COUNTY BOARD TO CONSIDER 2019 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THURSDAY

April 11, 2019
Sharon Corrigan, County Board Chair 608.333.2285
County Board

Alliant Energy Center, clean environment, youth programs among top priorities

 

The Dane County Board on Thursday will consider its 2019-2021 legislative agenda, which contains county priorities for state action.

 

The legislative agenda is a list of policy positions the County Board considers important for the Wisconsin State Legislature to take up during the current session at the State Capitol. The full agenda is available at https://dane.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3786761&GUID=597307B1-89F6-421A-8CE2-FFD1D6616D0C

 

“Dane County is the second largest county in Wisconsin and it’s important that we make our collective voices heard to policy makers,” says County Board Chair Sharon Corrigan (District 26, Middleton). “We look forward to working with our Dane County delegation and other legislators as they begin debate on the new state budget.”  The agenda includes support for:

 

  • A proposal from Gov. Tony Evers to include $30 million in his 2019-2021 capital budget toward a major expansion of the Alliant Energy Center’s Exhibition Hall. The idea is to create a convention center that elevates Wisconsin as a premiere site in the country for agricultural shows.

  • Environmental initiatives ranging from increased financial support for the DNR to help farmers reduce runoff from livestock operations, efforts to address climate change, and support for renewable energy sources.

  • Continued funding for early intervention and intensive treatment programs for at-risk youth. The agenda specifically urges continued improvements to the juvenile corrections system to ensure Dane County can successfully operate a secured residential care center for children and youth.

“No issue is more important than early intervention for children most in need of our support,” says Supervisor Jamie Kuhn (District 16, Madison), who chairs the County’s Health and Human Needs Committee.

 

Other items before the Board Thursday include:

  • Hiring Carrie Springer to serve as the Legislative Lobbyist.Springer has extensive experience in government relations and currently works at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a strategic communications specialist.

  • Consideration of two resolutions related to operations of the Henry Vilas Zoo. One item is a three-year agreement with Centerplate to operate concessions. The other item provides for changes and additions to County staffing to ensure continued smooth functioning of the facility.

  • Accepting a $146,751 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Recreational Trails Grant Program for the resurfacing of the Capital City State Trail. Six miles of the trail were resurfaced last year and the new grant will complete another 3.5 miles from Fish Hatchery Road to Seminole Highway.

  • Accepting a $126,884 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families to address child abuse and neglect.

  • Designating the week of April 8 through April 12 as “Work Zone Awareness Week” in Dane County. In 2018, Wisconsin suffered from 3,157 crashes in road construction and maintenance zones, resulting in over 1,274 injuries and nine fatalities. The safety resolution urges safer driving with a theme of ”Drive Like You Work Here.”