Oconto County, Getting Guts

From Peshtigo Times. A little old but worth reading.

Bully, Oconto County board.

"Oconto Co. Board Raps Proposed Doyle Budget
Displeasure, even anger, over the many policy issues included in AB 75 - the Biannual Wisconsin State Budget Bill - came through loud and clear at the Oconto County Board meeting Thursday, April 23. So did specific objections to several of the provisions that will become law without separate action, debate, and legislative responsibility if the budget is approved as presented by Gov. Jim Doyle. There also was formal opposition to some operational policies of the Chequemegon Nicolet National Forest, and to a DNR-proposal to extend the muzzle loading deer gun season to Dec. 31 of this year.

“These changes should not be part of the budget,” declared Board Chair Lee Rymer of at least one of the major policy shifts buried in Doyle’s budget. “It’s political in nature and all they’re trying to do is help the large contractors who supported him (Doyle) in the election!”, Rymer said of one of the provisions.

“Let’s get all these policy issues out of the budget bill and give the public a chance to comment on them separately,” Rymer added.

Rymer was referring in general to the approximately 80 policy decisions “hidden” in the budget bill, and in particular to two provisions: one that would change “prevailing wage law” requirements, adding greatly to the cost of local government projects, and discouraging small local contractors from bidding on government jobs, large or small; and another that critics say will add greatly to the cost of vehicle liability coverage for governments and individuals.

Rymer said the ploy of burying policy changes in the budget bill was started by Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus and is being expanded by Doyle. He said Wisconsin Counties Asociation (WCA) also had objected to the policy inclusions in the budget bill, and a letter from Sen. Dave Hansen indicated 45 of the 80 proposed policy issues have been removed.

General discussion from the floor indicated supervisors shared the sentiments against including policy changes in an 1,800-page bill that is supposed to be the state spending plan for the next two years. Someone commented that even legalization of gay marriage is included in the budget proposals.

Vote was 30 to one in favor of a resolution opposing the prevailing wage law changes and calling on the governor and the legislature “to disallow policy changes in the biannual budget bill and restrict policy changes and statutory and regulatory changes to legislation that is specific to said regulations and policies as separate legislation.” Supervisor Vernon Zoeller cast the sole opposing vote.

It was the first of three resolutions from the Economic Development and Tourism Committee explained to the board by Bruce Mommaerts, who works closely with them as administrator of the Oconto County Economic Development Corporation and as Oconto County’s delegate to the 11-county North Central International Trade, Business and Economic Development Council (ITBEC).

The prevailing wage law provision, Mommaerts said, would require all companies that deal with state, county or municipal governments to pay Davis/Bacon wages on all projects and purchases over $2,000, change the bidding law threshold from $48,000 for a “single-trade” project and $234,000 for “multiple trade” projects to $2,000, and create “a new class of projects” subject to those requirements. The new class, to be called “publicly funded private construction projects,” would be any project that receives a grant, is part of a cooperative agreement, TIF District project, etc., and in effect would apply to everything Mommaerts and his corporation do to add to the county’s economic base.

Mommaerts said in some cases the Davis/Bacon wages are more than $10 per hour higher than usual local wages, and record keeping requirements are so difficult that many small local contractors will simply find it is not worth the trouble. This will mean higher costs for local taxpayers and even greater problems trying to live within budget limits. Mommaerts suggested Doyle included the provision to help the large contractors who supported him in the election.

Supervisor Rose Stellmacher said the previous week a similar resolution was passed by the Riverview Town Board, and she felt it would be helpful if other towns, cities and villages pass them also and send them along to the governor and their representatives in the Legislature. She asked other supervisors to convey this message to their local governments.

Mommaerts said ITBEC is asking its 11 member counties to express their opposition to this measure. All supervisors except Zoeller supported the resolution.

Talk then turned to a resolution objecting to application of the Chequemegon Nicolet National Forest (CNNF) to the Wisconsin DNR for Tier 2 in the “Green Tier” program. Mommaerts pointed out that program is for private businesses that want to prove they are “green”, and declared the National Forest is not a private business.

This resolution also came from the Economic Development and Tourism Committee, and is based on the fear the National Forest is being more and more moved toward becoming a national park, and one more step toward a “no roads, no cut” policy that was helped along last fall when an initiative to close many of the roads in the forest was allowed to stay in the forest plan. Vote was 29 supervisors in favor of the resolution and two opposed. opposing votes were cast by Supervisors Zoeller and Terry Brazeau. Neither explained why they were opposed.

Mommaerts said the economies of the northern communities developed from forest products and still depend heavily on them. “National Forest policies are hurting the local economy,” Mommaerts declared. He said it is frustrating for businesses in the north to see forest products being wasted by lack of timely harvest in the surrounding National Forest, while they are forced to import raw materials from Canada and local loggers are looking for business.

Supervisor Dick Gilles said even wildlife is harmed by harvest restrictions in the National Forest. He declared if trees are not cut when they should be there is no new growth, and eventually no browse for deer or other animals that thus are being denied places to hide and food to eat.

