2007 Maintenance Workshop Attendees Onalaska, Wisconsin, August 21-23. - FWS photo

Stoney Creek Inn, Onalaska, Wisconsin, was the popular location for a region-wide maintenance workshop in August. Attendees were welcomed by Regional Director Robyn Thorson, Regional NWR Chief Nita Fuller, and Regional Fisheries Supervisor Todd Turner.

A full and varied three day agenda followed, with a fisheries theme one of the highlights of this workshop. Many excellent speakers from the regional office and field stations presented valuable information to the group concerning safety inspections, workforce planning, maintenance action teams, contracting, retirement, fisheries programs, ecological services, fire, federal contracts, invasive species, heavy equipment training, watercraft safety, and refuge updates.

Fisheries representatives Scott Yess (La Crosse Fisheries Office), Corey Puzach (Fish Health Center), Doug Aloisi (Hatcheries), Jeff Slade (Sea Lamprey Control), and Todd Turner (Regional Office Fisheries Program), all gave excellent presentations.

Tours included the USGS French Island Science Center/Fish Lab, Trane Manufacturing Plant, Peerless Chain, and Genoa National Fish Hatchery, and Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge where a number of vendors displayed products and equipment.

A social highlight of the workshop was a fish fry held at the Genoa City Park after the Genoa NFH tour. Fisheries program representatives on the fourteen-member Regional Maintenance and Wage Grade Committee are Dave Wedan, with newly added members Adam Kowalski from Alpena Fisheries office, and Jeff Lockington from Genoa National Fish Hatchery. The Committee is chaired by Regional Heavy Equipment Coordinator Dale Pittman.