Department of Natural Resources State Forestry Headquarters moves to Rhinelander
Governor Scott Walker was in Rhinelander last week to announce that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources State Forestry Headquarters will be relocating to the DNR Rhinelander Service Center by January 1st, 2018. As outlined in the 2017-2019 state budget, signed by the Governor on September 21st, the Chief State Forester will move to the DNR-owned facility north of Highway 29 by the first of next year. Over the next year, other forestry positions, currently located in Madison, will move to Rhinelander or locations north of State Highway 29 in phases.
I am extremely supportive of Governor Walker's decision to relocate the DNR Division of Forestry Headquarters to Rhinelander. Moving the Division's central office to Rhinelander will benefit the Northwoods as it brings DNR leadership closer to Wisconsin's forests and our great forest industry.
Wisconsin's $24.7 billion forest industry supports upwards of 65,000 family-supporting jobs around the state. As the Governor pointed out, forestry remains the number one employer in several counties throughout northern Wisconsin. The Northwood's are home to countless logging companies and groups such as the Great Lake Timber Professionals Association, the Wisconsin County Forest Association, and the North American headquarters of Ponsse Inc. Additionally, the relocation of the office itself will bring with it good-paying jobs to the area. I would like to thank Governor Walker again for his continued commitment to investing in the Northwoods.
Governor Walker announcing the move at the Rhinelander Ranger Station.
Rep. Swearingen with DNR Secretary and former State Rep. of the 34th district, Dan Meyer at the Governor's announcement.
Town Sanitary District Bill Passes the Assembly
Assembly Bill 484, which I authored with Sen. Tiffany, passed on a voice vote during Assembly floor session yesterday.
My office was notified earlier this 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 repair 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 property, 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.
Rep. Swearingen had the privilege to fill in for the Speaker Pro Tempore during the November 2nd Floor Session
In addition to the District Sanitary Bill, below are some additional Bills that were passed on the Assembly floor yesterday.
Assembly Bill 416: Relating to: a higher wild animal protection surcharge for the unlawful taking of deer.
Assembly Bill 450: Relating to: retail sales of alcohol beverages at the Ozaukee County fairgrounds.
Assembly Bill 477: Relating to: supplemental aid for school districts with a large area.
Assembly Bill 490: Relating to: resident deer hunting license, archer hunting license, and crossbow hunting license fees imposed for a veteran who is 70 years of age or older.
Assembly Bill 491: Relating to: the fee for a first-time annual fishing license for residents who are 16 or 17 years old or who are 65 years old or older.
Assembly Bill 499: Relating to: the regulation of nonferrous metallic mining, prospecting, exploration, and bulk sampling, repealing administrative rules relating to wetlands, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
Assembly Bill 500: Relating to: ratification of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, and providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures.
Assembly Bill 528: Relating to: restrictions on the hunting of antlerless deer by members of a group hunting party.
On Wednesday, October 24, Assembly Bill 531, which I authored with Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) passed out of the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities with strong bipartisan support.
Assembly Bill 531 will allow the Wisconsin Propane Education and Research Council (WiPERC) to establish a voluntary industry assessment program that would allow propane retailers in Wisconsin to be assessed at a rate of two tenths of one cent per gallon of odorized propane. The propane assessment, paid for by propane retailers, would provide funding for safety programs, training, consumer education, appliance and meter rebates, public service announcements and volunteer fire department training for propane burns.
If passed into law, propane retailers in Wisconsin would have to pass a referendum of approval before implementing such a fee. Additionally, the rate of 2/10th of a cent per gallon cannot be increased more than 1/2 of a 10th-cent unless approved by an additional referendum by propane retailers in Wisconsin. It is important to note that if a retailer does not want to participate, then they can opt out of the assessment.
Currently, Wisconsin is the only state in the Midwest that does not have a state assessment program. Neighboring states such as Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Illinois all have programs and their propane retailers are better equipped from their training and safety programs. Similarly, in Wisconsin alone, dairy, soybeans, cranberries, beef, pork, ginseng and others all have their own assessment programs.
Assembly Committee on State Affairs Update
The Assembly Committee on State Affairs, which I chair, held an executive session last Wednesday and voted three Bills out of the committee. You can read more about the three Bills below.
Rep. Swearingen addressing the Committee on State Affairs during their meeting on Wednesday, October 25th
Assembly Bill 513: Relating to: repealing an administrative rule of the Department of Safety and Professional Services related to music, art, and dance therapists.
