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DNR Forces Another Business Out Of Wisconsin

Cause and effect. 

Menard Inc. says the state has forced it to move a local manufacturing plant to Minnesota because it won’t issue a building permit.

The Eau Claire-based home improvement retailer will move an Eau Claire manufacturing plant to Belgrade, Minn., where it will employ 80 to 100 people.

“It is certainly no secret that there are certain agencies here in Wisconsin that have been awfully difficult, if not impossible, to work with on business issues,” Menards spokeswoman Dawn Sands said.

Other states “have agencies and communities that have a very positive, pro-business attitude,” Sands said. “It becomes a pretty easy choice to make.”

The issue is that Menard’s wanted to use part of a wetland.  The DNR denied the permit because it says that the wetland is used by migratory birds like the nearly extinct Canadian Goose (yes, that’s a joke).  The Menard’s spokeswoman rightly wondered, “why the birds couldn’t land across the street.”

Once again, just like the Crandon Mine, the DNR is directly responsible for killing jobs in Wisconsin.  Hey, but at least the geese will have some place to crap instead of my office’s parking lot.

Posted by Owen at 2230 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

1. The real story here is not about geese, it’s about Menard’s getting caught by the DNR for illegally dumping toxic chemicals down the floor drain on a daily basis, and getting sued for it a few months back.

   The Menards move to Minnesota is nothing but vengence on the part of Menards.  It is interesting that Menards, to date, has only sought a permit for a new warehouse for the wetlands area—not the all-encompassing new development to which they referred.  And when told they couldn’t build the warehouse in a wetlands, they originally said they would revise their plans without making a stink about it.  Now, post chemical-dupming lawsuit, all of the sudden the story becomes that Menards is leaving because of geese.  IT’S SPIN AT ITS WORST—nothing more.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 24, 2005 at 1200 hrs
   
   
   

2. I have to agree with Patrick. There’s more to this story than just the Menards spin. What this is, really, is a power play. Threaten to move jobs and watch the city/county fall over itself to cut deals to keep Menards here.

   Frankly, let ‘em go. I understand Home Depot would love to open a store here.

   One of these days someone’s gonna call Menard’s bluff. I hope this is the day.

   But I’m going to look into the story some more.

   Posted by Drew on February 24, 2005 at 1948 hrs
   
   
   

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