BOWLER - The Stockbridge-Munsee Community will join other native nations with state reservations in voluntarily shutting down its gaming operations for two weeks by midnight March 21.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Shannon Holsey, Stockbridge-Munsee tribal president, said, “We recognize the grave consequences that disease can have on populations, as well as the seriousness of the current global pandemic.”
Menominee Casino Resort will be part of the statewide shutdown, according to a letter from Tony Sadler, casino acting general manager, posted on its Facebook page Tuesday afternoon.
The Ho-Chunk casino in Wittenberg was expected to follow suit but an anticipated announcement from the tribe’s headquarters in Black River Falls was not made on Tuesday afternoon.
The shutdown must include all tribal gaming as it’s critical to public health that the tribes act together, Holsey continued.
In elaborating on the statement, Holsey told the Leader, “Please understand that we will continue to re-assess the situation as it seems to evolve hour-by-hour.”
Sadler echoed the commitment to monitor and respond to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic in the Facebook posting.
This includes a coordination meeting with the Wisconsin governor’s office on Tuesday afternoon, Holsey said.
Tribal employees will continue to be paid during the shutdown, Holsey added, “We don’t want to cause any unnecessary hardship.” The tribe is Shawano County’s largest employer with just under 1,000 working in gaming and other enterprises.
Holsey emphasized that other tribal critical operations, including the clinic and some senior services, will remain open.
Sadler said the casino’s Forest Island Restaurant and Thunderbird Complex will offer a takeout food service immediately. The tribe’s Thunderbird Convenience Store will also remain open.
During this final week of gaming, the statement continues, “We are implementing measures to safeguard employees and patrons during this period such as enhanced cleaning operations, cancelling group events, facilitating social distancing between customers at tables and machines and modifying food operations.”
The statement said the tribes are working on the logistics of shutting down operations that employ thousands of people in an orderly manner that complies with state gaming regulations.
The Menominee Casino will shorten its hours, closing from 2 - 7 a.m. starting on March 18, for what Sadler called “additional deep cleaning measures.”
The tribes intend to respect Governor Tony Evers’ recent announcement of limitations on gatherings and operate at 50% capacity during this time, the statement added.
“As our state faces a public health crisis, I am committed to standing with Wisconsin’s tribal nations and working with them to keep their communities and the public safe. Right now, it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep each other healthy and safe,” the governor is quoted in the statement on Tuesday.
Holsey said, “We recognize the importance of public health and are prepared to do our part as a tribal nation and stand with other tribal nations to protect the well-being of the larger communities.”
While most casinos are located in areas not currently identified hot spots for infection, the statement said the tribes recognize that preemptive action is useful to help flatten the curve of infection rates so that COVID-19 can be managed by the existing health care system.
The statement said the tribes, as sovereign nations, pledge to work with all of our partners on the tribal, federal, state, and local levels to be responsive to COVID-19 and the related public health issues.
The statement added the reminder that patrons and employees should be responsible and not come to tribal facilities if they are ill.
Information accurate as of March 16, 4:11 p.m.
