Yet another expression of displeasure with a state budget action to restrict counties from regulating shoreland property.
Last week the Oneida County Board voted to ask the legislature to remove language in the budget bill changing the state's shoreland zoning regulations.
Proponents, like Senator Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst, said it helped regain property rights and gave the rules uniformity, as all counties would follow less-stringent DNR guidelines.
But opponents were quick to respond. Both the Oneida and Vilas county boards voted by a wide majority to condemn the changes saying it was a stripping away of local control. Other counties and lake associations have been discussing action to try to change the action.
Supervisor Tom Rudolph introduced the new resolution last week. He says the prior rules allowed counties with many lakes to better protect their waters...
"....it takes away the county's ability to have more protective measures or regulations to protect the lakes and rivers shorelines...."
Rudolph says the one-size fits all rules right now won't protect water quality in the Northwoods..
"....again, the minimum standards may be fine for counties that have few or no lakes but certainly does not apply to the northern part of the state...."
The change occurred when the non-budget motion was introduced into the budget bill by State Senator Tom Tiffany. It passed the Joint Finance Committee, then the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Walker.
