Yearly Spring Hearings Hosted by the Wisconsin DNR and Conservation Congress Happening this Monday, April 14th

Thursday, April 10th, 2025 -- 1:01 PM

The yearly Spring Hearings that are hosted by the Wisconsin DNR and Wisconsin Conservation Congress are happening this Monday, April 14th.

I spoke with LaVonne Liebzeit, one of Clark County’s WCC Delegates, and she discussed the hearings in more detail.

Listen to the interview with LaVonne here!

Again, the hearings are being held this Monday, April 14th in all of Wisconsin’s counties. You can find your county’s location by looking under Spring Hearings on the DNR’s and Conservation Congress’ websites.

Riley: "We are talking to LaVonne Liebzeit about the yearly Spring Hearings that are coming up, hosted by the Wisconsin DNR and Wisconsin Conservation Congress."

LaVonne: "Hi Riley. Do you know that Wisconsin Citizens have an opportunity to influence decisions made by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Board of Natural Resources (NRB) about Conservation issues?"

Riley: "At the Spring Hearings?"

LaVonne: "They really have two opportunities: the first - every year in February citizens can submit resolutions to the WI Conservation Congress, online, about a thought, a concern or a change they would like to see in regards to conservation."

Riley: "What does the term conservation include?"

LaVoone: "The DNR is responsible for enforcing the environmental and conservation laws and policies specific to each state. These laws help protect wildlife, fish, waters, forests, wetlands, state parks, and other natural areas, as well as keeping the public safe. All of these are part of conservation."

Riley: "Why would a resolution go to the WI Conservation Congress instead of the DNR?"

LaVonne: "The WCC is the link between the citizens and the DNR/NRB. Through the WCC citizens can provide input on how to responsibly manage Wisconsin’s natural resources by submitting resolutions in February."

Riley: "You mentioned there are two opportunities to proved input about conservation issues, is the other one at the Spring Hearings?"

LaVonne: Yes. Attendees will have an opportunity to provide input (responding Yes/No/No Opinion) to advancing the following:

1. Any resolution submitted by a citizen in your county this year;
2. The 43 proposed wildlife and fisheries management “rule changes” from the DNR;
3. The 3 NRB advisory questions;
4. And the 27 WCC advisory questions from advanced resolutions submitted by citizens last year.
   

"Just so you know, the term input is used instead of vote because it doesn’t determine the outcome, it is a consensus of what the citizens of Wisconsin would like to see as the outcome."

Riley: "How do they provide the input?"

LaVonne: "There are 3 options for attendees: as the questions are reviewed/discussed they can choose to fill out a questionnaire input form (circling yes/no/no opinion) OR they can bring their own electronic device and answer the questions electronically OR they can answer them electronically at home, as long as they complete the questions between 7PM April 14th and 6PM April 16th."

Riley: "What about non-attendees, can they also provide input to the questions?"

LaVonne: "Absolutely, non-attendees can go to either website to find and respond to the questions, as long as they do so between 7PM April 14th and 6PM April 16th."

Riley: "When and where do the Spring Hearings take place?"

LaVonne: "The Spring Hearings are held in every county in Wisconsin on Monday, April 14th from 6-9 PM. In Clark County it will be held at the Greenwood Cafeteria in the high school. Other counties can find their location at either the WI DNR or WI Conservation Congress websites, just look under Spring Hearings."

Riley: "What else should we know about the Spring Hearings?"

LaVonne: "The agenda for the evening includes:

• 6-6:30 Sign in, meet and greet with the DNR staff and the WCC delegates;
• 6:30 DNR staff presentations on “what is going on in your county”;
• 7:00 WCC delegate election takes place. If anyone is interested in becoming a delegate to the WCC please have an ID, be ready to introduce
  yourself and tell why you would like to become a delegate. You can go to the WCC website for information on delegates.
• 7:30 – resolutions submitted in your county will be presented, followed by attendees input.

"Afterwards a review of the DNR/NRB & WCC spring hearing questions will take place, along with the attendees input to each question."

Riley: "If anyone has any questions where can they go for answers?"

LaVonne: "They can go to the WCC website to find contact information for the delegates in their county, or look under Spring Hearings on the WCC or DNR website."

Riley: "Is there anything else you’d like to say?"

LaVonne: "If you fish, there are a lot of questions pertaining to fishing this year. Thank your for the interview, remember the Spring Hearings are Monday the 14th, if you can’t make it please take the time to vote. It is your way of expressing your ideals."

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.