Badger Oversight Management Commission

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The Badger Interim Oversight Management Commission (IOMC) convened at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant Bldg 200 Training Room for its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 26 2010.

Chair Wenzel called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm. Staff affirmed compliance with Open Meetings Laws.

Attendance:

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

Others present: Mark Steward and Gina Templin, Sauk County Dept. of Planning and Zoning, Todd Liebman, Sauk County Corporation Counsel, Dave Tremble, David Serafy-Cox, Terre Carlson, and Donna Stehling.

Motion by Grant, seconded by Mullen to adopt the agenda for the May 26, 2010 meeting. Motion carried.

Motion by Grant, seconded by Mullen to adopt the minutes for the March 18, 2010 meeting. Motion carried.

Public Comment:

None.

Commissioner Reports:

1. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: Karr discussed the land transfer and bringing DNR Admin up to speed on what is happening at BAAP. Public announcement of transfer-TV, sign documents, and a celebration in room 207 on Friday July 9th,in the morning. Formal invites to go out to officials from each municipality. Land transfer will be parcel K, L, northern 2/3rd of M and W. Master planning process to start internally right away, more communication with HoChunk and Dairy Forage in terms of what roles they want to play in the planning process. Needs inventory work and surveys prior to fully getting into planning process. Public meetings will be a couple months away.
2. Town of Merrimac: Grant – no update.
3. Town of Sumpter: Mullen stated at the last town meeting they were advised by their attorney regarding the cemeteries and waiting to proceed because they don’t have any access to the land until the DNR signs on to take their property, and may need easement through their land for access. Uncertainty with being responsible for any possible pollutants that may be discovered on the soil or any other clean up that may be required and they don’t have the resources. Kenney advised that if there is an army created problem, the army shall come back and clean up the mess. Karr and Holst stated that they would provide an agreement to provide access that the Town is comfortable with. Karr spoke of payments in lieu of taxes from the DNR.
4. Bluffview Sanitary District – Lucy Rempas for Jeff Little, stated they are waiting on info from GSA for parcels. She spoke of wastewater facility and MSA running day to day operations, doing wellhead protection plan for both wells, upgrading on infrastructure, as well as another commissioner Lisa Rutkowski, Civil Engineer, working on sewer project.
5. Sauk County: Wenzel – no update
6. HoChunk : Holst stated since the last meeting the HoChunk has sold and closed the buffalo and cattle ranch in Muscoda and Black River Falls, but the tribe still remains active in the association for bison and it is their intent to follow through the original land use plan at BAAP, and intend to bring the buffalo back to Badger. Muscoda property was not big enough to adequately upkeep with the buffalo. He confirmed that HoChunk still own that land. Greendeer provided a history of the property in Muscoda.

Committee Reports:

1. Executive and Finance. Committee has not met yet. No report.
2. Planning and Land Use. Karr spoke of list of guidelines and how to keep them public information. Next meeting will be with Neil Martin, USDF to start discussion with future landowners and the new planned facility and researcher Geoff Brink on June 8th at the Dairy Research farm at 9 am. Will begin discussions on plans for the river pump station on Klingeman property, what the uses are and can be.
3. Education and Outreach. Mike Goc - no update.
4. AdHoc. Stehling – welcome center to start getting some ideas thrown around, possible visits to other places and then group will meet.

Liaison Reports:

1. US Army: Kenney presented a report outlining work that is continuing on the clean up and land transfers. Discussed in detail the landfill expansion and what other materials will need to be disposed of. DNR will have land transferred to them, decision to keep landfill open or capped and closed by Army before transfer. Commission was concerned if Army closes landfill before transfer, where will remaining demoed buildings go. Kenney responded that the transfer for 2nd set of parcels to be done prior to Septeber30th, however there was no guarantee. P4 Fost was handed out. Public comment period will start tomorrow. Inert disposal area is a clean fill disposal area. Wenzel asked about soil being used in the landfill.
2. USDA: Walgenbach briefed on summer interns working in Badger – one working on HoChunk land to sample soil for the pastures for the bison and sample plant material and look for contamination. Also trying to identify any native plants they find, and the other intern will be working on Dairy Forage noncrop areas to do survey to identify and record what it is in the areas that are not being cropped, such as plants, animals, soils types and data will be used to develop the land use plan for Dairy Forage. He updated participation in events at Badger, as well as close to 700 visitors at the farm. Provided a copy of the update and events that have taken place at Dairy Forage. Mullen asked about new building and how it will fit into the land use planning. Walgenbach spoke of some ideas on the visitor center incorporated in the facility not necessarily a center or dedicated building simply to a visitor center.

New Business:

1. Discussion of support to be provided by Sauk County Planning & Zoning in line with the $10,000 from HoChunk through the Inter-governmental Agreement. Holst provided background on funding from HoChunk, gaming negotiations compact and agreement with the State that in Counties where land is in trust prior to 2003 that they would give that county up to 1,000 per acre in lieu of taxes. Sauk County received $90,000 which will be a yearly payment. HoChunk reserves the right to tell the State where the money up to 1,000/acre would go. Joan requested a project that could be done immediately would be invasive species control.

   Steward spoke of specific language in the Intergovernmental agreement and of the oversight of the budget, and the need for a representative to go to the Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee to request the money. He suggested figuring out what to use the money for and have a plan in place before making the request. Grant asked for information on how to track time and materials for staffing the meetings and working on meeting preparation. Steward explained the process currently in place that does that.

   Greendeer asked about specific committees designing budgets and identifying specific projects.

   Hammes spoke of funds to hire a project coordinator to look for other sources of funding for projects, prioritize and come up with cost estimates.

   Tremble spoke of the projects and assisting the owners of the property coordinating their own activities. He explained that this group doesn’t need to have its own internal executive function to manage a bunch of projects, as it should already exist with the owners of the property. He then suggested working with NRCS to put together a budget for invasive species removal to last 20 years, and create a plan and help facilitate.

2. Appropriations request update. Wenzel stated there is no update from the request from the Federal Appropriations. Tremble updated the group on the request for appropriations for $50,000 and the request actually went in for $200,000.
3. Website update and discussion: Wenzel gave background on old website. Templin provided the group with the information that existed on the old site and suggested examples of things that could go on the new site. She also advised the Commission of the web policy for the County and reminded them that it was information for the group as a whole, not specific property owners and their intentions or plans. Reuse plan will be put on website, as well as continuing to provide minutes and agendas and meeting information to be specifically attached to that meeting notice. Education and Outreach Committee will work with Templin on material for site.
4. Discussion and possible action on request by HoChunk Nation to amend the By-Laws in relation to the regularly scheduled meeting dates. Article 4 –Grant suggested language: “…shall meet in the 4th week of every other month, at 6:30 p.m….” It was also discussed to have it state “the meeting date to be chosen, as the result of the previous meeting.” The Commission decided on the 4th Thursday of every other month. Motion by Grant, seconded by Mullen to remove the word Wednesday and replace with Thursday. Motion carried.

Next meeting date:

Thursday, July 22nd @ 6:30 p.m. Future agenda items include discussion and possible action on amending the By-Laws, Article 5 – adding commissioner reports and Article 1 – discuss removing the word “interim”.

Public comment: 

None.

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

Respectfully submitted: Richard Grant, Secretary

Recap by: Templin