Mommaerts said he has been told by people who work for the Forest Service that the forest in Florence County is already almost totally devoid of underbrush, which is what happens when there is a full forest canopy as in the Cathedral Pines area.

Supervisor Eugene Winter said now the Obama administration is talking about putting a cap on the number of recreational trails in the National Forests, and to limit cutting there because the trees create oxygen for the air we breathe.

Mommaerts said it does seem like some of the trails may be cut off, and they are deciding not to allow cutting in the north so the cities can continue to grow. “They’re trading development in the northern part of the state for development in the southern part.”

The resolution states the Green Tier program is intended for “green” private businesses, and the National Forest is not a private business. It also states Oconto County has determined that the management plan for the forest is not being faithfully implemented and it has not beeen managed as a renewable resource under sustainable forest management practices. It further states the CNNF has failed to manage the national forest in compliance with the Clark-McNary Act of 1976 . This act requires national forests to give balanced consideration to all resources and outlined policies and procedures for management.

It goes on to say this failure has had a negative impact on local community’s tax revenues, tourism development and the wood and forestry industries.

The resolution calls on Wisconsin DNR to hold public hearings on the Green Tier application and schedule public informational meetings within the counties that have CNNF lands to better acquaint residents with what enrollment in the Green Tier program would mean, and has asked that the ITBEC or representatives of its member counties participate in any negotiations concerning a Green Tier participation contract for the CNNF. Member counties are Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Portage, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca and Wood.

Copies of the resolution are to be sent to Chief of the Forest Service; Joan Marburger, Project Coordinator for the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest, all Federal Representatives, Doyle, and all state representatives. Copies are also to be forwarded to all counties that contain CNNF lands, and to Wisconsin Counties Association.

A resolution asking the DNR not to extend the Wisconsin Deer Gun Muzzle Loader season was also supported by 30 to one vote, again with only Zoeller opposed.

Mommaerts said there is reason to object, both on an economic basis and because of the impact on the deer herd. He said the DNR now admits they have over estimated the deer population and under estimated the number or predators, particularly in the northern areas.

From an economic standpoint, if the shooting season is extended, recreational trails cannot be opened, and if there is snow, the week between Christmas and New Years can be just as important economically to the northern communities as four extra weekends of snow. In 2007, tourist business during that week was the only thing that allowed many businesses to survive. “If we want to protect our sales tax revenues, we really cannot see extending the shooting season,” Mommaerts declared.

There also is almost no support from sportsmen. Mommaerts said at the recent Conservation Congress meeting in his area only eight people supported the extended muzzle loading season, and the rest overwhelmingly opposed it.

Supervisor Jim Lacourciere wondered if there was a way to allow both muzzle load hunting and open recreational trails, perhaps by restricting areas, but Mommaerts felt that would not work. He said in terms of income, there is no way muzzle loaders would bring in more income than ATVS and snowmobiles.

Mommaerts said he himself is a muzzle load hunter, and sees no need for the extended season. He said he can hunt during any gun season, in any T-zone area and during the 7-day extended gun season. He said there is absolutely no evidence of any need for added herd control.

A resolution expressing opposition to a budget bill provision and Senate Bill 20 that would change insurance laws originated with the Finance and Insurance Committee and was unanimously supported by the full County Board with no opposing votes.

County Administrator Kevin Hamann said if the proposals are implemented, county insurance costs would increase dramatically. “It could cost us millions of dollars in the future...this is just a bad bill that we need to oppose.

Supervisor Richard Giles commented it could affect everyone personally as well, in terms of higher insurance costs and higher taxes. He said he has written to all his state representatives and urged everyone else to do likewise.

The resolution states Doyle’s Executive Budget Bill contains several anti-tort “reform” proposals, among them:

*A provision that would force a defendant to pay 100 percent of the damages in an accident even if they were found to have as little as one percent of liability. He said counties and other governmental units would be especially hard hit because of the “deep pockets” theory.

*Mandatory minimum auto liability insurance limits would force individuals, companies and local governments to pay for higher levels of insurance;

*Changing the definition of an underinsured motorist in a way that increases insurance claims;

*Requiring insurance companies to cover uninsured motorist claims when no contact was made between the insured’s car and another car, thereby increasing the risk of fraudulent claims;

*Allowing “stacking” of coverage for underinsured motorists so that coverage limits for an accident are not limited to the policy relating to the specific vehicle involved in the accident, and

*Forcing excess or umbrella insurers to offer to cover certain claims when the coverage was not requested by the insured.

Rymer said Wisconsin counties Associaton (WCA) has sent letters to all counties in the state warning them of the impact of these changes, adding, “That’s a lot of opposition.”

There were comments the provisions were intended to increase income for attorneys.

Rymer repeated his earlier objections to inclusion of non-budget items in a budget bill. “These things get in there... That’s not the way to do business!”

When the roll was called there were no opposing votes.
" Peshtigo Times Wisconsin Community Newspaper

Not sure how to take Oconto County after the last couple of elections. Keeps moving left!