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April 14, 2016
Managed Forest Law Bill Signed
Governor
Scott Walker signed Senate Bill 434 into
law Thursday, April 14th, at Ponsse North
America Inc. in Rhinelander.
“Senate Bill 434 will provide greater
tax relief to local governments with
lands in the managed forest program that
are closed to public access, which will
enable further maintenance and
reconstruction of roads crucial to move
timber from the woods of Wisconsin to
mills,” Governor Walker said. “Managed
Forest Law landowners provide around a
quarter of the wood that keeps
Wisconsin’s $22.9 billion forest
products industry working and our
environment healthy. This bill keeps
Managed Forest Law attractive to
landowners, industry, local governments,
and outdoor recreationists.”
Senate Bill 434 – makes several changes
regarding Managed Forest Law (MFL) in
Wisconsin, including: requiring the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to
distribute closed acreage fees of $4.6
million in fiscal year 2017, $6 million
in fiscal year 2018, and $7 million in
fiscal year 2019 to municipalities in
which closed MFL land is located;
increasing minimum acreage from 10 to 20
acres for new enrollments in the
program; requiring all MFL land
designated as open be accessible to the
public by foot, public road, or open
land; increasing maximum acres that may
be closed from 160 to 320 acres per
enrollee per municipality; prohibiting
new enrollments and renewals with any
building or improvement on the parcel;
repealing the yield and severance taxes
on the value of harvested timber paid by
Managed Forest Law and Forest Crop Law
enrollees; authorizing an owner of MFL
land to lease their land for
recreational activity on the land;
making an MFL order a contract between
the state and the owner; and authorizing
the DNR to provide an MFL owner a period
of time to restore the productivity of
MFL land following a natural disaster,
meaning damage from fire, ice, snow,
wind, flooding, insects, drought, or
disease, before the owner must satisfy
program requirements.
National Library Week
While there are only a few days
left of National Library Week, I want to encourage all of you to
take advantage of our wonderful libraries in the Northwood's,
and to get out and read. Here are some of the special
events happening at the local libraries.
Tomahawk Public Library
•All Week-- Adult Coloring Page Contest-come in and browse the
artwork, then vote for your favorite entry
•20 Book Bags will be given out each day, compliments of the
Friends of the Tomahawk Public Library
•Free bookmarks and special displays in the foyer and
circulation area
•Friday, April 15th, 1:00pm Learn about all the fun and exciting
adventures available to you sponsored by the Nicolet Outdoor
Adventure Series
Antigo Public Library
•Morning Treats -- library staff will be providing treats and
coffee in the morning, from 9-11 Monday-Thursday, and 10-12 on
Friday
•Food for Fines -- Throughout the week, bring in one
non-perishable food item for each $1 fine you want waived -- up
to $10
•Staff Picks -- See a display of staff "favorites," whether they
are books, films, music, or books on CD
•Butterfly Drawings -- Any child aged 6 and under are invited to
color a butterfly to put up inside the library
•Slide Show -- See a show of how your public library has
transformed since its original opening and how it will change
more this year
•Game Night -- Thurs., Apr 14, 3-6 p.m. -- Teen and tweens game
night with both board and card games
•Drawings! Check out at least 5 items at one time to enter a
drawing for different ages (gardening basket for adults, gift
cards for teens, and books for kids. Winners will be chosen the
following week.
Merrill Public Library
•Enjoy refreshments in the lower
lobby. Coffee and cookies will be available until gone each day
•Food for Fines -- Throughout the week, bring in a
non-perishable food item for each $1 fine you want waived -- up
to $50
•Computer Coaching session, Thursday evening
Posters in the
Rotunda
On
Wednesday, April 13th, I had the
privilege of meeting with undergraduate students from
the University of Wisconsin-Stevens
Point to discuss their ongoing research.
The students were down for the annual
Posters in the Rotunda event, which
showcases UW undergraduate students from different
campuses around the state and their
research findings. I wish them all the
continued success in their future
endeavors!
Broadband Expansion Grant Workshop
Last week, the Public Service
Commission (PSC) announced that it is now accepting aplications
for Broadband Expansion Grants for the Fiscal Year of 2017.
