DNR spent nearly $10K to host wasting disease summit

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The state Department of Natural Resources spent nearly $10,000 to bring wildlife officials from around the Midwest to Madison for a conference on chronic wasting disease.

The Associated Press obtained receipts through an open records request that show the agency spent $9,567 on the conference, held July 24-25 at the Monona Terrace convention center.

Expenses included $3,103 for hotel rooms, $5,963 to use Monona Terrace and $690 for dinner at the Great Dane Pub. DNR spokeswoman Sarah Hoye says the agency paid the bills out of its donations account.

DNR Secretary Preston Cole hailed the conference as “unprecedented.” The meeting yielded no new strategies on how to fight the disease and only a couple attendees expressed interest in meeting again this year.