Governor Doyle recently signed legislation authorizing blue highway signs for tourism attractions and the Department of Transportation (DOT) was directed to draft administrative rules to govern the program. This legislation allows blue highway signs to display the word "attraction," along with "gas," "food," lodging," "camping" and allows a sign mounted on the specific information sign to identify the attraction.

The DOT will hold a public hearing on the draft rule on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at 10:30 a.m in Room 144b at the Hill Farms State Office, Madison. Businesses hoping to get a sign or be added to an existing sign will want to review the draft rule and provide their comments to the DOT prior to the close of business on November 14th. The public hearing is the opportunity for small businesses to voice their concerns about a rule before the rule is submitted to the legislature. Comments received electronically through the DOT website bear the same weight as those received at the public hearing. The rule (TRANS 200) and information on how to provide electronic comments can be found at:
dot.wisconsin.gov/library/research/law/rulenotices.htm.

Business Types Designated as Attraction Sites

Small business owners are encouraged to voice their concerns in the early stage of rulemaking on this or any rule affecting their business. To learn more about how the Small Business Ombudsman can assist small business or to review the rulemaking requirements that state regulatory agencies have to small business visit commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-FAX-0905.htm or contact Carol Dunn at 608-267-0297 or cdunn@commerce.state.wi.us.

-- Carol Dunn

The newsletter is issued electronically every other month.

Please send comments or questions to Barbro McGinn, editor.