The state Assembly will debate legislation in the coming months that would legally formalize the relationship mining companies have with their host towns.
State Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, and state Rep. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, announced they will introduce sister bills in the legislature that would turn previously existing agreements between non-metallic mining companies and their communities into law, according to a release.
Under current law, local governments with contracts with mining companies may pass ordinances amending the agreement without the consent of the company, forcing the company to accept the new terms or abandon the project, Tiffany said.
“[The bill] grandfathers existing mines into the current regulations and ordinances that they have to comply with,” Tiffany said, and would protect lawful companies from shifting policies of local governments.
Tiffany said his motivation for introducing the legislation were instances of local governments writing new laws to apply to mining companies retroactively, which “[changes] the rules of the game in the middle of the game.”
Both the Wisconsin Towns Association and the Wisconsin Counties Association have expressed neutrality on the issue, Tiffany said.
“[Non-metallic mining companies] are part of the reason we've been seeing some economic growth in Wisconsin,” Tiffany said. “We do not preempt local control with this bill.”
