Updates from the State Senate - March 27, 2020

The photo above was taken in Shawano County, and is being used to recongize National Agriculture Day which was celebrated on the 24th.

 

Robert Cowles

 

Serving Wisconsin's 2nd Senate District

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

   

As we all adapt to the ‘safer-at-home’ order issued by Governor Evers earlier this week, I’ve been busy doing my best to answer questions raised by constituents as quickly as possible once we’re able to gather the necessary information from the Administration. However, one of the common misconceptions I hear is confusion between the ‘safer-at-home’ order in Wisconsin and ‘shelter-in-place’ orders issued in other states.

   

One of the key differences between those two types of emergency orders is that, under Wisconsin’s ‘safer-at-home’ order, you’re still able to leave your place of residence for certain activities as outlined in my e-newsletter on Tuesday. So as we enter the weekend, if you can avoid the rain, remember to get outside (while practicing social distancing) to help beat the winter blues. Also, I’d encourage you to consider taking a short drive to Rib Mountain, High Cliff, Copper Culture, Potawatomi, Peninsula, Hartman Creek, or one of the other great Wisconsin State Parks where admission fees are currently being waived.

  

If the rain or the ‘safer-at-home’ order puts a damper on any plans to cook-out and you’re looking to skip the food prep this weekend, I’m writing to ask you to consider supporting a local restaurant by ordering takeout or delivery. Not only will you get a delicious meal, but your purchase will help these local establishments to stem the tide and make ends meet in these difficult times.

  

    

Restaurants Open for Takeout

  

The Wisconsin Restaurant Association has a list of local establishments offering takeout and delivery options. I’ve listed the options from the 2nd Senate District below, and you can find the full list, organized by county, on their website. In the greater Green Bay area, some of the restaurants listed also came from a list prepared by the Green Bay Press-Gazette. However, keep in mind that this list may not be complete, so if you have a favorite local eatery, it’s worth trying to call to see if they’re open and offering takeout or delivery.

   

Clintonville

  • Bears Den - 130 S Main Street, Clintonville - (715) 460-3555

   

Freedom

  • Calmes' Pub - 1441 Arbor Way, Freedom - (920) 759-9167

   

Greater Green Bay Area

  • The Bar - 2001 Holmgren Way, Green Bay - (920) 499-9989

  • Bay Family Restaurant - 1301 S Military Avenue, Green Bay - (920) 494-3441

  • Big Apple Bagels - 2321 S Onieda Street, Green Bay - (920) 327-0621

  • Cheese Cake Heaven - 2075 S Oneida Street, Green Bay - (920) 490-1200

  • Chuck E. Cheese - 1273 Lombardi Access Road, Green Bay - (920) 497-0379

  • Cousins Subs - 2901 Ramada Way, Green Bay - (920) 429-2000

  • Cousins Subs - 1905 S Webster Avenue, Green Bay - (920) 445-0000

  • Cousins Subs - 2583 W Mason Street, Green Bay - (920) 491-2465

  • Cozumel Mexican - 940 Hansen Road, Green Bay - (920) 385-4414

  • Crystal Coffee Cafe & Beanery - 2625 S Packerland Drive, Green Bay - (920) 490-5519

  • The Dough Shoppe - 844 Willard Drive, Ashwaubenon - (920) 544-4343

  • D2 Sports Pub Stadium District - 788 Armed Forces Drive, Ashwaubenon - (920) 499-3110

  • El Sarape West - 2615 S Oneida Street, Ashwaubenon - (920) 857-3584

  • Five Guys Burgers and Fries - 2883 S Oneida Street, Ashwaubenon - (920) 494-5489

  • Gallagher's Pizza - 1927 S Webster Avenue, Allouez - (920) 321-5555

  • Golden Basket - 1350 S Military Avenue, Green Bay - (920) 499-9023

  • Green Bay Distillery - 835 Mike McCarthy Way, Ashwaubenon - (920) 393-4403

  • Jimmy Seas Pub & Grill - 1330 Marine Street, Allouez - (920) 438-7640

  • Kropp’s Supper Club - 4570 Shawano Avenue, Green Bay - (920) 865-7331

  • LongHorn Steakhouse - 2475 S Oneida Street, Ashwaubenon - (920) 405-0467

  • Lorelei Inn - 1412 S Webster Avenue, Allouez - (920) 432-5921

  • Los Banditos - 2335 W Mason Street, Green Bay - (920) 494-4505

  • Los Magueyes Mexican Restaurant - 2648 S Packerland Drive, Green Bay - (920) 489-8921

