The possibility of the DNR's Division of Forestry moving it's headquarters from Madison to Rhinelander took a step forward last night as the Rhinelander city council approved a resolution accepting a request for information.
The legislature asked the DNR to put together a study about moving the agency to an area closer to the state's principal forest lands. City Administrator Kristina Ashenbrenner says the DNR asked for a request for information about Rhinelander as a possible site for the division.
".....it's just a request for information. (The DNR) will be working in the next year or so to look at this issue of relocating. But this resolution would send a message to those making a decision that Rhinelander would be a viable and ideal place for this to occur...."
Council member Alex Young said Rhinelander has an abundance of forests, forest-related agencies, businesses, and trade groups already here, including the headquaters for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
The budget requires DNR officials to develop detailed cost estimates, a timeline for relocation and a list of location options in time to include them in the agency’s next budget.
DNR officials announced recently they're developing the plan by asking communities north of Highway 10 to see if they would be interested. Aschenbrenner says she heard the city of Wausau also has been approached.
