Wis. governor hopeful to still lure Bass to state

Published: January 28, 2011
Tags: Bass, Green Bay, John Bergstrom, Lambeau Field, Scott Walker, wetlands

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he still thinks the state can lure Bass Pro Shop to build on a wetland-filled site near Lambeau Field.

Walker said Friday that if the Legislature moves quickly to pass a bill clearing the way to fill the site he thinks Bass would reconsider.

A company spokesman said on Thursday that Bass would not build on a wetland and had not committed to the project in Green Bay.

Walker is proposing a bill, that could pass the Legislature as early as Wednesday, that would exempt filling the site from the normal permitting process. Environmentalists argued against the move, saying the developer, car dealer John Bergstrom, was getting special treatment.

But Walker said there’s a reasonable mitigation plan to deal with the wetlands issue.