SHULLSBURG - The Lac du Flambeau tribe is taking steps to revive its plan to build an off-reservation casino in Shullsburg. The tribe proposed a similar casino more than 10 years ago, but that plan was nixed when it failed to get necessary state and federal approval.
"At this point in time, the progress of the casino is in the hands of the (tribe) to get approval in Washington," Shullsburg Mayor Tom Lethlean said Friday.
Repeated attempts by phone and email over recent weeks to contact a spokesperson for the tribe were not answered.
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians reservation is in Vilas County in the far north central part of Wisconsin. The tribe operates the Lake of the Torches Resort Casino on tribal land there.
Lethlean said his meeting on Wednesday, May 16 with three representatives of the tribe, including Duane Chapman, Internal Gaming Auditor for the Lac du Flambeau Band, went well.
At that time, the tribe was "actively pursuing completing studies" which would be needed to seek approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and to get their Shullsburg property into a required trust for the gaming venture, Lethlean said.
"There is not a 'footprint' yet," he said.
A similar project proposed in 2003 was expected to cost as much as $75 million. Shullsburg residents largely supported the project, with 87 percent voting in favor of it in a referendum.
The new feasibility study would determine the size and scope of the casino project, including a hotel, based on what the market can bear and what the public wants today.
The study would go beyond determining the size of the casino project. "It's going to be the Bible" of the project, Lethlean added.
For now, Shullsburg is sitting patiently, waiting for the tribe to take the proper steps in the proper order.
"It looks promising," Lethlean said, "and moving forward with them, we'll be more involved."
News reports of village meetings with the tribe in March stated that the project could bring as many as 400 to 600 jobs to Lafayette County.
The casino would be located west of the city of Shullsburg on Wisconsin 11 where the tribe owns 93 acres. Seven of those acres are within city limits, according to the Lakeland Times in Minocqua.
Tom Maulson, tribal president, said the political climate is different now than it was 10 years ago and more open to off-reservation gaming expansion, the Lakeland Times reported.
"At this point in time, the progress of the casino is in the hands of the (tribe) to get approval in Washington," Shullsburg Mayor Tom Lethlean said Friday.
Repeated attempts by phone and email over recent weeks to contact a spokesperson for the tribe were not answered.
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians reservation is in Vilas County in the far north central part of Wisconsin. The tribe operates the Lake of the Torches Resort Casino on tribal land there.
Lethlean said his meeting on Wednesday, May 16 with three representatives of the tribe, including Duane Chapman, Internal Gaming Auditor for the Lac du Flambeau Band, went well.
At that time, the tribe was "actively pursuing completing studies" which would be needed to seek approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and to get their Shullsburg property into a required trust for the gaming venture, Lethlean said.
"There is not a 'footprint' yet," he said.
A similar project proposed in 2003 was expected to cost as much as $75 million. Shullsburg residents largely supported the project, with 87 percent voting in favor of it in a referendum.
The new feasibility study would determine the size and scope of the casino project, including a hotel, based on what the market can bear and what the public wants today.
The study would go beyond determining the size of the casino project. "It's going to be the Bible" of the project, Lethlean added.
For now, Shullsburg is sitting patiently, waiting for the tribe to take the proper steps in the proper order.
"It looks promising," Lethlean said, "and moving forward with them, we'll be more involved."
News reports of village meetings with the tribe in March stated that the project could bring as many as 400 to 600 jobs to Lafayette County.
The casino would be located west of the city of Shullsburg on Wisconsin 11 where the tribe owns 93 acres. Seven of those acres are within city limits, according to the Lakeland Times in Minocqua.
Tom Maulson, tribal president, said the political climate is different now than it was 10 years ago and more open to off-reservation gaming expansion, the Lakeland Times reported.