Badger Oversight Management Commission

Minutes (109 KB)

Badger Oversight Management Commission
Meeting Recap
January 20, 2011

The Badger Interim Oversight Management Commission (IOMC) convened at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant Bldg 207 for its regular meeting on Thursday, January 20, 2011.

Chair Wenzel called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Staff affirmed compliance with Open Meetings Laws.

Attendance:
Commission Member Commission Representative Present
HoChunk Nation:  John Holst and Samantha Greendeer - Yes
Wisconsin DNR:   Steve Schmelzer and Craig Karr - Yes
Sauk County:   Bill Wenzel - Yes
Town of Merrimac:  Judy Ashford - Yes
Town of Sumpter:  Pete Mullen - Yes
Stakeholder Interest Stakeholder Rep
Badger History Group:  Michael Goc - No
Citizens for Safe Water @ Badger: Laura Olah - Yes
UW-Baraboo: Mark Rozmarynowski - No
Baraboo School District:  David Haseley - No
Bluffview Sanitary District:  Jeff Little - Yes
City of Baraboo: Eugene Robkin  - Yes
Sauk Prairie Cons. Alliance:  Dave Tremble / Allison Duff - Yes
Sauk Prairie School District:  Teresa Kreutzmann - No
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation: Don Hammes - No
The Village of Sauk City: Bill Stehling - No
Commission Liaison Liaison Représentative
USDA-DFRC: Rick Walgenbach - Yes
U.S. Army: Joan Kenney - Yes

Others present: Gina Templin, Todd Liebman, Gail Lamberty, David Serafy-Cox, Marya Johnson-McIntosh, Curt Finkelmeyer, and Terre Carlson.

Motion by Ashford, seconded by Mullen, to adopt the agenda for the January 20, 2011 meeting. Motion carried.

Little advised the committee that he has not resigned from the sanitary district and Ashford spoke of the “faust” being corrected to say FOST. With those correction made, motion by Ashford, seconded by Schmelzer to adopt the minutes from the November meeting. Motion carried.

Public Comment: Gail Lamberty spoke of Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance having their annual meeting in March and their own local premier of “Green Fire”. Allison Duff introduced a graduate student from the UW, Marya Johnson-McIntosh, studying BAAP. She spoke of a grant opportunity and letter of support from the BOMC.

Commissioner Reports:
1. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: Schmelzer spoke of the report sent out by Karr. He also spoke of a letter that was sent to Joan Kenney regarding Building 200 and the DNR not interested in retaining the building.

Wenzel questioned who’s responsibility the removal of the building would be depending on who owned it, the DNR versus the Army. Schmelzer stated that without the funding for the DNR to take care of the process they have asked the Army to take care of it prior to transfer.

Tremble asked about the building being demolished due to no interest in rehabilitation for future use, what happens with all the files and other resources that have been stored in that building for so many years. Kenney stated Badger History group has asked for historical records and others could request copies under Freedom of Information Action (FOIA). She did state they are starting the file disposal right now, such as old employment records, etc. Olah asked about the environmental records. Kenney explained final documents are kept at the public libraries in Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, with recent ones being in electronic format, and older records being superseded by other summary documents of completed actions. Wenzel asked about the older records. Kenney stated it is records from the 80’s where newer investigations have done a better job. Ashford asked about the Badger History Group records and if they are proprietary to the history group and who is responsible for getting all those records out of there. Kenney stated that she believes BHG requested them and has inspected them already due to the Army not wanting them.

Robkin asked if the items held by the Badger History Group are subject to open records laws. Kenney stated that anything that would be of interest could be asked for. Karr stated he is unsure of the legal agreement between the Army and Badger History Group but feels it is “on loan”. Kenney explained what has happened with the Army and how the Badger History Group Army archivists has determined what information they would like, which is not much.

David Serafy-Cox asked if the OMC could take custody of the records. Liebman stated that there is an army regulation that deals with the disposition of records and the group should look at that information and then figure out how you can work that into your request. Kenney stated that for these types of records, some you have to keep for 3 years, others for 6.5 years, others longer, and then dispose. She stated they have already been looked over by the Army and determined that the Badger History group could have them. She spoke of the difference in the environmental records, with most of the information being located on CD’s already in the libraries.

Olah asked for terminology in asking for records. Kenney stated she is unsure and will have to look at how the Badger History Group requested their information. Serafy-Cox asked that all records be kept together rather than divided up between groups.

Ashford asked if the State Historical Society would be interested in these records. Kenney spoke of them being Federal records and didn’t know if they would be handled the same way as local records. Liebman spoke of the challenge with the OMC retaining the records is that they have no staff and no “location”. Karr stated he is willing to work with Joan on this issue and provide some options to the group. This will be an agenda item for the next meeting. Wenzel spoke of electronic versions of the files being what they would be interested in.

2. Town of Merrimac: Ashford stated there is no report. She did talk about the public hearing on landfill site and is concerned how the water supply/water district issue is going to play out.

3. Town of Sumpter: Mullen spoke of the Town of Merrimac having a meeting and Dave Lohr and he will attend and address some of these issues that are of concern to the Town of Merrimac and Town of Sumpter. He stated they are also looking for direction regarding the location of the ATC line.

Gail asked on an update on the cemeteries. Mullen stated he has no update yet and they are still in the process of getting legal documents and easements, but there is still a process to take place such as the land transfers and such.
Tremble asked about the land transfer simultaneously taking place between the cemeteries and the towns and the GSA to the HoChunk and/or DNR. Kenney explained the process. Wenzel stated the survey and legal descriptions have been done and see them transferring that before another party would take ownership.

