Land Conservation Committee

March LCC Minutes 2010 (30 KB)

Meeting called to order by Chair Wiese at 6:00 p.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met. Present were Borleske, Kriegl, Posewitz, Puttkamer, Wiese and Zowin from the Committee; Van Berkel and Pohle-LCD; Vertein-Conservation Congress.

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

Adopt minutes of previous meeting: Motion by Zowin/Puttkamer to adopt the minutes of the regular LCC meeting on February 11. Motion carried, all in favor.

Public comment:

None.

Review of Conservation Congress Annual Meeting Agenda and consider comments for Representatives:

Conservation Congress is funded in part by the county, and Vertein attends LCC meetings to keep contact. Spring Fish and Game Hearings are coming up. Van Berkel and the LCC reviewed four of the issues and gave recommendations to Vertein for the April hearing.
 

Consideration of 2011 Department programs and priorities:

Van Berkel distributed information regarding the department's programs, staff time for each from 2002-2010, and the cost from the 2010 budget. The LCC took the 2011 ranking sheet to fill in. If they are not returned a week prior to the next meeting, staff will remind members. Van Berkel will consolidate responses and have it as an agenda item at the next meeting.

Request for rent adjustment on Health Care Center (HCC) pasture, David Allen:

Allen has requested a 25 percent reduction in rent for the remaining two years of the agreement (a reduction of $575/year for the remaining two years). He is basing the request on the fact he can no longer overwinter animals there. Van Berkel discussed the situation at the HCC when the pasture water was turned off. Allen understands this was in the lease he signed but said he bid based upon previous operating measures which always allowed him to keep animals through winter on the dry lot. The LCD is now administering the lease as written. Motion by Borleske/Puttkamer to make an adjustment for David Allen on the pasture rent because of the changes reducing it to $1,725 per year for the remaining two years. Ayes-Borleske, Kriegl, Puttkamer and Wiese. Nayes-Posewitz, Zowin. Motion carried.

Review of bids for rental of new Health Care Center cropland, evaluation of liming needs and maintenance cost, consider awarding lease and/or other options for long-term use:

There is 12.9 acres available north of the new HCC. Last year it was rented by Dan Peterson. This year it was advertised for bids for corn. Two bids were received: Dan Peterson bid $75/acre, David Roecker bid $91/acre. Motion by Zowin/Posewitz to award the bid to David Roecker. Motion carried, all in favor. 

Van Berkel brought up the future use of the land. If we are going to keep renting it, we will need to lime it. Committee suggested staff check with the City of Reedsburg to see if they have any limed sewage treatment waste to spread for free. Committee suggested we wait to see about the sewage disposal option or otherwise hold off on the liming. The field may not be rented long term as the county considers other uses.

Department staffing issues:

Van Berkel reported on the existing staff shortage and the furthering of the problem due to a staff leave this summer. He also talked about the need for a department plan for transition based upon a possible retirement.
 

Consider approval of Gypsy Moth Suppression Grant:

The DNR grant covers part of the spraying cost on private landowners' properties. The affected landowners have already covered the local share of spray costs. Motion by Borleske/Kriegl to accept the grant in the amount of $2,447.33. Motion carried, all in favor.
 

Consider approval of contract with Veolia Environmental Services for disposal at Clean Sweep event:

No contract received yet.

Selection of teacher scholarship recipient(s):

Applications were received from Dana Westedt and Elizabeth Strunz. Pohle also received a request from a teacher that was considering submitting the application but was late. We have added funds because of the partnership with the Friends of Mirror Lake State Park Motion by Borleske/Zowin to approve all three applications. Motion carried, all in favor.

Selection of youth conservation camp scholarship recipient(s):

Camp applications were received from Haley Bonilla, Nate Helm-Quest, Joe Nimmow, Seth Nimmow, Rachel Perkins and Bridgette Rozinksi. Motion by Zowin/Posewitz to approve a scholarship for all six of the applicants. Motion carried, all in favor.

Communications:

1. Thursday Note(s)-two were received since the last meeting.
2. DNR land purchase notifications-notices were received of two purchases, one at Devil's Lake and one attached to the Dell Creek fishery area.
3. Committee had mentioned the WI State Journal series on dairy expansion and the livestock siting rules. Van Berkel provided copies for members and talked about the issues identified and how they relate to Sauk County.
4. Van Berkel presented the outgoing letter, as requested by Committee, to Patti Jackson-Kelly regarding concerns about the reduction in NRCS staff and requesting she attend a future Committee meeting to discuss the issue. Wiese signed the letter.

Review and approval of vouchers:

Voucher summaries were distributed to the Committee members. Motion by Borleske/Posewitz to approve bills in the amount of $6,341.25. Motion carried, all in favor.

Legislative updates:

The vote to override the governor's veto of the bill to appoint the DNR Secretary through the Natural Resource Board lost. Bills were recently introduced to establish a Karst bedrock region and strengthen groundwater regulations for wells. Both are questionable for passage because of the late date of the session. Wiese received a call from an Amish producer asking the Committee to support new legislation that would allow the sale of raw milk. Van Berkel reported there has recently been a bill drafted.

Reports:

1. Land Conservation (LCD) report-Van Berkel highlighted activities from the report.
2. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) report-None.
3. Farm Service Agency (FSA) report-Sauk County stimulus Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE) payment checks will be going out.
4. Foresters' report-None.
5. Economic Development Committee report-Met last night, discussed HCC and future of the property; Ed Brooks, Town Chair, said the land would be zoned for Exclusive Agriculture. Zowin said they may consider selling an outlying 40-acre parcel first. Committee emphasized that the property is a good place to show conservation practices that apply to all the different land types (streambank, buffer strips, etc.)
6. Mirror Lake District report-The Association would like to lower the lake level during the dam repairs to allow landowners to do shoreline protection work. DNR spoke to them and recommended the county request approval to lower the lake as part of the dam repair. VanBerkel referred them to the Parks Department as they are in charge of repairs to that dam.
7. Lake Virginia Management District report-No meeting was held in March maybe in April.
8. Lake Redstone Management District report-One year ago the big issue was the designation of critical habitat areas. The association was considering a suit but decided to wait a year and evaluate the impacts. DNR gave an overview of the permits from the past year. The Board felt it was a good meeting and that DNR was willing to work with them on their concerns. The issue goes back to the entire membership at the annual meeting.

Motion to adjourn until April 22 at 9:00 a.m. by Borleske/Puttkamer at 8:18 p.m. (Meeting has since been rescheduled for April 15 at 8:30 a.m.) Motion carried, all in favor. The May meeting was tentatively scheduled for May 13 at 9:00 a.m.

Respectfully submitted: Linda Borleske, Secretary