This bill repeals an administrative rule of the Department of Safety and Professional Services that allowed individuals who were registered as music, art, or dance therapists prior to 2003 to be granted a license to practice psychotherapy.
Assembly Bill 514: Relating to: repealing administrative rules of the Department of Safety and Professional Services related to grants for construction career academies.
This bill repeals administrative rules of the Department of Safety and Professional Services related to grants for construction career academies, a program that was eliminated in the 2015 Biennial Budget Act.
Assembly Bill 330: Relating to: the rule-making authority of certain agencies.
The bill prohibits a commission or board, including a credentialing board that has not taken any action with respect to the promulgation of a rule in ten years or more from taking any such action in the future unless a subsequent law specifically authorizes it to do so.
Assembly Committee on Tourism
The Assembly Committee on Tourism, of which I am a member of, held an executive session to vote on Assembly Bill 276 as part of the Red Tape Review initiative. The goal of the Red Tape Review initiative is to review each chapter of the administrative code, working to remove unnecessary, burdensome, and outdated regulations.
Assembly Bill 276: Relating to: outdated rules of the Department of Tourism and the Arts Board.
Under current law, the Department of Tourism maintains administrative rules for a heritage tourism pilot program to promote tourism related to the enjoyment of historic and prehistoric resources in Wisconsin. That program was repealed in 2001 Wisconsin Act 109. This bill eliminates those administrative rules. Also under current law, the Arts Board maintains administrative rules for a Percent for Art program under which a small percentage of appropriations for state building projects was allocated for art acquisition. That program was repealed in 2011 Wisconsin Act 32. This bill eliminates those administrative rules.
Rep. Swearingen during the Assembly Committee on Tourism Meeting
Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry Update
The Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry, which I am a sitting member of, held a public hearing and an executive session this week on two pieces of legislation.
Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry Meeting on Wednesday,
November 1st
Public Hearing:
Assembly Bill 537: Relating to: amounts obligated under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program for water infrastructure projects in state parks.
This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to obligate no more than $4,500,000 in unobligated moneys under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program to fund critical health and safety-related water infrastructure projects in state parks, prioritizing projects in those state parks with the highest demand.
Executive Session:
Assembly Bill 179: Relating to: remediation of contaminated land; air pollution control requirements for certain manufacturing facilities constructed on formerly contaminated land; reassigning tax deeds on tax delinquent brownfield properties; creating a new method for the creation of environmental remediation tax incremental financing districts.
James Williams Middle School 47th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony
James Williams Middle School (JWMS) will be hosting the 47th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, November 10th, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and concluding by 10:00 a.m. JWMS would like to extend a welcoming invitation to local veterans, their families, and the general public. The event will feature various speakers and participation by several veterans organizations, as well as the local National Guard. Music will be provided by the JWMS music department. The annual observance is a chance for our community to honor our war veterans and celebrate our great country. Furthermore, a brief social time will be held after the ceremony.
If you would need additional information please contact the JWMS office at 715-365-9220.
Constituent Meetings
I had the pleasure to meet with many constituents this week who were visiting the Capitol to raise awareness and advocate for various causes affecting Wisconsin. It is always great to welcome constituents to the Capitol! If you are ever in Madison, please stop by my office located at 123 W.
Tim Thorsen, Benjamin Wales, Erin Nelson and Tyler Thorsen representing the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association met with my staffer Matt Wimmer to discuss the great benefits of physical therapy
Representative Swearingen, Jennifer Black and UW-Madison Physician Assistant student Bobby Montgomery during the Wisconsin Association of Physician Assistants Legislative Day at the Capitol
2017-2017 Blue Books Available
The 2017-2018 Wisconsin Blue Books arrived last week and are now available upon request. If you would like to request a copy of the 2017-18 Wisconsin Blue Book, please reply to this email with your name and full mailing address. Additional requests can be made by emailing Rep.Swearingen@legis.wi.gov or calling my office at 608-266-7141 or toll free at 888-534-0034. My office will be processing the requests over the next couple of weeks prior to shipping them across the 34th Assembly District.
You can view previous versions of the Wisconsin Blue Book online by clicking here.
Assistance Available to Help Customers in Need With Energy Bills
As the winter heating season approaches, Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) reminds customers that energy assistance applications now are being accepted by the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP).
WHEAP, directed by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, provides qualifying residents assistance with energy bills and emergency needs. Assistance is made in the form of a grant.
Eligibility for energy assistance is determined by household income level, and residents do not need to be behind on energy bills to receive a grant. More residents may be eligible for energy assistance this year due to changes in the income guidelines.
