The Madison Gas and Electric Foundation (MGE Foundation) has announced that it will make a $15,000 donation to the Hoffman Hall Capital Campaign. “The contribution by MGE Foundation is accepted with grateful hearts and open arms,” according to Mike Ulrich, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Prairie du Chien. “We have, to date, brought in roughly $1.3 million in grants, donations, contributions and commitments to this project, which has certainly put us in a position to begin the work needed to improve and modernize the facility.”

The 3M Corporation today made a major commitment to the Hoffman Hall Capital Campaign, presenting the City of Prairie du Chien a donation of $150,000. The contribution to the $2 million campaign was made at a ceremony this afternoon (Wednesday) at the company’s facilities in Prairie du Chien.

“With this generous contribution from 3M, and the 3-year, $100,000-per-year commitment made last month by Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital, the momentum for this campaign continues to build,” said Mike Ulrich, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Prairie du Chien. “We are very grateful for the support from 3M on behalf of all of the patrons who use Hoffman Hall.

“The preservation of and improvements to Hoffman Hall are a key component of the quality of life in Prairie du Chien,” said City Administrator Aaron Kramer. “3M’s contribution to our efforts today further underscores the role that a new and improved Hoffman Hall will play in helping our local businesses attract and retain employees who are seeking a safe community with a number of healthy and diverse options for recreation and entertainment.”

“This is a very exciting day for the Capital Campaign,” said Mayor Dave Hemmer. “The donation from 3M brings us one step, one very large step, closer to our ultimate goal, and, speaking for the supporters of Hoffman Hall, I want to extend a thank you to everyone at 3M for their support.”

Built in 1962 as part of Campion Jesuit High School, Hoffman Hall was purchased by the City of Prairie du Chien in 2000. No major renovations have been made to the building since it was acquired by the City. The campaign goal of $2 million focuses on the urgent needs of the building’s structure and mechanical systems. Although the building is structurally sound, the planned modifications will make the building more energy efficient and sound for future generations.

Hoffman Hall is envisioned as a top-shelf community attraction that will provide recreation, wellness, health and fitness infrastructure and programming to all residents of Southwest Wisconsin and Northeast Iowa. An upgraded and enhanced Hoffman Hall will become home to expanded programming that will elevate community life and achievement in the spheres of recreation, fitness, health, sports, leisure education and the arts.

The “incidental taking” of two snail species listed as state threatened species found along a right-of-way of a proposed transmission pole replacement in the Town of Wauzeka, Crawford County, would be allowed under a permit the Department of Natural Resources proposes to authorize for the project. Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the overall population of the species at risk.

American Transmission Company LLC is conducting maintenance work on the Y40 – 69kV transmission line from Boscobel to Gran Grae substations in Grant and Crawford counties, which includes work on seven structures and grading to facilitate safe access to those structures. DNR staff determined that the two threatened snail species, the wing snaggletooth (Gastrocopta procera) and cherrystone drop (Hendersonia occulta) are present in the proposed work space and that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some snails. However, the Department has concluded that the proposed project will minimize the impacts to the two snail species by adhering to the conservation measures; is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of these snails or the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part; and has benefit to the public health, safety or welfare that justifies the action.

This proposed permit applies only to incidental taking associated with work on the seven poles that contain habitat occupied by two snail species in addition to several other special concern and common snail species. In order to safely operate equipment, grading is needed to access the poles and create a work pad around the poles. A combination of conservation measures to reduce the workspace, grading and excavation spoils, control erosion, restoration and subsequent vegetation management will minimize impacts to the snails and their habitat.