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Specific issues for the 2009 Door County Legislative Days events, May 12-13, 2009, are as follows:
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Our 2009 Legislative Agenda
A Thank You for the Phosphorous Fertilizer Control Bill We would like to thank the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor on the passage and signing of the Phosphorus Fertilizer Control Bill
Maintain the Wisconsin Fund We urge the legislature to continue financial support for replacing of failing home wastewater treatment facilities.
Protect Drinking Water in At-Risk Karst Geology Areas To prevent the contamination of groundwater and drinking water in at-risk regions around the state, legislators must enact legislation that will: Create a “Carbonate Bedrock Management Area” for Kewaunee, Door, Calumet, Manitowoc and Brown counties, in which the application of wastes to land is restricted based on the risk of contamination to groundwater.
Prevailing Wage Rates Expanding to All Public Construction Projects We oppose proposed legislation that would broaden and substantially expand the scope of prevailing wage on traditional public works and publicly funded private construction projects. Locally, expanding the scope of prevailing wage would render our Wire-Tech/Affordable Housing TIFF district un-workable.
Improve DNR process for permitting docks, piers and dredging. Clearer guidelines and more communication needs to be established to streamline the process and promote greater cooperation between all parties involved. Additional resources should be directed as needed to ensure DNR staff have capabilities to process permits.
K – 12 and Tech College FundingThree of Door County’s five school districts receive minimal school aids; two do not receive any equalized aid, but are dependent upon the local school levy for more than 90% of their annual budgets. The Door County schools are doing their job of finding local resolutions for local problems. However, our communities and school districts need state legislators to do their job of finding legislative resolution for problems that extend beyond local jurisdiction. The technical school system provides a valuable service to the State, yet Northern Door County pays a property tax bill FAR in excess of the cost for the students and only limited programs are established to serve the far northern population. The NWTC board should be accountable to the electorate just like local school boards.
Oppose Proposed Legislation to Repeal of Wisconsin’s Uniform School Starting Date Current law prohibits a school district from commencing fall classes in any year until September 1, AB125/SB109 would repeal this provision. This would have a negative impact on tourist visits to Door County, resulting in reduced sales tax revenues for local government and reduced sales in the retail and hospitality sectors of our local economy.
Oppose Moving the Coastal Management Program from Department of Administration to DNR The Coastal Management Program has benefited Door County by supporting economic development, beach protection and water quality projects. Moving it to the DNR and eliminating Coastal Management staff would narrow and shift it’s focus to the regulatory mission relating to water quality.
Ballast Water Permitting Program to Protect Great Lakes from Invasive Species Regulating ballast water discharges is urgently needed to help protect the Great Lakes from invasive species. We urge the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources seek the advice and input of Wisconsin port communities, vessel owner/operators, shippers, shipyards and labor unions as it develops a vessel ballast water discharge permitting program.
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For additional questions on the 2009 Door County Legislative Days agenda, please contact:
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Rob Burke (920) 746-2260 |
Bill Chaudoir (920) 743-3113 |
TOPICS COVERED AT PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE DAYS EVENTS
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2007 Door County Legislative Days Topics
1. Expressing sincerest thanks to the Legislature, state agencies, and the Governor’s Office for their collaboration in recent years that has led to several major accomplishments in Door County such as the new Sturgeon Bay bridge, support for the Sturgeon Bay shipbuilding cluster, the expansion of Highway 57, and other projects.
2. Urging Legislative support of specific items in the 2007 Biennial Budget: a. Exempt funding for county-wide ambulance services from state imposed levy limits; b. Support reauthorization of the State Stewardship Fund; c. Support proposed funding for Invasive Species Protection.
3. Requesting state support of local efforts to protect beach water quality and our unique ecosystems.
4. Creation of a statewide program for mandatory registration of underground propane gas lines.
5. Supporting efforts to reform the state’s school funding formulas.
6. Seeking Legislative action to address rising health care costs.
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In 2005, a volunteer committee worked to develop the legislative and state agency agenda topics and issues that were presented in Madison during the 2005 Door County Legislative Days event. A list of those topics and agenda items can be seen below.
The goal of this on-going effort was to educate state lawmakers and agency officials about Door County and to request legislative and state agency action that would help address local issues and concerns.
Download these documents for much more detailed information:
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2005 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
State AGENCIES AGENDA
Department of Commerce/Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority
Department of Transportation
Department of Administration
Department of Workforce Development
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Tourism
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Public Service Commission
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