In typical bureaucratic fashion, the Dane County board enacts new regulations that make it harder and more expensive for farmers to earn extra income, but does little to address the complaints that spawned the legislation. The regulations restrict special events on agricultural property, such as corn mazes, country breakfasts or haunted barns. Traffic caused by such events prompted complaints from some rural residents. The new regulations limit farmers to 45 days of non-agriculture business and a maximum of 200 people per day. If they wish to exceed 45 days or 200 people, they must get a permit which costs $262. They are also required to submit details of the event to the local zoning administrator, law enforcement and emergency services provider.
Where in these regulations is traffic addressed? If they wanted to correct the cause of the complaint, they simply could have required farms to provide a person to direct parking and have adequate off-street parking. I can understand the requirement to submit details to local emergency services and law enforcement, because that can assist them should they need to respond to an incident at the event. However, the local zoning administrator has no justifiable need to know the details of the event. The limits, permit and associated fee have nothing to do with correcting the problem either, other than discouraging farmers from holding such events. Many of these events will draw a crowd of more than 200 people per day. Sometimes it is difficult to predict how many will attend per day, so farmers will likely pay for a permit for each day they have an event or be required to turn people away. That is the only reason the Dane County board acted on the few complaints from rural residents. The county wants money and they have no problem extorting it out some of the hardest working people in the county.
The Dane County Board is out of step with common sense and the hardship of farmers.
Kevin Kesterson is the Dane County Board Chair. You can contact him through email by clicking this link or by phone at (608) 838-9518. Both his email and home phone number are provided on the Dane County website, so it is not inappropriate for you to contact him through these means. Notify him of your concerns about these regulations. Farmers need the help of everyone in the county, not more red tape and fees. Here is a map of the county that lists the Districts. You can contact your District Supervisor by finding their information here.