Land Resources and Extension Committee

LRE MINUTES 04.10.2025 (178 KB)

SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Land Resources and Extension Committee
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
County Board Room
Sauk County West Square Building

Land Resources and Extension (LRE) Committee members present: M. Krueger, D. Polivka, V. McAuliffe, L. Eberl, B. Spencer, R. Puttkamer, B. Lohr; P. Kinsman (via Zoom)

Others present:  T. Kabat, M. Schlupp, B. Simmert, R. Meyer, T. Hillmann, S. Koenig

Absent: None.

At 9:06 a.m. Chairman Krueger called the Land Resources and Extension Committee meeting to order.  LRE staff certified the meeting to be compliant with Open Meetings Law.

M. Krueger requested that Item C allow speakers from the various lakes groups to present.

Adopt agenda - Motion by Eberl/Spencer to adopt the April 22, 2025, agenda.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Adopt minutes of previous meeting – April 10, 2025 - Motion by Spencer/Prosser to adopt the April 10, 2025, LRE Committee meeting minutes.  Motion carried unanimously.

Public comment – No public comment.

Communications – No communication.

Land Resources and Environment

1. Review and approval of vouchers.  CPZ vouchers were presented in the amount of  $54,511.34. Motion by Spencer/McAuliffe to pay vouchers for the LRE Department in the amount of $54,511.34. Motion carried unanimously.
2. Discussion and possible action on a conditional use permit for a Planned Rural Development (PRD) lot for Joel Beachy, located in Section 3, T10N, R04E Town of Franklin, Sauk County, pursuant to Chapter 7 Subchapter IX, of the Sauk County Code of Ordinances.  B. Simmert presented a conditional use permit for a Planned Rural Development (PRD) lot for Joel Beachy in the Town of Franklin.  B. Simmert noted the LRE Department recommends approval.  Motion by Lohr/Polivka to approve the conditional use permit for a Planned Rural Development (PRD) lot for Joel Beachy, located in the Town of Franklin, with conditions outlined in the staff report.  Motion carried unanimously.  

Public Hearing:  To begin at approximately 9:15 a.m. or soon thereafter.  Committee to consider and take possible action at the conclusion of the respective hearing.

1. Rezone 03-2025. A petition to consider a rezone pursuant to s7.150 from an Agriculture Zoning District to a Recreational Commercial Zoning District on lands owned Live Love Dwell LLC.  Said rezone is located in the Town of Baraboo, Sauk County.  Lands affected by the proposed rezone are located in part of the NE ¼, NW ¼, and NW ¼, NW ¼, and SW ¼, NW ¼, and SE ¼, NW ¼, and SW ¼, NE ¼, and NW ¼, NE ¼, Section 15, T11N, R6E, Town of Baraboo, and as further described in Petition 03-2025.  Tax parcel identification numbers 002-0435-00000, 002-0437-10000, 002-0442-00000, 002-0429-00000, 002-0426-00000, 002-0432-00000.

R. Meyer certified that the public hearing notice for Rezone 03-2025 has been properly posted.

R. Meyer read the public hearing notice.

T. Hillmann presented a petition to consider a rezone pursuant to s7.150 from an Agriculture Zoning District to a Recreational Commercial Zoning District on land owned by Live Love Dwell LLC.  Said rezone is located in the Town of Baraboo.  The Town of Baraboo Plan Commission and Town Board recommend approval of rezone on parcels 002-0432-00000 and 002-0435-00000 only.  LRE recommends approval of the same.

The applicant, Gregg Dahlgren, provided a summary of his plans for a campground on said land.

A representative from the Town of Baraboo, R. Puttkamer, spoke regarding the reason for limiting the rezoning to the two parcels, primarily because of emergency vehicle accessibility.

No one spoke in favor.

William Wenzel spoke in opposition to the rezone.  Mr. Wenzel has concerns about safety at the Point of Rocks and water quality in the area, and the potential increases in traffic, trespassing, and liability.

Denise Wenzel spoke in opposition of the rezone.  Mrs. Wenzel stated the area is quiet and the home of cranes, deer, and other wildlife.  She feels there are already campgrounds across the highway and down the road, and there isn’t a need for another campground.