  • Margarita's Famous Mexican Food & Cantina - 1241 Lombardi Access Road, Ashwaubenon - (920) 429-0400

  • Moe’s Southwest Grill - 2101 S Oneida Street, Green Bay - (920) 965-0022

  • Murphy's Village Pub - 4054 Shawano Avenue, Howard - (920) 857-9014

  • Narrow Bridge Brewhouse - 2840 Shawano Avenue, Howard - (920) 393-4015

  • Not By Bread Alone - 940 Hansen Road, Green Bay - (920) 429-9422

  • The Pump Room - 1500 S Webster Avenue, Allouez - (920) 432-8714

  • Qdoba - 2476 S Oneida Street, Green Bay - (920) 965-0602

  • Sammy's Pizza & Italian Restaurant - 2161 S Oneida Street, Green Bay - (920) 499-6644

  • Schlotzsky's - 2420 W Mason Street, Green Bay - (920) 497-1313

  • Stadium View - 1963 Holmgren Way, Green Bay - (920) 498-1989

  • Texas Roadhouse - 2375 S Oneida Street, Ashwaubenon - (920) 498-8800

  • Thornberry Creek at Oneida - 4470 N Pine Tree Road, Oneida - (920) 434-7501

  • The Village Grille - 801 Hoffman Road, Allouez - (920) 336-9901

  • Zesty's Frozen Custard & Grill - 508 Greene Avenue, Allouez - (920) 884-0505

   

Hortonville

  • Bob & Geri’s Black Otter Supper Club - 503 S Nash Street, Hortonville - (920) 779-6975

  •  The Dugout Pub n Grub - N2519 State Highway 15, Hortonville - (920) 750-8671

  • The Hardtails Saloon & Catering - 208 W Main Street, Hortonville - (920) 779-6877

   

Kaukauna

  • JJ Maloneys - N1994 Maloneys Road, Kaukauna - (920) 462-4645

  • Landremans Family Restaurant - 2300 East Main Street, Kaukauna - (920) 759-0196

   

Krakow

  • Sweet Mama’s - W128 Center Street, Krakow - (920) 899-6262

   

Shawano

  • Classic’s Restaurant and Lounge - W6026 Lake Drive, Shawano - (715) 524-8711

  • DQ - 1005 E. Green Bay Street, Shawano, WI 54166 - (715) 526-5730

   

Pulaski

  • Cousins Subs - 1186 Mountain Bay Drive, Pulaski, WI - (920) 822-5555

  • DQ - 490 E Cedar St Hwy 32, Pulaski, WI 54162 - (920) 822-8044

   

Wittenberg

  • Harvest Restaurant - W17256 Red Oak Lane, Wittenberg - (715) 253-3600

  

If you know of a local restaurant that is offering takeout or deliver but don’t see them listed above or on the Restaurant Association’s website, I’d encourage them to submit their establishment on this website to ensure they’re offerings are known.

  

  

Temporary Jobs Due to COVID-19

  

In past e-newsletters, I’ve shared information for those facing the unfortunate circumstance of unemployment due to COVID-19. I’ve been able to assist several constituents through the Unemployment Insurance (UI) process during these trying times, and while UI is an important fallback option for those out of work, I also wanted to share the news that some businesses are looking for new, temporary workers due to an onslaught in demand.

   

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Job Center of Wisconsin website has a page with job listings dedicated particularly to the jobs in high-demand sectors during this outbreak. The job listings are categorized by eleven topics, including:

  • Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations

  • Community and Social Service Occupations

  • Education, Training, and Library Occupations

  • Food Preparations and Serving Related Occupations

  • Healthcare Occupations

  • Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

  • Management Occupations

  • Office and Administrative Support Occupations

  • Personal Care and Service Occupations

  • Sales and Related Occupations

  • Transportation and Material Moving Operations

  

Dozens of opportunities in the 2nd Senate District have been listed on their website in the past two weeks, including jobs at Agropur in Little Chute, Festival Foods in Green Bay, and North Shore Healthcare in Shawano.

  

If you’re interested in learning more about the employment options still available during this public health emergency, I’d encourage you to visit the Job Center of Wisconsin’s webpage dedicated to employment during this outbreak. Additionally, the Wisconsin Restaurant Association has prepared information for recently displaced workers, including a list of available, temporary jobs in Wisconsin. You can find this page on their website.

