Governor Scott Walker proclaimed this past Tuesday as “Fab Lab Day” in Wisconsin and announced $500,000 in Fab Lab grant funding for school districts throughout the state.
I had the opportunity to attend Fab Lab grant presentations in Florence, Eagle River, Phelps and Rhinelander during Fab Lab Day. It was an exciting day for schools located in the 34th Assembly District, where five school districts received a combined $140,000 out of $500,000 in statewide Fab Lab grants.
The local schools that were awarded grants from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation include Florence High School ($25,000), Northland Pines High School ($25,000), Lakeland Union High School ($49,999), Rhinelander High School ($25,000) and Phelps School ($15,000).
Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and Rep. Swearingen announcing a $25,000 Fab Lab Grant at Rhinelander High School
Fabrication Laboratories, also known as Fab Labs, are small-scale workshops where students can learn about and participate in the fabrication of different materials and items through the use of 3D printers, laser engravers and control routers.
Fab Labs are quickly becoming an important part of school curriculums because they prepare high school students for jobs in the 21st century and allow them to enhance their skill set in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. We understand that not every student will attend a four-year university. These labs are providing students with the skills that they will need to succeed right out of high school, whether they decide to pursue work right away or an education at the technical college level.
I am happy to say that northern Wisconsin has and continues to be a leader in driving Fab Lab growth statewide. I would like to thank Governor Walker, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, local school districts, and all of the stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to make Fab Labs a real success for our students.
Governor Walker has proposed in his 2017-2019 biennial state budget to double the state’s investment for Fab Labs. The Governor’s budget would require the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to allocate $1 million total over the two-year budget for the Fabrication Laboratories Grant Program.
Northland Pines Superintendent Mike Richie and Rep. Swearingen announcing a $25,000 Fab Lab Grant at Northland Pines High School
Rep. Swearingen reading Governor Walker's Fab Lab Grant Citation to faculty and students at Florence High School. Florence received $25,000 in grant funding.
Lakeland Union High School Principal and District Administrator JimBouchéannouncing a $49,999 Fab Lab Grant with Lakeland Union Students
Phelps School District Administrator, Delnice Hill, talking about the importance of $15,000 in Fab Lab Grant Funding
State Building Commission Update
The State Building Commission met this week to take up a number of statewide projects.
The Higher Education Subcommittee, which I chair, met on Wednesday morning to discuss and approve projects at UW-Madison, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Whitewater, UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Extension.
Higher Education Subcommittee Meeting
In the afternoon, the full committee met and approved projects from both the administrative affairs subcommittee and the higher education subcommittee including, but not limited to:
Southeast Recreational Facility replacement project at UW-Madison. The new facility with house expanded and enhanced open recreation spaces to accommodate changing trends and program requirements.
Construction of the Williams Fieldhouse Addition, Phase II project at UW-Platteville. The new addition will address an overall campus space need deficit related to wellness, fitness, and recreation.
Construction the Rodli Hall Renovation at UW-River Falls
New Residence Hall project at UW-Whitewater
Maintenance and repair projects at several University of Wisconsin System campuses
Infrastructure maintenance and repairs for the Department of Military Affairs
The full Building Commission meeting where members approved items from the Administrative Affairs and Higher Education Subcommittees
The Building Commission is a bipartisan, eight member body chaired by Governor Walker, along with six legislators and a citizen member. The group's mission is to plan, oversee, and approve building projects around the state.
Assembly Committee on Tourism Update
It is no secret that tourism plays a vital role to the local economy in the Northwoods. That is why I am excited to be on the Assembly Committee on Tourism for the third consecutive session and serve as vice-chairman this session. This week, the Assembly Committee on Tourism met for a public hearing to discuss two bills.
The public hearing centered on funding for snowmobile trail maintenance and funding for the ATV/UTV Safety Enhancement Program. I believe that both bills are good pieces of legislation that will help a number of people in the Northwoods who enjoy recreational activities involving snowmobiles, ATV's and UTV's. I was happy to see a number of individuals from northern Wisconsin attend the hearing to testify in support of both bills.
