WISCONSIN BLUE BOOK 1985-1986


Justice, Department of Development, Department of Natural Resources and the
Public Service
Commission.
   Staff services are provided by 3 full-time personnel employed by the commission.
   Functions: The commission represents a joint effort by the States of Wisconsin
and Minnesota
 to conduct studies, develop recommendations and coordinate government actions
relating to the
 present and future protection, use, and development in the public interest,
of the lands, river
 valleys and waters which form the boundary between the 2 states, especially
the St. Croix and
 Mississippi Rivers. The commission provides field services and advisory
recommendations to its
 sponsor states and also serves as the management coordinator for the St.
Croix National Scenic
 Riverways, segments of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.





              MISSISSIPPI RIVER PARKWAY COMMISSION

 Wisconsin Commission: Roy FINLEY (Pierce County), chairperson; WILLIAM BUSH
(La Crosse
   County), vice chairperson; HERBERT J. MESHUN (Pepin County), treasurer;
DONNA KREBSBACH
   (Buffalo County), ROBERT G. VALLEY (Crawford County), vacancy (Grant County),
vacancy
   (La Crosse County), NICK JENSEN (Trempealeau County), ALBERT C. ZABOLIO
(Vernon
   County).
 Gubernatorial Secretary: LOWELL B. JACKSON; Executive Secretary: K. SUE
GALLAGHER.
 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7910, Madison 53707-7910; location: Room 120B,
Hill Farms State
   Transportation Building, 4802 Sheboygan Avenue.
 Telephone: (608) 266-1113.
 Statutory Reference: Section 14.85.
   History: The Wisconsin commission is a part of the international Mississippi
River Parkway
Commission. The commission became statutory with the enactment of Chapter
482, Laws of
1961. Its origin, however was in 1939, when Governor Heil appointed a 10-member
committee
to cooperate with agencies from other Mississippi River states in planning
2 scenic highways
along the banks of the Great River from the Gulf of Mexico to its headwaters
at Lake Itasca,
Minnesota. The Canadian Government links in with northward branches to join
the Trans-
Canada Highway near Kenora and westward through Manitoba. The committee was
renamed a
commission by Chapter 75, Laws of 1967; its membership was changed by Chapter
39, Laws of
1975.
  Organization: The commission is composed of a secretary appointed by the
governor and 10
members appointed by the county boards of the 8 counties bordering on the
Mississippi River.
The commission selects its chairperson and may select a secretary for internal
affairs, while the
gubernatorially appointed secretary is responsible for liaison between the
governor, legislature,
state Parkway Commission, and national Parkway Commission. Members receive
no compen-
sation, but the secretary may be reimbursed for his actual expenses.
  Functions: The general purpose of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission
is to provide
information, guidance, and assistance in the acquisition, restoration, preservation
and enhance-
ment of the scenic, historic and recreational assets located along the Mississippi
River, and to
foster continued economic growth through the maintenance and improvement
of the highway
transportation corridor along the Mississippi River. The commission assists
in coordinating a
program for the development of the Great River Parkway in Wisconsin and cooperates
with
similar commissions in other states and Canadian provinces to develop the
road from Canada to
the Gulf of Mexico. The Highway Commission in 1967 authorized route study
and traffic counts
leading to the initial planning for the ultimate route in the state. In 1974
a report was sent to the
Federal Highway Administration updating information on the route location
and cost estimates
of the project. The cost estimate has been updated periodically since 1974.
Program implemen-
tation is in progress.


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