Land Conservation Committee

November LCC 2010 Minutes (22 KB)

Meeting called to order by Chair Wiese at 9:00 a.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met. Present were Borleske, Murray, Wiese and Zowin from the Committee; Van Berkel, Stanek and Pohle-LCD. Puttkamer and Kriegl were absent.
 

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

Adopt minutes of previous meeting: Motion by Zowin/Borleske to adopt the minutes of the regular LCC meeting on October 14. Motion carried, all in favor.

Public comment:

None.

Approval by consensus of schedule of compliance and implementation plan for Working Lands Initiative (WLI) participants: Stanek and Van Berkel updated the Committee on implementation of WLI. They provided an example of the Farmland Preservation Program (FPP) Farm Inspection form and a 2010 Compliance Review Summary. There was discussion on nutrient management planning and the initiation of a deadline for plan completion. Motion by Borleske/Zowin that landowners who did not have a nutrient management plan as of the 2010 review need to develop a plan by December 1, 2011. Motion carried, all in favor.

Status of vacant positions in department and approved 2011 budget: Refilling the Conservation Engineer is waiting for the results of the restructuring decision. The position is included in the 2011 budget.

Since the technician position was vacant for over a year it is classified as a new position. The 2011 budget includes this position. Van Berkel recommended waiting until after completion of the Restructuring Committee's work before taking action to fill it however. There will be more information by the December meeting about the restructuring.

Update on Clark Creek Watershed Study: Van Berkel stated the contract has been signed with Montgomery Associates - Resource Solutions. They have visited the office to review maps and air photos. The study is due on February 28, 2011. They will present preliminary results at the January LCC meeting and at an evening public meeting.

Update on Spring Green West Basin Drainage Study: Van Berkel noted that the Nelson Institute has volunteered to assist with the flood study at no cost to Sauk County. There will be a meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17, at River Valley High School to gather public input regarding the issues that need to be addressed.

Review and approval of vouchers: Voucher summaries were distributed to the Committee members. Motion by Murray/Zowin to approve bills in the amount of $96,919.89. Motion carried, all in favor.

Legislative updates:

Nothing to report.

Communications:

1. Thursday Note(s)-Van Berkel reviewed the November 11 Thursday Note. Wiese will attend the WLWCA Annual Conference. Guidance was given to Wiese for the WLWCA Conference resolutions.
2. Notification of land purchase by DNR-There are two land purchases by DNR this month - 40 acres in Town of Merrimac and another 40 in Town of Sumpter.

Reports:

1. Land Conservation Department (LCD) report-Van Berkel highlighted several initiatives from the department's monthly report.
2. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) report-None.
3. Farm Service Agency (FSA) report-None.
4. Foresters' report-None.
5. Economic Development Committee report-No meeting since last LCC meeting. Next meeting will be at the county forest to discuss its future.
6. Mirror Lake District report-Zowin noted there were no meetings. The dam repair is nearing completion.
7. Lake Virginia Management District report-Murray noted there were no recent meetings.
8. Lake Redstone Management District report-The meeting is coming up. Borleske will report at next meeting.
9. Restructure Committee Report-Walworth and Waukesha County gave presentations at the last meeting regarding their restructuring. There will be other counties more similar to Sauk invited to present at the next meeting. That meeting is scheduled for November 18 at 2:00 p.m. For this meeting Judy Ashford and Mark Steward, Marty Krueger and Kathy Schauf, Joe Van Berkel and Linda Borleske are to put together proposals for a restructuring of the two departments.

Motion to adjourn until December 16 at 9:00 a.m. by Murray/Zowin at 11:00 a.m. Motion carried, all in favor.

January 13 tentatively set for a meeting date.

Respectfully submitted: Linda Borleske, Secretary