6 Legislators Set To Receive
Friends Of Towns Recognition
SHAWANO (Sept. 7, 2004) - The Board of Directors of Wisconsin Towns Association today announced the names of the “2004 Friend of Towns Legislative Award” recipients. These six legislators have demonstrated a commitment to town and village government interests in a variety of legislative efforts in the past two years.
The recipients are: State Senator Alan J. Lasee, 1st Sentate District; State Senator Neal J. Kedzie, 11th Senate District; State Senator Roger M. Breske, 12th Senate District; State Representative Donald Friske, 35th Assembly District; State Representative Gabe Loeffelholz, 49th Assembly District; State Representative Barbara Gronemus, 91st Assembly District
The “2004 Friend of Towns Legislative Awards” will be presented at the 2004 Wisconsin Towns Association Annual Convention in Appleton at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel & Convention Center on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 at the annual awards banquet.
Richard J. Stadelman, Executive Director, Shawano, stated the following about each of the award recipients:
“Senator Alan Lasee authored several bills in the last session to give town government needed authority to protect towns interests and to provide the needed services of town residents. His leadership in gaining the passage of SB 87, which was the first change in annexation laws to benefit town government interests since the current annexation laws were created in the 1950’s, demonstrates his commitment to town government. In his position of Senate President and a past town board chairperson he has continued to speak out on the importance of local government in Wisconsin, particularly town government.”
“Senator Neal Kedzie was the Senate author of the bill (AB 437) to give town government the authority to create tax incremental finance districts for tourism, agriculture, and forestry projects, which was the first bill to give towns the authority to promote rural economic development with TIF procedures. He has become a recognized leader in the State Senate on environmental issues, yet has never forgotten his background as a former town board member when considering the interests of local government.”
“Senator Roger Breske was the co-chairperson of the Legislative Council Special Study Committee on Town Highway Recodification, which resulted in the passage of the first major revision of town highway law since the 1800’s. He has been a long standing supporter of town and village government issues being a past recipient of the Friend of Towns award.
“State Representative Donald Friske was the primary author of AB 551 which would have given the town board the authority to approve or disapprove county comprehensive plans before they would be effective in their town. Through his leadership the bill passed both houses of the legislature, however the bill was vetoed by the Governor. Rep. Friske also was able to brings various interest groups together to pass the first major reform of the Managed Forest Law, recognizing both the interests of private property owners and the concerns of local government. He is a consensus builder who has been able to work in a bi-partisan fashion to pass meaningful legislation.”
“State Representative Gabe Loeffelholz was the primary author of AB 437 which gave towns the authority to create tax incremental finance districts for tourism, agriculture, and forestry projects. This is the most significant tool for rural economic development that town government has been given. Gabe has not only supported town government issues, but took the lead to revise the charge back procedures for manufacturing assessment by state government to local governments to reduce both state costs and local government costs.”
“State Representative Barbara Gronemus was an active member of the Legislative Council Special Study Committee on Town Highway Recodification. She has been one of the strongest voices for agricultural interests in the state legislature over her two decades of legislative service. She has been able to balance her strong support for rural private property interests with the concerns of local government.”
Stadelman went on to say, “These legislative award recipients have demonstrated both individual leadership and the ability to cross party lines to pass legislation that has helped Wisconsin towns and villages, the people who own land and live in rural Wisconsin. The board of directors, staff, and members of Wisconsin Towns Association thank each of them for their efforts for towns and villages across the state of Wisconsin.”
Wisconsin Towns Association is a voluntary association of 1255 towns of the 1260 towns and 18 villages in Wisconsin. The Association represents town and village government interests at the state and federal level. The Association also provides training and current information on changing laws and administrative rules for town and village officers. The Association is based in Shawano, Wis. with a Madison office for lobbying.
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