Background:

The Governor’s budget proposed to close the DNR service center in 24 communities statewide, including Dodgeville in our region. The DNR informed me the 24 locations would continue as offices for DNR staff and the person, often part-time, working at a front desk to respond to the public would be gone and the public could meet with staff by appointment. Concerns included the department distancing itself from the public and becoming less customer focused and the cuts mostly impacting rural residents.

Outcome: Legislators restored some of the funding cuts, with a plan to “provide approximately one-third of walk-in counter service resources” at most service centers, including Dodgeville, to be open “generally one to one and one-half days per week.”