Leader Staff
Wisconsin residents will be able to nominate and elect local representatives to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress at the Department of Natural Resources spring hearings and Conservation Congress meetings. The Shawano County meeting held at 7 p.m. Monday at Shawano Community Middle School.
People will also have the opportunity to provide their input on proposed rule changes and advisory questions relating to conservation and fish and wildlife management in Wisconsin.
Results from the meetings in each county will be presented to the Natural Resources Board in May. If there is significant support for a proposal, the WCC advisory question could become a DNR rule change proposal in following years.
“Conservation Congress advisory questions generally originate from citizens’ ideas.” said Rob Bohmann, chairman of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. “If resolutions presented at the county level meetings are supported, the resolution is advanced to one of the Congress’ advisory committees and the Congress Executive Council for consideration.
“Each year, there are over 200 resolutions submitted locally. Not all pass, but the ones that do have the potential to become a rule, policy or legislative change in the subsequent years. It is a true grassroots process that empowers the citizens of this state to shape natural resources policy.”
The complete DNR spring rules hearings questionnaire is available for review online or at local DNR service centers. Individuals without Internet access can view the online questionnaire by visiting their local library.
People interested in attending the hearings are encouraged to review the questionnaire online prior to the hearings and should arrive at the hearing location early to register before the hearings begin.
For information on the spring hearings, visit www.dnr.wi.gov and search key words “Spring Hearings.”