A quarry owner isn't happy with changes a legislative study committee wants to make to burial site protections.
Robert Shea, president of Wingra Stone and Redi-Mix, wants to mine Ho-Chunk Nation burial mounds located within a Wingra quarry in Dane County. He needs a permit since the mounds are in the state historical society's burial sites catalog; the tribe is fighting him in court.
Legislative leaders formed a committee to revise burial site protections. The panel finalized a bill last week that would require the historical society director to consider evidence to catalog a site and allow property owners to fight a cataloging decision in hearings.
Shea, who sat on the committee, released a letter Thursday saying the changes don't go nearly far enough and weaken property rights.
