LAND RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

LAND RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

Thursday, November 11, 2021

County Board Room

Sauk County West Square Building

 

Land Resources and Environment (LRE) Committee member present:  M. Krueger, R. Nelson,

P. Kinsman, V. McAuliffe, R. Puttkamer, D. Polivka, B. Lohr

 

Others Present: L. Wilson, M. Schlupp, B. Simmert, L. Digmann, M. Stieve, B. Miller, B. Desmond, K. Felton, B. Bailey

 

Absent: None

 

At 9:00 am Chair Krueger called the Land Resources and Environment Committee meeting to order and certified the meeting is compliant with the Open Meeting Law.

 

Adopt agenda – Chair Krueger requested that as part of the motion, that item 8g. be moved to follow item 5. Motion by Curry/McAuliffe to adopt the agenda as noted. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Adopt minutes of previous meeting- October 26, 2021 - Motion by McAuliffe/Nelson to approve the October 26, 2021 LRE Committee meeting minutes. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Public comment – Ramon Demaskee, S741 Demaskee Road LaValle, Wi 53941. Representing the Town of LaValle spoke regarding the Hemlock Dam

 

Heidi Geils, E4407 Loon Ct LaValle, Wi 53941. Representing the Town of LaValle and LaValle Area Community Action spoke regarding the Hemlock Dam.

 

Communications – Wilson noted that the press release for the upcoming stakeholder meeting for the Chapter 26 amendments was included on Granicus for the committee.

 

Land Records

a. Department report - Felton presented the Department Report.

b. Review and approval of vouchers – Felton noted she did not have any vouchers.

c. Discussion and possible action on request for GIS staff to attend the 2022 Esri Users

    Conference in San Diego – July 11-15, 2022. Motion by Polivka/Nelson to approve the GIS Staff to

    attend the 2022 Esri Users Conference in San Diego. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Register of Deeds

a. Department report – Bailey presented the Department Report.

b. Review and approval of vouchers – Motion by Curry/Kinsman to approve the vouchers in the amount

    of $10,679.29. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Land Resources and Environment

a. Department report – Wilson presented the Department Report.

 

b. Review and approval of vouchers. Motion by McAuliffe/Nelson to approve the vouchers in the

    mount of $23,205.04 for Parks and $1,877.32 for LRE. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

c. Discussion and possible approval of a reduced access easement width pursuant to s. 22.15 of the Sauk

    County Land Division and Subdivision Regulations Ordinance for the Pesz Trust S8 T13N R2E Town

    of Woodland.

    Simmert presented the background of a 40-foot-wide Utility and Access Easement. Motion by

    Nelson/Polivka to approve the easement. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

 

d. Discussion and possible action on a Resolution Authorizing Emergency Powers Pursuant to Wis. Stats. 59.52(29)(b) for   

    the Great Sauk State Trail.

    Desmond presented the background and history of the request. Nelson asks Wilson if we are prepared to call someone

    on short notice in case of an emergency. Nelson stated if the wall was failing prior to GSST is there anyone else that

    could help fund this repair. Polivka stated that he felt Sauk County should not be the only one funding this fix. Nelson   

    asked if we know who the property owners are and what businesses are along this trail. McAuliffe said the wall was

    failing when the owner bought the property. McAuliffe asked if there are any ARPA funds available. Desmond yes

    there is and explained. Desmond also noted that our contract with the DNR for the trail states we have 90 days to get

    out trail from the DNR. Lohr asked what the reason would be to get out of the contract. Krueger explained. Polivka

    states the railroad could take the trail back anytime. Wilson stated she has tried to get Diggers Hotline out to start

    marking lines but the DOT said we need a Tap Permit to be able to do this. McAuliffe asks if we could have the village

    of Prairie Du Sac contact Diggers Hotline. Polivka stated that if the DOT has a say in everything shouldn’t they have

    some of the responsibility of the trail. Curry was curious as to why this couldn’t wait since we meet twice a month.

    Stieve stated we don’t have time in case something would happen. Motion by McAuliffe/Nelson to approve the

    resolution authorizing Emergency Powers for the Great Sauk State Trail. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

e. Presentation and discussion on upcoming Chapter 26 stakeholder meeting.

   Schlupp presented an update on the upcoming Chapter 26 stakeholders meeting.

 

f. Discussion and possible action authorizing the LRE Committee Chair to Execute Cost-Share Funds Transfer

   Agreements for SEG Funds of $38,880 to be transferred to Dane County.

   Schlupp is asking for authorization for the LRE Committee Chair to Execute Cost-Share Funds Transfer Agreement for

   SEG Funds of $38,880 to be transferred to Dane County. Schlupp explained the funds and our ability to transfer if they

   are unused. Motion by Lohr/Kinsman. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

g. Update and discussion on Hemlock Dam.

    Miller presented the Hemlock Dam Updates. Miller stated that the staff is not getting anywhere with the DNR and the

    DNR would like the County to take care of a portion of the trail. Miller stated he has contacted our State  

    Representatives and Senator Baldwin to set up a meeting with them and the DNR, since we have not any progress with

    the DNR in the past 3 years. Miller stated he is very frustrated and will do anything to get the approval of Hemlock

    Dam project. Krueger stated that he appreciates everyone’s hard work and patience, but it is time to take the nuclear   

    options. Stieve reminds everyone there has not been any compromises from the DNR to make this happen. Polivka

    supports this 100%. Polivka states with his experience with the DNR, we should get all State Representatives involved.

    Miller stated by waiting for the DNR to approve this it is costing us more. McAuliffe stated, we back you 100% and it’s

    time to get the state involved.

 

Reports

a. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - None

b. Farm Service Agency (FSA) – Puttkamer stated that there was an election was on November 1, 2021 for the NW Sector

    of the County.

c. Foresters - None

d. Economic Development Committee – Krueger noted that there was a presentation on welcome center in Sauk County

    Rec Center as well as a closed session on a defaulted CDBG loan.

e. Mirror Lake District – Krueger noted that they did not meet.

f. Lake Virginia Management District – Nelson noted that they did not meet.

g. Lake Redstone – Kinsman stated that the group is finishing their new lake management plan.

 

Next meeting dates – Tuesday, November 30, 2021 and Thursday, December 9, 2021.

 

Motion by McAuliffe/Curry to adjourn at 10:20 a.m. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Ross Curry, Secretary