe should offer to let the city council members come to the casino once a month (once it opens) and bet the whole payment on zero at the Roulette table. Then at least the city would be in the same boat as Beloit's residents who'll go there and lose their rent too.
Feb 16, 2013 at 5:52 p.m.
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This Casino idea is not good. The City of Beloit leaders do not realize how bad the economy is. People are really watching their money now days. They have no money to spend on gambling. Also, Casinos are beginning to phase out...be a thing of the past. It's a dead deal. Wake up City of Beloit.
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