Rep. Ron Kind’s Statement on President Biden Signing Appropriations Package and Millions for WI-03 Community Projects into Law

Washington, DC – March 15, 2022
Today, Rep. Ron Kind released the following statement after President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan omnibus appropriations package into law, including over $11 million for Community Projects that Rep. Kind championed:     

“I'm thrilled to see this funding for Community Projects headed to Wisconsin's Third Congressional District. Whether it’s a new fire station in Platteville, increased flood resiliency in Ontario, or body worn and in-car cameras for our law enforcement officers in Portage County, funding for these projects will help meet the needs of our communities. I’m proud to have secured this investment for our district and can’t wait to see the impact of these outstanding projects,” said Rep. Ron Kind.   

Through the Community Project Funding Request process for the 117th Congress, which was included in this appropriations package just signed into law, Rep. Kind secured support for five Community Projects in Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District. These projects include:    

• Portage County Sheriff’s Office - Body Worn and In-Car Cameras for Patrol - $616,000   
  Funding will provide body worn cameras to the Portage County police force and upgrade in-car cameras.
    
• City of Platteville, WI - City of Platteville Fire Station - $7 million  
  The current Platteville Fire Station was constructed in 1963 with additions and alterations in 1985, 1994, and 2015. Due to space constraints in the apparatus bay, the department is required to house several vehicles in the already limited parking area. The facility as it stands today does not meet current code requirements and ADA guidelines. Funding will be used to build a new facility. 
    
• City of River Falls, WI - West Central Wisconsin Biosolids Facility Commission - $1.6 million   
  The West Central Wisconsin Biosolids Facility wastewater recycling facility serves 21 communities in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Large portions of the facility are nearing the end of their useful life in which infrastructure improvements are needed to handle increased by-product shipments. These would include improvements to address end-product handling issues related to storage and improve product marketability, upgrade infrastructure in need of repairs.
    
• City of Elroy, WI - City of Elroy Electrical Substation Renovation - $525,000   
  The project will flood proof of the City of Elroy's electrical substation that serves the entire community to prevent flood waters from entering the facility. Project would include installation of a floodwall, gates, storm water pumping system, and related site improvements. Project also includes utility related improvements and all related site restoration.   
   
• Village of Ontario, WI - Village of Ontario Flood Resiliency - $1.6 million    
  The Village of Ontario is located at the southern boundary of the Upper Kickapoo Watershed in Vernon County and has experienced 21 of the highest 22 floods on record since 2000. It also holds the highest record crest in the entire Kickapoo Valley from the back-to-back events that occurred in 2018. The August 2018 flood elevation was four feet above the 100-year flood elevation and had the following impacts on the community: The project will provide relocation sites for businesses and residential structures to not only replace those lost to flooding, but to create long-term economic stability.