Yearly Archives: 2015

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the bipartisan Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform (FLAIR) Act. The bill requires the Department of Interior (DOI) to increase transparency and efficiency by conducting an inventory of its federal property holdings and integrating the findings into one database that can track and manage property.

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) is one of only four applicants in the country to receive a Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes. This year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in partnership with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) held its first annual Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes to recognize excellence in healthy housing innovation and achievement.

The Department of Natural Resources is offering five state-owned parcels of land for public sale beginning July 16, 2015. In June 2014, the Natural Resources Board approved 22 department-owned properties totaling approximately 1,400 acres for public sale. Of these 22 parcels, 15 were land-locked with no legal access from a road and marketed to adjoining landowners.

The City of Milwaukee has been awarded a $1 million state grant for the development of Reed Street Yards, a water technology business park now under construction adjacent to the Global Water Center

Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) yesterday reintroduced the Private Property Rights Protection Act, which would provide American citizens with the means to protect their private property from inappropriate claims of eminent domain. If a state or political subdivision of a state uses its eminent domain power to transfer private property to other private parties for the purpose of economic development, the state would be ineligible for federal economic funds for two fiscal years following a judicial determination that the law has been violated.

Earlier today the State Building Commission approved a $624 million capital budget. Representative Robb Kahl (D-Monona) made the following comments after the vote “While I appreciate the Governor’s desire to have no new borrowing due to our financial situation in Wisconsin, I do have serious concerns that by not making adequate investments in our buildings and infrastructure, we’ll end up having to pay significantly more for projects in the future.”<

U.S. Representative Reid Ribble (WI-08) today announced the introduction of a bill he authored to restore Congress’s ability to set priorities and control federal spending. H.R 2884, the Power of the Purse Act of 2015, removes the “firewall” that exists within sequestration between defense and non-defense discretionary spending, allowing Congress to regain the power of the purse.

The public has an opportunity to review and provide comments on a draft master plan for three wildlife area properties in Burnett County at an upcoming open house meeting, or comment by mail, or online. Topics addressed in the master plan include management objectives for recreation and resource protection.

A dam that formed the trout pond at Paradise Springs in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest failed earlier this week and the pond has drained. Water had undermined the water control structure for the dam and is flowing under it and through the outlet.

A proposed amendment to the master plan of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest that allows the exclusive use of an additional 225 acres to provide accessible trails and hunting opportunities for veterans at the Camp American Legion property located in Lake Tomahawk, Oneida County was approved by the state Natural Resources Board at the June 24 meeting in La Crosse, Wisconsin