State Could Ask For Review Of Hwy 23 Appeal Decision

State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt says there’s a possibility the state could ask the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to take another look at their appeal for reinstatement of $168 million in federal funding for the State Highway 23 expansion project between Fond du Lac and Plymouth. A three judge panel Monday ruled 2 to 1 against the appeal with the judge in the majority saying the state does not have standing to ask for reinstatement of the funding. Thiesfeldt says the judge suggested the state could do the project on its own. He says that’s not practical because another lawsuit would probably be filed against the project and then there’s the matter of coming up with the money. He says about $3 million has been spent on the project already for engineering and real estate purchases to prepare the way for the project. He says some of that money was federal. Thiesfeldt and other area legislators are hoping to meet with the DOT and their attorneys to discuss the next step, which could be to ask the Appeals Court to review its decision.