February 05, 2016


Hello and welcome back to the newest edition of my E-Update!  A lot has happened here at the Capitol since my last E-update that I would like to share with you. 

Well Compensation Bill: Public Hearing

On Thursday, my Well Compensation Bill, Assembly Bill 822 (AB 822), was given a public hearing in the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry.  Kewaunee County Conservationist Davina Bonness testified at the hearing, and I was glad to have her speak in favor of my bill.  Together we conveyed to the Committee the challenges faced by Kewaunee County residents in dealing with groundwater contamination and the importance of providing assistance to those who need to treat or replace wells contaminated through no fault of their own.  AB 822 expands the current Well Compensation Program by increasing the household income limit from $60,000 to $90,000 and the maximum payment from $9000 to $12,000.  This means that more citizens will be eligible for more assistance.

As I have discussed before, the Department of Natural Recourses (DNR) is holding meetings with community leaders and stakeholders to address the various aspects of the groundwater contamination issue.  The work of the Short-term Solutions Workgroup was considered the most urgent.  AB 822 is by no means intended to be a solution to the problem, but we must make sure that every citizen of the county has access to clean, safe drinking water as we work toward the best solution.  The workgroup on Sensitive Areas/ Best Management Practices plans to release their recommendations in February.  These will address at the root cause of the problem.

While it is easy to get discouraged when facing such a difficult problem, I think it is important to step back and consider the progress that has been made in the last year.  Passage of the Groundwater Protection Ordinance is a huge step to stopping winter manure spreading in sensitive areas.  The investment by the DNR in well testing and holding these meetings will pay big dividends.  The attainment of a $50,000 grant to study the feasibility of Project Phoenix to establish communal digesters is also very promising.  Finally, the new staff member hired this month in the Land and Water Department to review Nutrient Management Plans is a very big step toward assuring proper waste management.  As I have said many times, this complex problem will not be solved by one simple bill. AB 822 is one more step toward achieving our goal of clean groundwater in Northeast Wisconsin.

In-District Listening Sessions

The Assembly is planning to wrap up this session by the beginning of March.  My colleagues and I have had a busy couple of weeks in Madison, and I would like to connect with my constituents to discuss recent progress, and the future of our district.

I will be holding two in-district listening sessions on Monday, February 8, and anyone who can make it is invited to attend.  The time and locations are listed below:

Kewaunee County Listening Sessions
Where: Algoma City Hall; Council Chambers
When: Monday, February 8th from 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Door County Listening Session
Where: Sturgeon Bay High School; Library
When: Monday, February 8th from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Intern: Bjorn Johnson

 Bjorn Johnson, a native to Door County and Junior at UW-Madison, is interning with my office this spring.  Bjorn graduated from Gibraltar High School in 2013, and is currently studying Political Science at UW-Madison after transferring from Arizona State University last fall.  His internship will be fulfilling three course credits in the Political Science department that will be put forth towards his undergraduate degree.

You may know of Bjorn's family restaurant, Al Johnson's, or more commonly referred to as "the place with the goats on the roof."  Coming from a family with a long-standing tradition within the community, Bjorn claims that he is excited to gain insight into the legislative process, and that he is honored to help serve the constituents of our home District.

After he graduates college, Bjorn plans to achieve a career that merges his love for politics and government, and his love for sports and athletics.  He is even considering the option of entering a graduate program that would focus on sports management, administration, and/or law.  Bjorn is excited to use his time assisting constituents as a way to help develop his skills for his future career goals.

Bjorn will be working in my office every Monday and Thursday mornings, and if you call in or stop by my office in Madison you may be able to catch him.

Blue Books Available

If you would like a complimentary copy of the 2015-2016 Wisconsin State Blue Book, please follow the proved link:

          http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/01/kitchens/constituent-services/ 

The 2015-2016 Blue Book is also available online:

          http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/publications/wisconsin-blue-book/

In Closing...

Thank you for taking the time to read over my E-Update.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact my office.

Representative Joel Kitchens
 

     

As always, if you have any comments or thoughts regarding the subject of this
E-Update, please feel free to contact me.

If you would like to be removed from future mailings, email me and ask to unsubscribe.

State Capitol Room 10 West - PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708
(608) 266-5350
Email: Rep.Kitchens@legis.wi.gov