City Participates In Local Listening Session

Wisconsin State Senator Howard Marklein and Representative Travis Tranel visited Platteville on Monday,  February 12th, to conduct a local listening session.  The well-attended event was held in the Public Library's Community Room.  Concerns and appreciations from the members in attendance included: grazing conversion program, state bill regarding mental health, wind farm, state employee retirement taxation, surplus funds, public schools funding, creative economy, consistency in small business licensing, farmland conservation, women's health rights, district mapping, corporate claims of excessive property taxes (specifically the litigation pressed against the City of Platteville by Corporate Walmart), etc.

The session had some moments of passion and plea.  Overall, our local audience conducted themselves with the highest professionalism in respecting each other's views and the service of our representatives.  Upon conclusion of the hearing, Assemblymen Tranel commented on the complexity of the formula in funding local schools.  He also commented on the wide variety of topics brought up in the session.  He metaphorically linked his service as a representative to his occupation in farming with the common element of a required knowledge that is "a mile wide and inch deep." Senator Marklein agreed with the complexity of funding schools and acknowledged our local schools' challenges.   

A special thanks to Senator Marklein and Assemblyman Tranel for their visit to the community and to Library Director Jessie Lee-Jones and the Library Staff for hosting the event.