Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Committee

March 14, 2013 CPZ Committee Meeting Minutes (27 KB)

Conservation, Planning, and Zoning (CPZ) Committee members present:  J. Ashford, J. Dietz, F. Halfen, J. Lehman, D. Nobs, D. Polivka, R. Puttkamer 

Others present:  S. Cohoon, M. Krueger, B. Michalek, P. Pohle, K. Schauf, B. Simmert, T. Stone, K. Vertein 

At 9:00 a.m. Vice Chair Ashford called the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Committee to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law. 

Adopt agenda:  Motion by Halfen/Puttkamer to adopt the agenda.  Motion carried, all members in favor.   

Adopt minutes of previous meeting-March 7:  Motion by Polivka/Halfen to adopt the minutes from the March 7 Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Committee meeting.  Motion carried, all members in favor.

Public Comment:  Tim Stone commented on the meeting held for the Agriculture Enterprise Area (AEA) in the Town of Fairfield.  There is momentum for enrolling in the program and encouraged the CPZ Committee to continue to support the staff’s efforts to build upon the program’s interest.

Communications:

1. Updates from previous CPZ Committee meetings - Michalek briefly discussed the Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Association’s conference held this week. 

Michalek stated that the training burn will take place on April 20 on the Jensen property located on Hwy. 113. 

Michalek discussed communications regarding partnering with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service on conservation efforts through contribution agreements. 

Lehman arrived at 9:09 a.m. 

Michalek reviewed a letter received from Attorney Dale Carlson in response to the Diehl Farm, LLC letter of January 3. 

b. Shanahan Dam update - Michalek stated that the application is in to the Corps of Engineers, and we have not heard back.  Noted that there are two new Corps representatives for our district. 

There was discussion on cleaning up the Geitz property. 

Upcoming Fish and Game Hearing information-Conservation Congress:  Ken Vertein presented on the Conservation Congress efforts, and the spring meeting/hearing will be held on Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m. at UW-Baraboo/Sauk County.  A copy of the “DNR Annual Spring Fish and Wildlife Public Hearing/Wisconsin Conservation Congress Annual Spring County Conservation Meeting” was provided for the Committee to view and for the CPZ Department to have available for the public.  On March 28 there will be a deer forum discussion on deer management districts.  The CPZ Committee discussed the high number of hunting seasons and shotgun and rifle hunting seasons. 

Krueger informed the Committee that two delegates will be elected at their spring meeting, and those delegates will be affirmed by the County Board at a future Board meeting.  

Update regarding the Sauk County Farmland Preservation Planning process:  Simmert updated the Committee on the discussion group’s progress and that they will be done by early April.  After that time the draft will be provided to the CPZ Committee and the discussion group for final review.  We are  also working with the towns to update their Farmland Preservation town maps. 

Committee discussed ATCP 50 and possible future nutrient management requirements for pasturelands, etc. The WLWCA is debating how they will respond to the state on this issue.  Will bring the WLWCA summary to the CPZ Committee for their review, and then the CPZ Committee can decide on the position they want to take, and/or if they want to contact the state. 

Review and discussion of Chapter 7 Sauk County zoning ordinance draft:   Simmert noted that CPZ Department staff are going through the ordinance and working with Corporation Counsel on minor revisions. 

Review and possible action on department mid-term assessment – generation of strategic issues:   The CPZ Committee discussed planning, education, and zoning and code enforcement.  These strategic issues along with those collected at the February 26 meeting will be summarized and presented at the March 26 meeting.  Then we will formalize strategic issues which they can present to the County Board. 

Review and possible approval of Sauk County Health Care Center cropland rental bid:  Motion by Polivka/Puttkamer to approve the high crop rental bid to James Kruschke, III for $2,400 ($200/acre).  Motion carried, all in favor. 

Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department

a.   Department reports and updates:  Michalek reviewed the department report. 

i.    Resource Conservationist position-Michalek gave an update on the new hire, Melissa Keenan. 

b. Review and approval of vouchers:  Motion by Polivka/Ashford to approve the vouchers for the total amount of $8,605.99.  Motion carried, all in favor. 

Reports

a.   Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) report:  Miller reported that $375,000 has been locked in for Sauk County’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) projects for this year.  The Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative Program will accept applications until March 15, and we hope to receive another $175,000 for this program.  Sauk County is  showing the need for the money, and the goal is to get as much as we can.  There are some wetland requests coming in.  Starting to organize some in-house trainings which will be available for county and NRCS staff.  

b.   Farm Service Agency (FSA) report:  Norgard stated there is a general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup May 20-June 14.  Reviewing and increasing soil rental rates in the county.  Sauk County is going to have a pilot project for a wellhead protection area with different eligible practices.  Will check if municipalities can provide money for the project.  

c.  Foresters’ report:  None. 

d.   Economic Development Committee report:  Polivka reported their last meeting was held at the former landfill site and discussed the possible future of the site.  Their next meeting will be held on March 25.  

e.   Mirror Lake District report:  Nobs stated their next meeting is on March 20. 

f.  Lake Virginia Management District report:  Dietz stated their next meeting is on March 16. 

g. Lake Redstone Management District report:  Dietz thanked the CPZ Department for looking at the retention ponds. The Lake Redstone Management District would like to meet with CPZ Department staff again.  Staff were unable to get the bay probe done this winter.  The staff have a lot a pictures of sediment coming in on the ice. 

Next meeting of the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Committee will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 26, and Thursday, April 11. 

Motion by Nobs/Polivka to adjourn at 11:28 a.m.  Motion carried, all members in favor.   

Respectfully submitted, 

Don Nobs, Secretary