In order to receive a WHEAP grant, applicants must provide:
Proof of income for all household members for the past three months
Social Security numbers for all household members
Their most recent energy bill or their electric and/or natural gas account number
Photo ID (only applies to first-time applicants)
Rent certificate or statement (if heat is included in the resident’s rent, or the resident provides a separate heating payment to the landlord)
Anyone applying for energy assistance must contact the designated county agency. A list of energy assistance agencies in Northeastern and North Central Wisconsin can be found on the WPS website or by calling 866-432-8947.
Please join us for the Wisconsin Capitol 100th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, November 8th. This will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime event with appetizers, cocktails and outstanding entertainment to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Wisconsin State Capitol while raising money for the Capitol Restoration Fund. Dance under the Capitol dome and be a part of Wisconsin history by sharing your experiences in our exclusive guestbook!
For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.
For current statewide information on statewide fall color, log onto the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Fall Color Report (exit DNR).
Snow has been on the ground a week in northern Wisconsin, with some areas having a dusting and others several inches. Some tamaracks are still clinging to their needles, but most other trees, with the exception of oaks, are losing their leaves. In the south only a handful of counties are still reporting peak color, mostly in the southeast on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Fall Color Report (exit DNR).
Biologists across the state are reporting the white-tailed deer rut, or mating season, is in full swing. Deer are moving more each week, in the daylight as well as just before and after sundown. Archery hunters have reported good success in central Wisconsin. Drivers should keep their eyes open as deer are appearing frequently at roadsides.
Fall turkey hunters in southwestern Wisconsin have been reporting good success and plenty of birds. The nut and acorn crop in these counties is tremendously larger than the past several years, so wild turkeys are spending more time feeding in oak woodlands. Woodcock have apparently started another push south. Ducks and geese have been seen in many fields with the high water levels and waterfowl hunters have been successful lately.
Anglers fishing along northern Lake Michigan had cold, wet and windy weather to struggle through this week. The fall salmon run is winding down but an electro-shocking survey showed trout and salmon still active in the Peshtigo River. On the Menominee, brown trout, steelhead, walleye and coho were caught below the Hattie Street Dam.
Fishing is also slowing in Kewaunee and Algoma, though reports of coho and chinook are still coming in on the Kewaunee and Ahnapee rivers along with some brown trout. The run was also slowing on southern Lake Michigan tributaries. Fishing pressure was low due to weather the past week. Anglers fishing the Sheboygan River reported catches of chinook and coho. In Racine, numbers of chinook caught have dropped off, with only a few reported upstream and downstream of the Root River steelhead facility.
On Green Bay, boat anglers out of Brown County have been targeting walleye and musky with consistent success. With the water temperature dropping, greater numbers of walleye moved back into the Fox River, leading to a large increase in anglers fishing at Voyager Park with considerable success. Door County anglers were after smallmouth, with a somewhat slower catch off Stone Quarry and Rowley's Bay and reports of pike from those fishing the Sturgeon Bay Canal. Anglers continue to report good success on the Wolf River with decent catches of crappies and walleyes.
More than 10,000 sandhill cranes were tallied at Fish Lake and Crex Meadows wildlife areas on Oct. 30. Waterfowl diversity is outstanding now, with a wide variety of diving and dabbling species on inland lakes and marshes and the Mississippi River and Great Lakes shorelines. More than 20,000 red-breasted mergansers were counted in Ozaukee County, while 5,000-plus were tallied in Kewaunee, where hundreds of redheads were also found. Large rafts of American coots remain in some locations, including 4,500 reported in Shawano.
This is a great time of year to spot the invasive species buckthorn. This non-native is hanging onto its green leaves, making this the time to spot new and old stands for future control.
It's the full beaver moon this weekend and night hikes are scheduled at the Southern Kettle Moraine and at the MacKenzie center. For all events, search the DNR website for "Get Outdoors."
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - The plummeting temperatures of this past week has the Northwood's in shock, let alone the critters that live outside. Most leaves, except for the oak, have fallen and one can once again see into the woods. It may take the deer, grouse, turkeys and rabbits a little while to realize that you can see them even if they don't move! It is a great time to stop, look and listen and wonder who is watching who! Snow depths vary from a trace to several inches. The strong winds of late last week have brought many branches and trees down, so hikers and hunters please be cautious. All piers in the forest have been removed for the season so late season fishers may have to get their feet wet loading and unloading boats. The fishing may be worth it though. - Rosalie Richter, visitor services associate
Community Events
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
