› Forums › Geocaching in Wisconsin › General › DOT property
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zuma.
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09/03/2009 at 4:00 pm #1728795
I vaguely remember there being a rule against placing at rest areas or waysides or historical markers or something related to the DOT. I looked in the Hiding a Cache link and I only found these for prohibited.
Prohibited Locations: Caches are not allowed in sensitive areas and never in the following specific properties:
National Parks
National Monuments
Wisconsin State Natural Areas (SNAs) (SNAs map) (see exception procedure for EarthCaches)
Archaeological or historical sites
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (maps)
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay (all properties including Communiversity Park)Am I remembering incorrectly?
09/03/2009 at 4:26 pm #191348709/03/2009 at 4:53 pm #1913488Thank you for the thread on waysides and rest areas, that was the part I remember.
09/03/2009 at 10:57 pm #1913489They’ve actually updated their wording on this:
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, for safety and operational reasons, discourages citizens from using any WisDOT site for geocaching purposes. Any “cache” found by site staff will be disposed of promptly.
Feel free to contact the WI-DOT regarding this. As I’m reading this, they’re tightening their stance, and this might even include historical markers and park & ride lots.
09/03/2009 at 11:29 pm #1913490Yes we wouldn’t want common folks using the properties they pay every day for.
09/03/2009 at 11:31 pm #1913491Yeah, we all know how much “safer” your average terrain-3-in-the-boonies is compared to those dangerous park-n-rides and rest stops. And I’m sure geocaching really upsets the apple cart when it comes to the “operations” of DOT property. Those film cans under lamp skirts have quite the detrimental impact. 🙄
It’s always easier for bureaucrats to say no. Thank God they’re not running your healthcare yet.
On the Left Side of the Road...09/03/2009 at 11:55 pm #1913492Well, a gal I know is just announced that she is running for the Assembly. Her and her family geocache and I have told her of this issue. If she get elected….Who knows???? Maybe??????
09/04/2009 at 12:58 am #1913493I think this just means we need to rally the troops. I have a friend that works for the DOT and he’s a casual cacher also. I’ll see if I can get some insight from him on this. Maybe we just need to work with them and ensure the caches are a safe distance from the roadway. Other than that, I can’t see their complaint.
09/04/2009 at 2:30 am #1913494Wasn’t there a situation a number of years ago regarding the DNR and geocaching? If so, how was that resolved and is there a parallel here?
Also, while it’s clear greyhounder has reached out to the DOT, has the (rest of the) board done anything with this? This seems to be precisely the type of outreach opportunity for which we have a BOD.
On the Left Side of the Road...09/04/2009 at 2:56 am #1913495My dad had 33 years for the DOT as a Supervising Engineer(Built roads & bridges) I have asked him who to talk to about this and he said it’s must be a directive coming from Madison. Local districts have noting to do with it.
09/04/2009 at 3:07 am #1913496Yep, it’s coming directly from the bigwigs at Madison, and they have no interest in any sort of dialogue regarding geocaching. They don’t want it. At first it was just rest areas and waysides, but I’m afraid they’ve decided to shut out possibilities at all their properties.
I have been the point “man” on this one, and I am not getting anywhere. Perhaps an outpouring of outrage from geocachers will get somewhere….
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Hill Farms State Transportation Building
4802 Sheboygan Avenue
P.O. Box 7999
Madison, WI 53707-799909/04/2009 at 3:45 am #1913497@greyhounder wrote:
Yep, it’s coming directly from the bigwigs at Madison, and they have no interest in any sort of dialogue regarding geocaching. They don’t want it. At first it was just rest areas and waysides, but I’m afraid they’ve decided to shut out possibilities at all their properties.
I have been the point “man” on this one, and I am not getting anywhere. Perhaps an outpouring of outrage from geocachers will get somewhere….
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Hill Farms State Transportation Building
4802 Sheboygan Avenue
P.O. Box 7999
Madison, WI 53707-7999I’m not really sure I’ve got a whole lot of stake in this discussion and I’m not a political wiz kid but I’d highly suggest something other than a barrage of potentially negative mail. Some ideas:
A WGA crafted letter where at the bottom you put a “I the undersigned as a member of the WGA agree..” and the interested parties sign it and send it in individually.
A long letter and a petition type form at the end where the interested parties sign and a contingent from the WGA takes and presents it at a “town hall” meeting.
In both examples I would also ask that signee’s would put their actual contact info, I think that gives them a little more weight when read.
09/04/2009 at 3:47 am #1913498@cheezehead wrote:
Well, a gal I know is just announced that she is running for the Assembly. Her and her family geocache and I have told her of this issue. If she get elected….Who knows???? Maybe??????
That is great….I believe that this is the best approach to the ignorance of the DOT. We need to get legislators involved and let the democratic method play out. We the people pay for the DOT waysides and only common sense says that caches are appropriate to be placed there.
I had a similiar experience when I was on the board for the Wisconsin EMS Association. The Department of Health did not want to adequately fund EMS operations. But after legislators were contacted and made aware of the issues involved, the DOH was forced to change their tune.
So let the DOT empty suits say what they want. It is time to go over their head to the elected representatives of the people who pay for the waysides.
zuma
09/04/2009 at 4:04 am #1913499The DNR has already set the precedent as well. They’ve managed to embrace it by having a form to submit to make them aware. I agree on the drafted letter portion. I’ll be happy to sign my name and send one in.
09/04/2009 at 4:37 am #1913500A couple years back, the Waushara County Parks Dept did not allow caches in their County parks. Renee met with them at a meeting and offered a bit of education and the additional information that the WDNR had changed their stance on caches placed on their properties coupled with the notification form helped Waushara county to make up their minds to allow geocache placements in the parks. The only difference here is that The DOT is stonewalling any attempt to communicate and discuss the issue. Going to the legislature may be able to entice a bit of communication. The DOT knows where their money comes from.
Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.
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