Assembly Bill 484, which I authored along with Senator Tom Tiffany, was signed into law by Governor Walker this past Tuesday.
My staff and I with Governor Walker during the Bill signing
What does the Bill do and how does it help?
My office was notified last year that in some of our rural and tourist driven Wisconsin communities, it can be quite difficult to find a qualified commissioner that resides within the sanitary district. In my district alone, the Town of Three Lakes Northernaire Sanitary District is experiencing this problem where a multi-family development has no year round residents living within the development. As a result of not being able to find full-time residents to serve on town sanitary districts as directed under current law, there can be an even-number of sitting commissioners on the district. This can lead to tie-voting issues when votes take place on budgets or to provide ongoing maintenance or repairs for projects under the sanitary districts' purview.
Assembly Bill 484 makes a simple change to the residency requirements for town sanitary district commissioners. Under current law, if commissioners are elected or appointed and if the sanitary district is composed of primarily summer resort properties, at least one of the commissioners must be a full-time resident of the district. Additionally, any commissioner that doesn’t reside in the district must own property within the sanitary district. This bill eliminates the requirement that one of the commissioners is required to be a resident of the district. Under this bill, any commissioner who is not a resident of the district must still own property within the district to be a commissioner. This will streamline the process for towns to elect and appoint members to their town sanitary districts in rural and tourist driven areas.
Eagle Scout Award Ceremony
I had the great honor to attend an Eagle Scout Award Ceremony for Alex Metzger from Eagle River. Alex attained the highest rank as a member of Scout Troop 645 in Sayner/St. Germain where he earned 26 merit badges and the Arrow of Light Award. Alex has given back to his community by volunteering as a member of the Sugar Camp Fire Department and the St. Theresa Catholic Church in Three Lakes, and he plans to study Fire Science at Superior State University. I want to congratulate Alex again for this great achievement and wish him all the best in his future endeavors!
Rep. Swearingen awarding Alex a citation from the legislature congratulating him for his hard work
Alex's brother Ben, who also earned the rank of Eagle Scout, reciting the Eagle Pledge to Alex
2018 Boy Scouts of America Report to the State
This past week also saw the 2018 Boy Scouts of America Report to the State, where members of the Boy Scouts visited the Capitol to address the legislature. Scouts from all around Wisconsin came down for the event to speak with their legislators. These inspiring young individuals selflessly volunteer their time to improve our communities and those who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout are great role models for our youth. Thanks again to everyone who made the trip to Madison!
Eagle Scouts addressing the legislature in the Assembly Chambers
Wisconsin Department of Transportation Meeting
I had the opportunity to meet with officials from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation North Central Region to receive an update on planned construction projects and to discuss transportation topics important to Northern Wisconsin, including the ongoing construction on Highway 51. The next phase of reconstruction on Highway 51 in Minocqua, Woodruff and Arbor Vitae is set to begin again this summer and is planned to be completed through the summer of 2019. While construction can be bothersome, it is great to see such a project moving forward, and I am confident that the improvements will be vastly beneficial when completed.
Rep. Swearingen meeting with DOT officials to discuss ongoing projects in the Northwoods
Foxconn Industrial Construction - Phase 1 of Wisconn Valley Science & Technology Park Information Session in Rhinelander
A Foxconn Science & Technology Park Phase 1 Information Session will be held at the Lakeside Center Theater at Nicolet College in Rhinelander on Friday, April 13 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The information session is intended to help subcontractors, vendors, suppliers and professional service firms learn more about the project and the process for procurement. Please click here for more information and to register for the event.
7th Annual Phelps Maple Syrup Fest
The 7th Annual Phelps Maple Syrup Fest will take place this Saturday (April 7th) at the Phelps School. The festival features tree-tapping demonstrations, kids games and activities, guided bus tours of local sugar bushes to learn about how sap becomes maple syrup, arts and craft stands, educational cooking classes and the main Maple Syrup Contest judged by local celebrities. The event is a great time for the whole family! If you want to learn more, please click here!
E-Update Notice
The 2017-2018 legislative session has officially adjourned, and therefore legislative offices need to adhere to Wisconsin’s campaign laws, which includes not sending out frequent E-Updates. Therefore, next week’s E-Update will be the final one sent from my office for this year. If you would like to receive updates over the summer, please feel free to follow my official Facebook Page.
DNR Outdoor Report
Published April 5, 2018 by the Central Office
Winter is not letting up on Wisconsin, with Mother Nature playing an April Fool's joke on the state bringing just a couple inches of snow in the south to 10 or more inches in the north. The Brule River State Forest, Pattison State Park and the Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters area groomed ski trails and report good conditions. All other properties have discontinued grooming and trails are open to multi-use including skiing, snowshoeing and on some properties fat biking. All snowmobile trails are closed for the season.
Lakes Mendota and Monona opened last weekend. Some central Wisconsin lakes are completely open and others still have a good amount of ice, but the quality is poor and the shorelines are bad making access difficult.
The snow, cold temperatures and ice didn't deter opening day anglers for the spring steelhead fishing opener last Saturday on the Brule River. Angler numbers were good and there were reports of success. It also didn't stop Fox River anglers out to catch a trophy walleye as hundreds were fishing from boats and shore. Fishermen were also out after walleye on the lower Wisconsin River with some on and off action.
The ice is mostly gone in the Manitowoc harbor but the landing is still closed. The Manitowoc River has been producing some steelhead. Upstream in both the East and West Twin Rivers, anglers have been doing well catching steelhead. The Sheboygan River has been producing decent numbers of steelhead and the occasional brown trout. Good numbers of steelhead are being spotted throughout Sauk Creek but fishing has been reported as slow. With more cold weather in the forecast we may be in for a slow drawn-out steelhead run.
Snowshoe hare and weasel coats are beginning to turn brown. The snow and cold temperatures have temporarily slowed or suspended a lot of wild animal activities. Skunks, raccoons, and opossums that previously emerged have reduced their nocturnal forays. They adjust rapidly, however, to weather changes, as the urge to eat and procreate is difficult to suppress for any length of time.
Robins, black birds, geese and trumpeter swans may be regretting their decisions to make their appearances "early" this year in Iron County, where there is still 16-22 inches of snow and 1-2 feet of ice on most lakes. A newly arrived saw whet owl looking for an unsuspecting mouse didn't know what to do from its perch in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. The 20 inches of snow on the ground in Washburn County has postponed sharp-tailed grouse viewing at the Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area. Normally viewing blinds to watch sharp-tailed grouse dance are available starting April 1. This year it won't be until the snow has melted.
Turkeys are still starting to get fired up in spite of the snow. Gobbles can be heard and birds have been strutting and displaying too.
Maples trees trying to break bud, but the weather will put them in a holding pattern. The cold nights and slow warming days put a damper on tapping operations last week. Most sugar bushes will likely not be operating this week as the temperatures will stay at or below freezing most of the week.
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - Mother Nature played an April Fool on the State Forest bringing 6-10 inches of snow to the area, adding to the significant amount still on the ground! It looks like early March, not early April. The newly arrived Saw Whet owl didn't know what to do as it perched near the building looking for that unsuspecting mouse. The sharp shinned hawk is still taking advantage of the slower moving northern birds as it plucked an unsuspecting redpoll out of the air. Red crossbills are still feeding along the roadsides and are getting hit by vehicles as their slow flight is no match for a fast moving car or truck. The ski trails have plenty of snow on them but are not being groomed anymore. Those snowshoes are still coming in handy for the Northwoods hiker. - Rosalie Richter, visitor services associate
Community Events
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