Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
STATE REP. Beth Meyers visits Hurley Friday on a listening session tour. Meyers addressed Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget and talked about a wide assortment of issues with the public. Meyers also wrote down concerns of citizens to take back with her to Madison.
By IAN MINIELLY
Hurley - State Rep. Beth Meyers, Bayfield, of the 74th Assembly District, stopped at the Iron County Courthouse in Hurley Friday morning, where a friendly back and forth with local residents followed and dialogue regarding the concerns and needs of Iron County was shared.
Meyers stressed her office maintains records of contacts. If a citizen contacts her office regarding an issue, it is recorded and she can then use those calls or communications in her arguments on the floor or in committee.
Meyers' constituent guide lists fair taxes, support for public schools, senior protections, job creation, local control, government accountability and fair elections and natural resources as her legislative priorities in Madison.
Most of those topics were brought up by her constituents in Hurley.
At one point early in the discussion, Meyers heard concerns regarding the rising costs of elections. The federal government provided equipment a decade ago, but now it is becoming obsolete and the people if Iron County cannot be expected to shoulder a burden mandated from Washington, D.C., when it comes to voting locally, she was told.
Meyers wrote the concern down to see what resources are available.
The problem Meyers mentioned following the comment regarding election costs was politicians from lower Wisconsin and the Governor's office not going north of Highway 29, so those voices rarely get heard in Madison. Meyers said, "There are counties whose voice matters."
Meyers discussed the broadband task force to bring the internet to rural areas of Wisconsin. She pulled no punches when she said the fund had $3 million initially and Gov. Scott Walker added $11 million.
The state of Wisconsin is investing $14 million into adding broadband capacity to rural Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Meyers pointed out the broadband contractors will satisfy their requirements in the contract by "cherry picking" locations and those in rural areas will still be the last to get broadband, but is confident the bill will pass.
On a topic similar to broadband in rural communities, Meyers said, "I want to create an awareness campaign in the state that above Wisconsin 29, we need 21st century services."
Meyers wants to improve cell phone coverage in northern Wisconsin and does not think the lower half of the state is aware of the large gaps in coverage up here.
Additionally, while discussing unemployment, it was mentioned how Madison had the state's lowest unemployment and the governor was considering this a win, but Iron County has the highest unemployment rate in the state and this area needs jobs and skilled workers.
Meyers said when she meets college students in her office in Madison and asks them if they are staying in Wisconsin after graduation, three out of four students say they are leaving. Meyers wants to reverse this and work to create an environment conducive to job creation and employment at jobs with livable wages.
Meyers brought up the Gogebic Range robotics team and how well it did in the tournament in Duluth, winning the competition.
The robotics team was doing very well Friday in St. Louis and the competition was available online, "If you have broadband," was the rejoinder from the audience, which brought out a round of laughter.
Meyers said she informed the robotics team if it wins in St. Louis she would take them all out to dinner at the Kimball Inn.
