Posted on 02/14/2005 9:08:28 PM PST by 12 Gauge Mossberg
For those who don't who Menard's is, they're a medium-sized home improvement center. They're not known nationally like Lowe's and Home Depot but they have their niche in the Midwest selling building supplies and tools.
BUMP
That's called "voting with your feet".
Hats off to Menards. More companies should do the same.
You don't often hear of a business moving from WI to MN. Usually the other way around.
I think I found the problem...
I've been to Wisconsin.....that is the only type of land there...
Oh. How come? Because of the weather?
The permit was turned down because the site was a stopover landing spot for migrating birds? LMAO!!! Sounds to me like it was Wisconsin that was making the "excuse". I hope Menards just laughs as they pack up to leave. "See ya later, Stinktown!"
Taxes.
Maybe. OTOH, designating that part of Menard's lot as a wetlands is probably rather outlandish. It could even be a deal stopper.
I always find it ironic, that libs relish in forcing "greedy companies" out, either through unions, heavy taxation, or state EPA, then complain that the jobs have all moved away.
There must be some fundamental logic chip missing in these people where they don't understand that greedy companies have the jobs. No company = no job.
Then they blame republicans for allowing the jobs to leave.
I have debated this with people in real life, and they're answer is always "we should make laws that prevent them from leaving". Wow, how brilliant.
These people continue to cut off their noses to spite their face.
I'm sure the migratory birds will be more than willing to make up any lost tax base...everybody just relaxxxxx :0)
And favours bright red armbands.
"Save big money at Me-naaaaaards!"
So another business leaves along with their jobs. The same thing happened when that lightweight Tony Earl was in charge. Tommy Thompson reversed that and we enjoyed a spell of economic growth. I hope he comes back and runs for governor again so we can reverse this course that that know-nothing Doyle has set our state towards. The anti-business, anti-profit dopes are running things now and our stumblebum legislature can't get off their barstools long enough to pay attention. No matter what they say when they go home. We probably have one of the worst, cowardly, incompetent, self-serving, corrupt, lying, and useless legislative bodies in the country. We would do as well, or as poorly, without them. I am a Republican and the "lawmakers" from my party never fail to disappoint me.
DNR Officials React, Lawmakers Propose Summit
February 14, 2005
Andrew Fefer
DNR officials in Eau Claire said, frankly, they have no idea what exactly Menards is complaining about, and what DNR "unwilligness" led the company to decide to move a plant out of Eau Claire.
They said they were working with Menards on different proposals, and stand willing to work with them again, even after being broadsided by Friday's announcement.
DNR Spokesman Dave Weitz said Menards had applied for a permit to build a seasonal storage warehouse on adjoining land their spokesperson says they wanted a store fixture plant on.
DNR officials say they applied in July, but because the request involved grading and filling a wetland, they asked Menards to work with them on alternatives, like re-configuring the proposal.
Instead, they said Menards never contacted them again.. and withdrew the application in december.
Weitz said they haven't heard from Menards since.
"I was surprised," he said. "I went around and asked if there were any outstanding permit applications, and there aren't any."
Meanwhile, local lawmakers are proposing what they call an urgent "Menards Reaction Summit" in Madison on February 24th. They say they'll bring in the governor with DNR and Menards officials to hash out some kind of compromise.
"Under the budget constraints that we're under right now, sometimes it's a little difficult to get people to come further out of madison, so Madison may be our only alternative, " Representative Terry Moulton said.
On Friday, Menards announced they're moving a store fixture plant and nearly 100 jobs to Central Minnesota.
A company spokesperson blames the DNR's unwillingness to permit them to expand, but Weitz says they are a public agency, and are willing to talk things through with Menards or anyone else.
http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/1263957.html
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.