From the Desk of Michelle Saduaskas AIS Coordinator, Important News!

From: Michele Sadauskas <msadauskas@co.oneida.wi.us>
Date: July 10, 2015 at 10:17:25 AM CDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: 2016-2017 State Budget goes to Governor Walker

Hello everyone-

Yesterday the State Budget passed through the WI Assembly.  The budget is now on the Governor’s desk!  Sadly, the budget still has some unfavorable items in it for Wisconsin’s land and water.

Motion 520, paragraph 23, will severely limit local control on managing our lakes, rivers, and wetlands.  This will affect Oneida County lakes and rivers.  With this in mind, the Oneida County Board approved a resolution(#52-2015) strongly objecting to Paragraph 23 of Motion 520.

I have attached the Oneida County resolution and a letter submitted to the Joint Finance Committee by multiple Wisconsin State organizations explaining the negative effects Motion 520, paragraph 23 could have on our water resources.    I urge you to contact the governor with your concerns and comments on Motion 520 as soon as possible.  You can email Governor Walker at this address:    govgeneralreply@wisconsin.gov  or call 608-266-1212.  Don’t be afraid to call, I have done this many times with my local representatives!  It is easy, and they quickly can find out what matters to their constituents in this manner J  Additionally, please try to attend the Oneida County Board meeting on Tuesday, August 18th, 9:30 a.m.  Tom Tiffany is penciled in to attend!  Your voice does matter!    

RESOLUTION #52-2015 1

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Resolution offered by the Conservation and UW-Extension Education Committee 4

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Resolved by the Board of Supervisors of Oneida County, Wisconsin 6

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WHEREAS, the Oneida County Conservation and UW-Extension Education Committee 8 has been advised that the Joint Committee on Finance has passed Motion #520 as part of its 9 discussion and deliberation on the Budget Bill; and 10

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WHEREAS, Paragraph 23 of Motion #520 changes the standards for regulation of 12 existing structures in the shoreland area contrary to adopted standards in NR 115 and to the 13 detriment of environmental quality, and the orderly economic development of Oneida County; 14 and 15

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WHEREAS, the State of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 17 has adopted NR 115 and updated it periodically after public input and review; and 18

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WHEREAS, Oneida County has 428 named lakes and more than 830 miles of streams, 20 of which 192 miles are classified trout streams, that are pressured with both new development 21 and re-development of existing structures; and 22

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WHEREAS, Oneida County has been enforcing the minimum standards of NR 115 since 24 its inception in the late 1960’s, and has accumulated considerable experience while working 25 with the various incarnations of NR 115 over many years, and furthermore has noted during 26 these many years that the current laws have protected the water quality in Oneida County, and 27 at the same time have protected property values, the County’s wildlife and fisheries habitat, and 28 the natural scenic beauty of Oneida County’s shorelands, and at the same time provided 29 flexibility to property owners in development of their property; and 30

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WHEREAS, Oneida County Board members conclude that the water quality of those 32 water bodies within our county would suffer if development is not regulated to the benefit of both 33 the property owner and the water body whose shorelines are proposed for development as it 34 currently is in NR 115; and 35

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WHEREAS, Oneida County has had good protection of landowner rights, property 37 values, and the environment including water quality when following (the current minimum 38 standards); and 39

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WHEREAS, Oneida County has provided some additional protections of our surface and 41 ground water that is slightly more protective than the minimums in NR 115, and feels strongly 42 that Counties should be able to enforce more than the minimum standards to protect their 43 unique resources; and 44

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WHEREAS, Oneida County feels that the minimum standards should not be changed 46 without due consideration by the entire legislature, the Natural Resources Board, and the public; 47 and 48

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WHEREAS, Oneida County strongly objects to paragraph 23 of Motion #520 amending 50 the 2016-2017 state of Wisconsin Budget (SB 21 and AB 21), because it weakens regulation of

non-conforming structures and does not provide adequate protection 52 of our valuable water

53 resources; and

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55 WHEREAS, the amendment as written will prevent local governmental units charged by

56 the State of Wisconsin with overseeing development within its shorelands from protecting the

57 rights of the property owner, the citizens of the area, and the environment in a fair and equitable

58 manner; and

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60 WHEREAS, Paragraph 23 of Motion #520 as written will result in unchecked

61 development along our shorelines which will cause irreparable harm to the water quality of our

62 County; result in a drop in property values which in turn will damage the economy of our County;

63 and promote harm to the environment by contributing to the degradation of our surface waters

64 and ultimately the ground water of our County and the State, and

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WHEREAS, Oneida County Board supports the June 5th 66 and June 8, 2015 letters from

67 Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin County Code Administrators, Land + Water

68 Conservation Association, and Wisconsin County Planning and Zoning Directors (attached).

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70 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Oneida County board of supervisors

71 that it hereby requests that the State of Wisconsin, repeal Paragraph 23 of Motion #520 to the

72 2016-2017 Budget Bill (SB 21 and AB 21), and retain the current provisions of NR 115,

73 Wisconsin Administrative Code, and thereby protect the citizens and environment of our County

74 and great State, and

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76 NOW, FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED, that Oneida County Board approved Resolution

77 to repeal Paragraph 23, of Motion #520 to the 2016 – 2017 Budget Bill (SB 21 and AB 21), be

78 forwarded to members of the Joint Committee on Finance, area Legislators, and the Governor’s

79 office.

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81 Vote Required: Majority = ________ 2/3 Majority = _________ ¾ Majority = __________

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83 The County Board has the legal authority to adopt: Yes _______ No ________ as reviewed

84 by the Corporation Counsel, _________________________________, Date: __________

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86 Approved by the _________________ Committee this _____day of ______________ ,

87 2015.

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89 Consent Agenda Item: _____YES ______NO

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91 Offered and passage moved by: _________________________________

92 Supervisor

93 _________________________________

94 Supervisor

95 _________________________________

96 Supervisor

97 _________________________________

98 Supervisor

99 _________________________________

100 Supervisor

_____ Nays 103

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_____ Absent 105

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______Abstain 107

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_____ Adopted 109

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by the County Board of Supervisors this _____ day ___________________ , 2015. 111

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_____ Defeated 113

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______________________________ ____________________________________ 115

Mary Bartelt, County Clerk Dave Hintz, County Board Chair