4. Bluffview Sanitary District – Jeff Little spoke of ongoing maintenance. He talked about fencing taking place and making sure all the drying beds are fenced in at the same time for safety, which will be finished in the Spring.

5. Sauk County: No report.

6. HoChunk: Holst spoke of working with the BIA to send a letter stating they are moving forward with the land transfer with GSA. Greendeer spoke of a transfer agreement or programmatic agreement so that there are assurances that everyone is clear on the plan.

Committee Reports:

1. Executive and Finance. Nothing to report.

2. Planning and Land Use. Karr spoke of highlights in his earlier report. He spoke of the last meeting, discussions of the landfill expansion and request for a public hearing, as well as impacts on groundwater, treatment, additional borrow pits, etc.. He then spoke of discussion about bats and whether there are buildings suitable for bat habit. He asked if BOMC is interested, they would ask someone from DNR with that knowledge to give a presentation. Walgenbach spoke of the winter temperature and humidity monitoring of one of the magazines. Karr stated the presentation will happen at the Planning and Land Use committee and then depending on the interest, it can be brought to the full group.

3. Education and Outreach. No report.

4. AdHoc: No report.

Liaison Reports:

1. US Army: Kenney spoke of the landfill and the newspaper article. She stated the landfill expansion is on a tight timeframe. If construction does not get underway early there will be no place for the materials that are coming down this summer and fall, which will result in more material in the existing landfill up to the full permitted capacity. She stated the landfill is lined and the leachate gets pumped out to the sanitary treatment plant. The application for the landfill speaks of the request for an exemption, which was the result of the DNR request to Army to submit an exception request to allow feasibility study be considered complete. She then spoke of the landfill monitoring wells, past history and timing to have the soils stabilized after well installation. The results for the last of the required 8 new samplings will be in March.

Mullen asked where the sanitary treatment plant is pumped out. Kenney stated treated water is discharged to the ground once it is all treated and tested. Mullen asks who monitors that. Kenney stated Bluffview Sanitary District will do that, and is being tested now. Mullen asked who has copies of the records. Little stated they (BSD) have copies, the Army has copies, MSA (contracted engineering firm) has copies and the State receives copies.

Olah spoke of landfill construction being started without putting any waste in. Kenney explained what you can and cannot do without the permit in hand. Wenzel asked when the permit would get issued. Kenney stated they have 60-90 days to respond after the public hearing is held. She also spoke of the need for daily cover over asbestos waste and no other place to store it before land filling.
Schmelzer asked about the height of the current landfill if the permit did not come through for the new site. Kenney stated he doesn’t have that information with her. Olah stated she will send that information to Templin to distribute.

2. USDA: Walgenbach stated they are still waiting to hearing from the Administrators on whether or not they have the ok on the plans for the new facility.

New Business:

1. Discussion and possible action on the 10th anniversary Badger Reuse. Tremble gave an update on the latest meeting that was held prior to the OMC meeting. Additional suggestions were given on the anniversary that included 1 or 1 ½ day event, outdoor activities, inside the fence, October 8-9, developing media interesting, food, mixed audience and an evening of music and dance.

2. Discussion and possible action relating to a letter to ATC regarding the Badger Coulee Transmission Line. Allison Duff spoke of SPCA coordinator sending out letters to business to generate corporate sponsorships and ATC was one of the companies who made a donation to the Alliance in the amount of $5,000. David Sefry Cox spoke of the donation and if ATC would be interested in seeing Badger. Duff stated ATC staff are interested in doing a restoration project at Badger. Robkin stated that it is to everyones advantage to have ATC here. Anyone that has a stake in preserving Wisconsin’s landscape should see what is here and what is at stake. Wenzel read a letter drafted by Frank Olah to ATC. Tremble talked about an invitation from the BOMC and acknowledging the relationship with the Alliance. Motion by Schmelzer, seconded by Mullen, to send the letter with changes to ATC along with the Badger Reuse Plan.

3. Discussion and possible action on proposed new landfill at Badger. Kenney discussed issue in Army report.

4. Discussion and update on merger of Conservation and Planning and Zoning Departments. Ashford provided update on the merger. On Tuesday the 18th, the county board went ahead with the merger. She stated the two department heads will be abolished. One department head is retiring. They will recruit for the director of the overall department. Until the next election in 2012, the committees will continue to be separate committees. She stated she can’t say what the end result will be. She stated that the budget for 2012 will determine how many people are still employed and is hard to say what the outcome will be.

Tremble spoke of the money that is a continuation roll over and feels the Directors of the Department in the past have advocated for the money to stay. Tremble asked how the Planning, Zoning and Land Records committee will handle it, as they have always been the oversight for the Badger project.

Wenzel spoke of wetlands in the northern part of Badger and mapping that will be available.

5. Discussion/idea gathering on uses for the grant funding provided by the HoChunk Nation. Tremble spoke of building a new web site devoted to Badgers, referring to the UW Arboretum website as a sample. Allison reviewed the Arboretum site and some helpful information she received to develop a site like this. Tremble talked about local schools using Badger as a resource. Kenney then reviewed Badger’s website through MSA (gis.msa-ps.com) and recommends that the OMC speak to them to make their data resemble the website they have in mind.

6. Discussion on presentation of regular (standing) informational items. Wenzel stated Hammes requested to have certain items as a regular standing items and his concern that they don’t get dropped off the radar. Wenzel suggested keeping the list handy to make sure they are somewhat discussed during meetings. Robkin suggested Templin will supply the list when the email for agenda items goes out. Schmelzer spoke of the items mostly being under a current report and those people make sure it is mentioned, report or no report.

7. Next meeting date: Thursday, March 17, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.

8. Public comment: None.

Motion by Mullen, second by Schmelzer to adjourn. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Ashford

Recap by Templin