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At the Capitol
Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government Holds Hearing on Rep. Goeben’s Bill AB 486 – a common sense and easy way to save tax payer dollars.
The real estate practices of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and local municipalities Highway road construction have had two significant yet unintended consequences. SB 467 is a common sense approach to save Wisconsin tax payers money on highway construction projects.
First, current highway improvement project practices cost the state taxpayers millions of dollars. Wisconsin taxpayers have been paying for the DOT to purchase, at fair market value, outdoor advertising signs or bill boards, just to condemn the signs and tear them down. This practice may cost up to 14-times more than to simply relocate the sign. Second, the State DOT is undermining private businesses. This bill rights these wrongs.
Almost all State highway projects affect outdoor advertising signs on private land adjacent to the highway. Current law gives municipalities the option of allowing the realignment of an affected sign on the same “site” or paying the condemnation costs associated with the State acquiring the sign. In many instances, relocation options are available for signs that would meet all State and Federal requirements but some local ordinances prevent relocation by banning construction of new outdoor advertising signs.
This bill eliminates the definition of realignment and replaces it with “reposition.” It allows for the reposition of a sign on the same parcel but not more than 25 feet in either direction along the road and not more than 660 feet away from the roadway. It allows a sign to be transferred within a municipality, raised, lowered, and/or rotated if a sign’s visibility is reduced because of a DOT project.
For signs that cannot be repositioned, SB 467 allows for a transfer to a parcel along the same highway or to another parcel with a municipality that the sign owner and municipality agree upon. Whatever your feelings about outdoor advertising, DOT projects continue to destroy the inventory of bill boards faster than the business can replace them and the cost is carried on the backs of Wisconsin taxpayers.
Senate Committee on Health Passes Rep. Goeben’s Bill AB 162
This bill requires that nursing homes or Community Based Residential Facilities and care management organizations provide a 90-days’ written notice to a resident, to the resident’s guardian, and/or to a member of the resident’s family, before the resident is required to be relocated or evicted.
Under current law, only 30-days’ written notice, prior to relocation or eviction is required.
This issue was brought to my attention when concerned family members contacted my office seeking any help they could find.
The families related that an assisted living facility in my district had decided to change its policies and to stop providing care to participants in the Medicaid’s Family Care program.
In the middle of winter, in Wisconsin, the residents were given 30-days to find a new home. In the realm of nursing homes and residential facilities, finding alternative living inside a 30-day window is short.
One family had to move their mother to a facility located hours away, because nothing closer was available at the time. They were told she could be moved again when something closer opened up.
Consider the amount of stress that could be alleviated or prevented if residents and their families were given a reasonable amount of time to make arrangements, once they receive a relocation or eviction notice.
Adding insult to injury, how about the resident who does not have family, or their family lives in another state, or the only relative is also elderly and unable to assist.
The resident, if capable, is left to figure this out for themselves even if they lack the mental capacity to do so. Given the staffing shortage of long-term care facilities, residents and their families should receive timely notification to prepare for change.
Capitol Christmas Tree
The 2023 State Capitol Holiday Tree is a 30-foot Balsam fir donated by Marge Van Heuklon from Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
The tree was planted in 2005 as a memorial to Frank Magnus, a World War II Army veteran, dairy farmer and local elected official in the Rhinelander area.
This year the tree is decorated with ornaments celebrating 175 years of Wisconsin statehood. It is lit by 2,000 energy-saving multicolored LED lights.
Public and private schools throughout Wisconsin donated the handmade ornaments that adorn the tree.
Ponsse North America, Inc. of Rhinelander transported the tree.
Reynolds Crane of Madison, Wisconsin unloaded the tree when it arrived at the Capitol.
In-District Doings
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This week was busy but very fun in district.
I had the Freedom Christmas Parade as well as the Kaukauna Christmas Parade. It was a great time to greet so many members of our community.
Blue Books Are Here!
District #5 Residents, please contact my office for your copy while supplies last.
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Upcoming Events in District 5
Grignon Mansion Christmas Tours: December 2, 9 & 10 2023
2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
1313 Augustine St.
Kaukauna, WI 54130
Breakfast With Santa: December 9th, 2023
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Pulaski Community Middle School
Holiday Hoobie Whatty : December 9th, 2023
Seymour Business League
2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Rock Ledge Park, 406 W High St.
Seymour, WI
All Aboard Chug & Cheer : December 9th, 2023
6:00 PM
After you enjoy all of what the Holiday Hoobie Whatty …
Have you seen the magic of the Polar Express? We invite you to Petticoat Junction, Hustle Inn, Circle G Saloon, Foreman’s, Wally’s, and Jackson Point to punch your golden ticket!
Downtown Seymour, WI
Pancake Breakfast at St. Nicholas Catholic School : December 10th, 2023
8:00 AM – 12:15 PM
W2035 County Rd S
Freedom, WI, United States, Wisconsin
St. Joseph Parish Church Basement Bingo : December 13th, 2023
Followed by Nativity Shadow Play and Caroling
6:15 PM & 7:00 PM
Oneida, WI
Santa Pub Crawl: December 16th, 2023
5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Wisconsin Ave, Kaukauna
Community Art Night: December 20th, 2023
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Pulaski VFW Hall
Join us on Sunday, December 10th for our St. Nicholas Breakfast! A pancake breakfast will be served from 8:00am-12:15pm. Come anytime – freewill offering for breakfast. There will be a craft for the kids and a chance to see St. Nicholas at 12:00!
Do you know of an event in District 5?
Please contact my office with any upcoming events. I look forward to sharing your event details in the next Goeben Gazette.
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Contact Information
My staff and I are here to serve you. If you have general questions or concerns regarding legislative matters, or if you need assistance with a state agency, please feel free to contact us. We are here to assist you!
We are also happy to schedule a meeting with you, either here in Madison, or in District 5.
Representative Joy Goeben
State Capitol, Room 209 North
PO Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
Rep.Goeben@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 237-9105 or Toll Free (888) 534-0005
