Among their purposes for visiting was to attend a negotiating session with the city over a proposed gaming casino for Beloit. Before the session, they also toured a new local office the two tribes have come together to renovate and open to the public. On the walls are large, colorful photographs depicting tribal ceremonies as well as patrons visiting existing casinos in the state. Also displayed are narrative panels which tell part of the history of the tribes as well as panels which tell how the tribes invest their earnings and projects with which they have become involved. Its purpose is to offer a local site to help teach people about the St. Croix and Bad River tribes, joint sponsors of the casino proposal for Beloit.
Handouts also are on display for the public on oblong tables about casino-related topics.
The office also will provide the latest information to the public about progress that is made toward implementing the Beloit project, as well, said Robert Pokorney, spokesman and public relations representative for the Bad River tribe. A Beloit resident has been hired to work as a receptionist at the office and will be on hand to field questions people may have, Pokorney added. Presentations to civic groups or others also may be arranged, he said. Should the casino and related commercial development Rockford businessman Kurt Carlson is proposing be developed, the office will continue to function as a meeting place for the tribes and a place to interview people for prospective jobs, Pokorney said. The first meeting to negotiate the terms of the proposal between the tribes and the city of Beloit was held earlier this month.