  

  

Prevention Steps for Essential Businesses

  

With the ‘safer-at-home’ order resulting in ‘essential business’ designations as discussed in the last e-newsletter, Northeast Wisconsin’s critical role in the production of indispensable goods and services is more evident than ever given how many local businesses fall under this designation. However, businesses that are continuing to operate during this outbreak are strongly encouraged to take certain steps to slow the spread of COVID-19.

  

During a recent webinar I joined, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), also known as Wisconsin’s Chamber, discussed a series of steps they’re encouraging members to implement that further elaborate those requirements and even go beyond state standards. These steps prove the commitment of Wisconsin’s business community to fighting the spread of Coronavirus while working to lessen the impact on our workforce and economy.

  

For business leaders and for all of you heading into work during the ‘safer-at-home’ order, I’ve included these measures below, and I join WMC in encouraging all local businesses to implement these steps as feasible.

  • Ban in-person meetings (internal or external) and employee convening (formal or informal) of any size. Employee communication handled virtually wherever possible.

  • Employees scanned regularly on-site for body temperature (contingent on availability of scanning devices, which are in short supply due to acute global demand).

  • Immediate workflow audit that removes instances of employees being within 6’ of each other.
    Reduction of on-site work hours to minimum needed to sustain operations.

  • Staggered shifts and work hours to minimize on-site human presence at a given time.

  • Staggered use of all shared spaces, including bathrooms, breakrooms and lunchrooms.

  • Staggered facility entry and exit procedures.

  • Mandatory work at home for all employees except those necessary for baseline production and logistics functions.

  • Sanitary processes implemented throughout facility (soap, hand sanitizer, single-use gloves, doors propped open, hands-free capabilities, no shared food).

  • Blue tape marking of surfaces that receive frequent human contact; disinfection of these surfaces multiple times daily.

  • International travel ban – business and personal.

  • Domestic business travel ban except for critical operations (with senior management approval).

  • Domestic personal travel requires employee to self-quarantine for 14 days and be symptom-free before returning to work.

  • Any employee returning from a Level 2 or 3 CDC travel country must self-quarantine for 14 days and be symptom-free before returning to work.

  • No deliveries except those that support production activities or emergency building maintenance.

  • No visitors (including suppliers and customers) except those approved by senior management.

  • Employees must immediately report symptoms associated with COVID-19 exposure.

  • Employees must report contact with any person who tests positive for COVID-19; employee must subsequently self-quarantine for 14 days and be symptom-free before returning to work.

  

  

Getting More Nurses into Hospitals

  

On Wednesday, the state Board of Nursing proposed changes that would allow nursing students who have completed 75% of their clinical hours and out-of-state nurses to practice in Wisconsin. The Board also proposed allowing nurses who’ve recently retired or let their license lapse to be quickly reinstated with no fees for one-year.

  

As Wisconsin health care providers and hospital administrators navigate this unprecedented event, I’m very pleased to see the Board of Nursing work to react in real time to the circumstances presented by this public health emergency. Nurses, particularly in hospitals, are the backbone of Wisconsin’s strong health care industry and the key to quality care. As some hospitals deal with an influx of patients and others prepare for this potential, having a larger health care workforce while still ensuring the delivery of quality care is an important step in these trying times.

  

I applaud the action by the Board of Nursing, and I hope to see Governor Evers make the necessary changes to solidify these actions as soon as possible. Learn more about these changes by reading this article on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s website.

  

  

Stress Helpline

  

While it’s important to keep up with the news during a global pandemic that’s begun hitting closer to home, the coverage can also cause anxiety, stress, and fear among Wisconsin residents. If you need to talk to someone during this difficult time, please reach out to Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or by texting ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746.

  

  

Until Next Time

     

While the State Capitol has closed access to the public during this outbreak, my staff and I are still here to assist with questions you may have involving state government. While we may not always have the answer right away, we’ll do our best to assist with your questions and concerns revolving around COVID-19 or other issues related to state government.

    

To find the most up-to-date information on the Governor’s actions, including the ‘safer-at-home’ order, along with each state agency’s role in this outbreak, I’d encourage you to visit this website. To find the most up-to-date numbers on confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, visit the Department of Health Services’ website.

    

And as always, please feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns you may have, and be sure to visit my website and connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for regular updates on Coronavirus and more from around the 2nd Senate District and in the State Capitol.

  

Thanks for reading!

  

 

Senator Robert Cowles
Proudly Serving Wisconsin's 2nd Senate District

  

 

 

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 | Office: 118 South, State Capitol

 
Office: (608) 266-0484 | District: (920) 448-5092 | Sen.Cowles@legis.wisconsin.gov

 

     

 

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