This report analyzes the permit process involved in the construction of the Whistling Straits Golf Course and apparent permit violations by the Kohler Company.  It seeks to examine the DNR’s performance relative to the enforcement of their own permits as well as the DNR’s oversight responsibility for the enforcement of Sheboygan County’s Shoreland Zoning Regulations and the Town of Mosel’s Conditional Use Permit.
 

Introduction

In 1995, the Kohler Company began construction of a links-style golf course in the Town of Mosel in Sheboygan County.  The site of this course consists of more than 600 acres and includes two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.  After the requisite public meetings, certain permits were granted to the Kohler Company by the Township, the County and the DNR.  Almost immediately these Permits began to be violated seriously and systematically.  For nearly two years citizens complained to the DNR that Kohler was in violation of every permit they held.  George Meyer’s response in April of 1997 was that “My staff are not aware of any current violations of the permits issued.” 1

One of the preceding statements is patently false.  This report will lay out the facts in an attempt to find the truth.
 

The Purpose of this Report

This is the fifth in a series of reports discussing Governor Thompson’s political control over Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources.

The Governor has now appointed all seven of the citizen members of the Natural Resources Board, which sets policy for the DNR.  In the 1995 state biennial budget, the Governor also made the DNR Secretary a political appointment of the Governor, making the Department the subject of serious political influence.   In the same budget, the Governor eliminated the Wisconsin Public Intervenor Office which advocated for public rights in natural resources and served as watchdog over the DNR and other government agencies.  Subsequent to the Governor gaining this control in 1995, many negative changes have occurred in the DNR.

Each report in this series explores a specific example of these negative changes.