Applications are due June 16, 2016. To access instructions on
how to apply plus additional information about the grant you can
go to:
http://psc.wi.gov/utilityinfo/tele/broadband/grants/bbGrantApplicationPage.htm.
PSC is planning grant workshops
around the state beginning in April. Meetings are open to
the public. To register, you can RSVP at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HVaosjPUyjNaRIcRMhNtSgx_ysVIwnF98YBc4dX0rKg/viewform?c=0&w=1.
The workshops will be designed to
help guide community participants toward a stronger
understanding of grant guidelines, grant-eligible areas,
possible public-private partnership models, previous grant
awardee examples, and timelines for grant applications.
The meetings will take place in Eagle River, Hayward, Eau
Claire, Suring, Dodgeville, Mauston, and there is an
online/call-in webinar. See the website for locations and
times.
Congratulations The
Essence Authentic Living Boutique & Jeanne Polanin
The Wisconsin Economic
Development Corporation (WEDC) Friday recognized the best
downtown revitalization projects of 2015 at the 25th Wisconsin
Main Street Awards ceremony at the Holiday Inn and Conference
Center.
Mark Hogan, secretary and CEO of WEDC, was on hand to recognize
the efforts by Main Street volunteers and staff for the historic
preservation and downtown economic development efforts of
communities in Wisconsin.
“In Wisconsin, we know the state’s economic success relies not
only on thriving urban centers, but also on economic development
in small and midsize communities in every region of the state,”
Hogan said. “We work in partnership with communities to help
them thrive and seize opportunities, and the Wisconsin Main
Street Program is a prime example of this.”
Wisconsin Main Street is a community development program
administered by WEDC that targets Wisconsin's historic
commercial districts. WEDC provides technical support and
training to Wisconsin communities to revitalize their business
districts based on historic preservation developed by the
National Trust for Historic Preservation. Wisconsin has 34 Main
Street communities. Since 1987, the Wisconsin Main Street
Program has worked with more than 60 communities, and has been
responsible for the creation of an estimated 12,000 jobs and
2,300 new businesses.
During fiscal year 2015, the Wisconsin Main Street Program was
responsible for the creation of an estimated 586 jobs and 115
new businesses in the state. The program generated $6.3 million
in public investment, which was leveraged to draw $91 million in
private investment. The program also renovated or reconstructed
350 buildings and held 526 events to get people to these
revitalized districts, with a total attendance of more than 1.2
million people.
Entering its fourth year, the Connect Communities Program
provides support and networking to more than 50 communities
across the state pursuing downtown revitalization initiatives.
Congratulations to The Essence
Authentic Living Boutique in Tomahawk for being named a winner
of the Best Interior Renovation Project Under $50,000. Also
congratulations to Jeanne Polanin being named a 2015 Volunteer
of the Year!
Relay for
Life-Capping Cancer on Main
A new
exciting addition to the Relay for Life
in Tomahawk on June 25th will be the
Main Street Team Capping Cancer on Main.
At the Kick-Off meeting at the American
Legion, 60 feet of line with 40 Caps
from just TWO men was unveiled. All men
& women are encouraged to donate their
caps to be a vivid physical reminder of
all the folks that have battled cancer.
4 locations in Downtown Tomahawk to
donate your caps will be at The Rodeo
Saloon & Restaurant, Tomahawk Furniture
& Gun, Bumper to Bumper or the American
Legion. Donations to the Relay for Life
Main Street Team will be accepted at the
American Legion. Please make out Checks
to Relay for Life of Tomahawk. The
volunteers from the American Legion
Auxiliary will be stringing the caps
that will be hung from the light poles &
buildings in downtown Tomahawk on the
route of the Relay for Life the week
prior to June 25th. Please be generous
as you scour your shelves & closets
looking for those caps; you certainly
can donate them or Dollars In Memory Of
or In Honor Of those significant in your
lifetime. We can Paint the Town Purple …
and this will be a visual reminder of
the many people who stand with our Relay
for Life Teams!!
For additional information contact Main
Street Team Chairman Claudia Osero,
715-612-1161 or the Tomahawk Main Street
715-453-1090
Upcoming Events in
Northern Wisconsin
Have a good weekend and enjoy the warm weather!
Share your ideas at www.WisconsinAssemblyRepublicans.com and
on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/WisconsinAssemblyRepublicans.
#ForwardAgenda
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