Funding Approved for Montello Dredge Bank and Dam

At their April 28 meeting, members of the State Building Commission unanimously approved the release of $165,000 for a feasibility study of design options for reconstructing the Buffalo Lake dredge bank and dam in the City of Montello.

The road atop the dredge bank, known as Sunset Drive, and the adjoining public boat landing were shut down after flooding in 2008. The Department of Natural Resources has since closed the road and prohibited use of the boat landing due to an engineering report that detailed the weakened condition of the structure.

Rep. Clark has worked with the City of Montello, Marquette County, Buffalo Lake Association, DNR staff, and members of the public since September to come up with a project plan that received initial approval from DNR Secretary Matt Frank.

“We appreciate the Building Commission’s decision to release planning funds so we can evaluate all of the aspects needed to do this project properly and with a minimal amount of disruption to the community,” commented Rep. Clark.  “We started off on the right foot with this decision, and I will continue to work with the community to support this project each step of the way.”

With the release of funds, the Department of Administration is expected to offer a Request for Proposal to qualified engineering firms within two weeks, and will expect to let contracts shortly thereafter. The DNR anticipates that the final design of the project could be finalized by early next fall, and the project would then be ready for inclusion in the 2011-2012 biennial budget.

Rep. Clark is hopeful for the approval of the dredge bank in next session’s budget.

“The Montello dredge bank and Buffalo Lake project has been, and will continue to be a top priority for my office when the Legislature reviews the budget next year,” he said.  “This project is crucial not only for the safety of the residents of Montello, but also for the economic health of the downtown community and for all of the lakes users.”

Clark to Chair 
Forestry Study Panel

The Joint Legislative Council has named Rep. Fred Clark (D-Baraboo) as chair of the Special Committee on Review of the Managed Forest Land (MFL) Program, which will begin work in July.  The MFL is a state program that provides property tax deferral for forest owners who commit to practice sound forest management.

Particular issues the committee will address include maintaining and increasing public access on MFL-enrolled land, and the impact of MFL enrollment on local and county zoning and revenues.  Recent changes in forest ownership patterns and newly emerging forest product markets, such as interest in biofuels produced from wood products, make the timing of this study important.

“We need to protect the best parts of the MFL while closing loopholes that allow a small number of enrollees to abuse the program rules for their own benefit,” noted Rep. Clark, who also serves as the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Forestry. “At the end of the day, we need a program that promotes our forest economy, provides for public recreation access and other public benefits, and ensures sustainable forest management.”

Currently over 3 million acres of land are enrolled in MFL under 44,000 separate enrollments, comprising 19% of Wisconsin’s 16 million acres of working forest land.  “The Managed Forest Law is an essential tool in promoting our 22 billion dollar forest products industry and the thousands of good paying jobs it creates,” Rep. Clark added.

Along with Rep. Clark, Representative Don Friske (R-Merrill) will serve as the Vice-Chair for the committee.  Rep. Friske has been a leader in advocating for the forestry industry and worked closely with Rep. Clark to develop legislation during the previous session.

The Joint Legislative Council establishes special committees after each legislative session to examine important and complex topics.  Committees are made up of legislators and other community experts who have an interest or knowledge of the study topic.  The Joint Legislative Council has approved 17 study committees for 2010. 

Rep. Clark Secures Place on Fall Ballot

Less than a week after nomination papers could be circulated, Rep. Fred Clark was the first incumbent—and the first Democrat in Wisconsin—to officially get his name on the September ballot by submitting 400 signatures in support of his re-election bid.

Collected over a six-day period, the 400 signatures turned in Monday afternoon to the Government Accountability Board were the maximum allowed by Wisconsin law.

“Getting on the ballot is obviously the first challenge for any candidate, even an incumbent,” said Clark, who is in his first term representing south-central Wisconsin’s 42nd District.  “The credit really goes to our great volunteer crew who very efficiently collected the required signatures.”

Rep. Clark was also gratified that his nomination papers reflected broad support from across the district.

“We got scores of signatures not just from Baraboo, but from Portage, Montello, Wisconsin Dells, and all the smaller communities and rural areas throughout the four counties that I represent,” he emphasized.

“Cynicism always seems to dominate the headlines, so it’s refreshing to actually talk to lots of residents who genuinely like their representative,” added Karl Kindschi, a Portage resident who helped collect signatures for Rep. Clark in that city.

The next item on Clark’s campaign calendar is a pancake breakfast fundraiser on Saturday, June 19 at the Sauk County Fairgrounds, featuring appearances by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and retiring legislator Rep. Steve Hilgenberg. 

For the full text of the press release, please click here.