Martha Berndt spoke in opposition of the rezone.  She has concerns with increases in traffic and light pollution. 

 Jason Dederich spoke as interest may appear.  Mr. Dederich said his family land is in the area, and he would like the area to remain quiet and rural.

Brian Woodbury registered as an interested party.

Committee member L. Eberl asked if the Point of Rocks is located on public land.  LRE staff confirmed the Point of Rocks is in the public right-of-way.

Committee member R. Spencer asked the applicant about the trails and trespassing concerns.  Mr. Dahlgren confirmed that fencing could be installed to prevent trespassing on to the neighbor’s property.

L. Eberl asked if the non-rezoned areas could be used for hiking as part of the campground operation.  T. Hillmann noted that Agricultural zoned properties could not be used for hiking for the campground.

Public hearing closed at 10:04 a.m. for committee deliberations on Rezone 03-2025.

Motion by Lohr/McAuliffe to approve a rezone on the two parcels recommended from the Town of Baraboo and LRE staff (002-0435-00000 and 002-0432-00000) from an Agriculture Zoning District to a Recreational Commercial Zoning District on land owned by Live Love Dwell, LLC located in the Town of Baraboo as presented based on the findings of fact and conclusion of law, subject to the staff analysis, and subject to the conditions as noted in the staff report.  Motion approved 7-1, with B. Prosser opposed.                       

The public hearing closed at 10:08 am.

Land Resources and Environment Continued                

    3.  Discussion and Possible Action on 2025 Lake Management Grants.  M. Schlupp explained the process of the 2025 Lake Management Grants.  M. Schlupp noted there is $82,460 available for grants.

Phil Hunt from the Friends of Dutch Hollow presented seven activities they would like to use grant dollars for in the amount of $27,500.  Phil offered to reduce the request to $19,000.

Mark Blakeslee from the Mirror Lake Management District presented a request for $10,500 to remove sediment from two gabion baskets.

Erik Larson from the Lake Virginia Management District presented a request for an aeration upgrade they would like to use grant dollars for $38,724.97.  The compressor upgrade would save approximately 60% in electrical costs.

Erik Larson from the Lake Virginia Management District presented a request for spillway repair by sealing concrete riser seams and replacing leaking stop logs.  The grant request is for $29,350.

Mike Mittelstadt from the Lake Redstone Protection District presented Cardinal Bay.  The grant request is for $30,000.  Mike offered to reduce the request to $20,000.

Mike Mittelstadt from the Lake Redstone Protection District presented the phytoplankton survey project.  The grant request is for $7,833.00.

Mike Mittelstadt from the Lake Redstone Protection District presented a goose round up project.  The grant request is for $3,500.  Mike offered to reduce the request to $3,500.

The original total requests equal $136,099.97.  Total funds available equals $82,460.

The committee deliberated on the award amounts to each group.

Motion Prosser/Polivka to award Lake Virginia Management District with $45,000, Lake Redstone Protection District with $20,000 for Cardinal Bay restoration, Friends of Dutch Hollow Lake with $12,000, and Mirror Lake Management District with $5,460.  No funding awarded for the phytoplankton, or the goose round up.  Motion carried unanimously.        

      4. Discussion and Presentation on 2024 Stream Monitoring Efforts (postponed from 04/10/25 meeting). Serge Koenig gave a presentation on 2024 stream monitoring activities.

Brandon Lohr was excused at 10:54 a.m.  Lynn Eberl was excused at 11:05a.m.

      5. Discussion and Possible Action on Updates to Sauk County Cost Share Program and Bid Policy Documents.  M. Schlupp presented the updates to the Sauk County Share Program and Bid Policy documents.  Motion by Polivka/McAuliffe to approve the changes for the Sauk County Share Policy.  Motion by Prosser/Spencer to approve the changes to the Bid Policy documents.

     6. Discussion and Possible action on Conservation Tour Dates - M. Schlupp noted tour stops could include Pelton Grazing and Lake Redstone.  The Committee determined the best tour date of June 20 from 9:00 a.m. – noon.

Next meeting dates –Thursday, May 08, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.; Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

Adjournment - Motion to adjourn by Kinsman/Puttkamer at 11:09 a.m.  Motion carried, unanimously.  

Respectfully submitted,

Valeria McAuliffe, Secretary