Economic Development Committee

03/10/11 Minutes (77 KB)

Members present: Marty Krueger, Joel Gaalswyk, Don Stevens, Peter Murray, Kathy Zowin, Dave Riek, Kathy Zowin

Members absent: Gerald Lehman

Others present: Kathy Schauf, Rob Sinklair, Gene Dalhoff, Bill Wenzel, Fred Halfen, Phil Raab, Tim Stieve, Pat Taggart, Ken Lucht, Barb Hummel, Frank Huntington

The meeting was called to order and certification of Open Meeting compliance was given at 6:30 p.m. The agenda was approved on a motion by Stevens, second by Gaalswyk. Motion carried.

Public Comment
Pat Taggart – Sauk Prairie Chamber – disheartened that the resolution did not address trails as well. Expressed concern that it gave lip service to the consensus of the group.

Fred Halfen – noted that he would have liked to see inclusion of the support of transition to trail in Badger.

Bill Wenzel – commented on “whereas’s” versus “the now therefore be it resolved” portion and intent of resolutions.

Rob Sinklair – expressed concern that the resolution does not have stakeholder consensus and that the ground rules were not followed.

Communications
A resolution from Supervisors, Wenzel, Sinklair, Stehling, and Halfen, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR RAIL BANKING AND A RAILS TO TRAILS CONVERSION FOR THE RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY THROUGH THE VILLAGES OF PRAIRIE DU SAC WITH THE CONTINUATION OF THAT CONVERSION THROUGH THE BADGER ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT PROPERTY, AND CONNECTION WITH THE LOWER WISCONSIN RIVER RECREATIONAL AREA.

A letter of thanks from Terpstras.

Minutes from the 02/03/11 and 02/28/11 meeting were distributed.

Business Items

Phil Raab and Tim Stieve: Update on EDA grant.
This update will be provided at the next Intergovernmental meeting to apprise municipalities of the installation of fiber. Sample letter to the municipalities was distributed. Emphasis is on maintaining open communications with municipalities.

Consideration of the extension of fiber to the County Highway building.
Stieve supplied the committee with paper work that detailed cost comparisons for leased services versus use of the county fiber network. Highway is unable to utilize some software applications with current connectivity. A resolution will be presented at the April Board meeting.

Consideration of a resolution honoring Merlin Zitzner for years of service.
Motion by Stevens, second by Zowin to approve the resolution honoring Merlin Zitzner for years of service. Motion carried.

Committee assessment of rails and trails process and next steps.
     • Recap of 02/28/11 meeting. Stakeholder agreement was to have the Economic Development Committee discuss where we are at in the process and possible next steps. Ground rules were reviewed and Barb Hummel provided background on stakeholder process.

     • Possible resolution recommending County Board support of DOT acquisition of UP line. Motion by Gaalswyck, second by Zowin to adopt the resolution and forward to the Board of Supervisors with a second now therefore be it resolved added, specifically: “BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED, that Sauk County supports that upon acquisition of the line by the State; the Board also supports a multiple use trail system that runs from the Sauk County line, through the villages of Sauk and Prairie, up through Badger to Devil’s Lake State Park. That it be part of the federal Rails to Trails program, on the rail bed all of the way – at the wye other trail locations would need to be identified; and,” Motion carried.

     • Possible county involvement in trail development. Discussion of creating a sub-committee of the Economic Development Committee that will work with stakeholder groups to develop trail options in the community. Huntington updated the committee on the status of the Badger easement and the Department of Transportation move to transition the trackage to trail usage to maintain the easement to ensure that it does not terminate.

    • Next Steps: Discussion of proposal for moving forward with the process will be part of the final large stakeholder meeting.

Motion by Gaalswyk, second by Stevens, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Donald Stevens
Economic Development Committee Secretary