The Assembly Committee on Tourism Public Hearing on Assembly Bill 180 and Assembly Bill 181
AB 180: Relating to: snowmobile trail use stickers and trail aids and supplemental trail aids for snowmobile trail maintenance.
This bill increases the maximum dollar amount per mile that the Department of Natural Resources may pay to counties for actual expenses related to maintaining snowmobile trails. Under current law, state aid is available for the actual cost of maintaining a qualifying snowmobile trail, but may not exceed $250 per mile per year. Under this bill, the maximum aid available is increased to $300 per mile per year.
AB 181: Relating to: funding for the all-terrain vehicle and utility terrain vehicle safety enhancement program and making an appropriation.
This bill increases the amount of moneys appropriated from the conservation fund to the Department of Natural Resources for the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) safety program, under which DNR may provide funding to groups that promote the safe operation of ATVs. This bill also expands the ATV safety program to include groups that promote the safe operation of utility terrain vehicles and requires DNR to annually determine the amount necessary to fund the program.
Assembly Committee on Rules Update
The state Assembly will be on the floor next Tuesday, May 2 to vote on a number of bills that have made it through the committee process. Yesterday, I filled in during the Assembly Committee on Rules to finalize the agenda for next week's floor session.
The Assembly Committee on Rules meeting to finalize and vote on the agenda for Tuesday's Floor Session
Below are some of the bills scheduled for a floor vote:
SSAB 3: Relating to: immunity from revocation of probation, parole, or extended supervision for certain controlled substance offenses.
SSAB 5: Relating to: prevention and control of, emergency and involuntary commitment for, and treatment programs and services for drug dependence.
AB 123: Relating to: the information technology block grant program, the broadband expansion grant program, waiving certain fees and appraisals, and making appropriations.
AB 236: Relating to: waiting lists for housing choice vouchers.
AB 237: Relating to: grants to municipalities to connect homeless individuals with permanent employment and making an appropriation.
2017 Spring Survey Season!
It is Spring Survey time in the Wisconsin State Legislature! I invite all of my constituents to take a moment to complete my 2017 Spring Survey that is posted on my legislative website. You can also click here to take my survey.
The response rate has been great so far! I appreciate everyone taking the time to provide your input on the Governor's proposed budget and other legislative items.
If you have any further comments or concerns on the survey or the proposed state budget, please feel free to contact my office by emailing me at Rep.Swearingen@legis.wisconsin.gov or by calling toll free at 888-534-0034.
Andrew Becker (Legislative Aide), Rep. Swearingen and Matt Wimmer (Research Assistant) reviewing Spring Survey Results
Oneida County Economic Development Luncheon
The Oneida County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) held their annual luncheon this afternoon at Holiday Acres in Rhinelander. We had the opportunity to hear about a program called Inspire. The program helps connect K-12 students to local employers and community mentors.
In addition, we had a chance to hear from three seniors from Three Lakes High School. They shared how they designed and developed a new product for use in multiple applications. All of this is a result of being introduced to the Three Lakes Fab Lab.
In 1989, the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation was created as a partnership between business and industry. They are responsible for new business growth and assisting existing businesses in Oneida County. The mission of the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation is to promote and stimulate the orderly growth of stable businesses which will provide year-round employment throughout Oneida County while maintaining a high quality of life with a livable wage.
If you would like to learn more about the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation you can visit their website by clicking here.
I would like to congratulate the Executive Director of the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation, Roger Luce, for his continued efforts to promote business development and broadband expansion in Oneida County.
Sen. Tiffany, Oneida County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director, Roger Luce, and Rep. Swearingen
Roger Luce, Three Lakes High School Students, and the Fab Lab Director of Three Lakes High School Dr. Steve Yahr.
Students from Three Lakes High School presenting a screening hose item that they designed and manufactured at the Three Lakes Fab Lab
The green up is still in full swing this week, with the help of consistent rain events and temperatures between the 50s and 70s. This, combined with recent snow in the northern portions of the state continues to put a damper on recently high fire danger across and has brought us to "Low" fire danger throughout the counties. Water levels are still running above normal, and the Wisconsin River is above flood stage. Trails across the state are likely to feature more than a few hints of mud. Bring your rubber boots or waterproof hikers and enjoy the scenery as the banks, forests, marshes and prairies respond to the influx of moisture.
Challenging weather made for tough angling across the board this past week. Anglers from Marinette County to Brown County reported numerous attempts at walleye and brown trout. Murkier water didn't help, but reports came in from anglers that they were seeing success for non-target species, particularly northern pike. In Oconto County, the sucker run is rolling along and disturbing the bite. In Brown County, those that did see success for walleye noted that the fish were fully spawned and on their way back to the bay. Stream anglers are reporting a difficult steelhead bite in eastern Door County, while suckers have dispersed in Kewaunee County, leaving the steelhead there more visible as temperatures climb upwards. Water temperatures range from the upper 40s to the low 50s.
There were two to four foot waves and small craft advisories in effect last Thursday and Friday in Milwaukee. Anglers at the McKinley Pier are looking for coho and chinook salmon, while brown trout were being landed behind Summerfest. Anglers in Racine County reported boaters and pier anglers landing brown trout as well as a few coho. At the Root River, water visibility was around 12 inches, with an improving steelhead bite and a few remaining suckers caught. Anglers in Kenosha saw more success for browns from the harbor than the south pier. Though no catches were reported from the Pike, the mouth of the river is open and visibility is good. Temperatures for these waters ranged from 47 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hunters out for the first spring turkey season reported seeing and hearing numerous toms, though many took their time leaving the hens and venturing into range. Reports of success came in from Learn to Hunt groups and youth turkey hunting in general. Elk are dropping their antlers and herds of deer continue to be spotted in farm fields. Bird sightings are flying in from across the state. Swallows have returned and were reported in both Marinette and Dodge counties, broad-winged hawks and belted kingfishers have been seen in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine, while yellow-rumped and palm warblers have set down at Horicon Marsh along with purple martin scouts.
Leopard frogs were heard this past week at Peninsula State Park. The American toad chorus has drowned them out in the Southern Kettle Moraine. Spring azure and red admiral butterflies have arrived to add color to the trails. Those trails are getting more shade by the minute. Shrubs and several tree species have begun leafing out, maples are flowering and oaks are budding. Leatherwood, trout lilies and artic primrose join the already blooming bloodroot, dutchman's breeches and marsh marigolds. There were reports of a few trilliums from Hoffman Hills and wild geranium will bloom in the next couple of weeks. Few morel reports have been coming in; many patches still have some sizing up to do. Start to look for them through this week and next.
Northern Wisconsin
Far northern Wisconsin experienced a significant ice/snow event over the past few days, bringing large numbers of American robins, hermit thrushes, and sparrows to roadsides. Feeders were also extremely active with dark-eyed juncos, song, fox, white-throated, chipping, and a few American tree sparrows, purple finches, and various blackbirds, including numerous rusty blackbirds, which are rare at feeders except in poor weather. Areas of standing water such as ponds, brushy swamps, and forested wetlands are often important sources of insects during these cold outbreaks in spring, hosting phoebes, kinglets, yellow-rumped warblers and other early migrants. Waterfowl migration remains strong "up north", with a great selection of divers and dabblers on Chequamegon Bay near Ashland and elsewhere. American white pelicans are migrating through the region en route to breeding areas on the northern and eastern Great Plains. Yellowlegs, Wilson's snipe, pectoral sandpiper, and killdeer remain the most dominant shorebirds so far. Look for large flocks of Bonaparte's gulls to move through in the week ahead. Ditto overhead as broad-winged hawks typically peak in numbers around the first week of May.
Community Events
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
