Land Conservation Committee

December LCC 2010 Minutes (23 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 Murray, Wiese and Kriegl from the Committee; Van Berkel and Stanek, LCD; and Peterson, Wildlife Damage Services. Puttkamer, Borleske and Zowin were absent.

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

Adopt minutes of previous meeting: Motion by Murray/Kriegl to adopt the minutes of the regular LCC meeting on November 11. Motion carried, all in favor.

Public comment:

None.

Land Conservation Department and Planning & Zoning Restructure Update:

Van Berkel and Murray updated Committee members on the recommendation from the Special Committee on Restructuring to combine Planning and Zoning and Land Conservation into one department. Supervisors involved on the Committee will present the recommendation to the County Board at the December meeting, and then a resolution to incorporate this change will be taken to the January meeting.

Establish harvest deadline for Wildlife Damage Program participation:

Damage to crops entered into the program was evaluated before Thanksgiving. Motion by Murray/Kriegl to establish November 19 as the harvest deadline for participation in the 2010 Wildlife Damage Program. Motion carried, all in favor.

Establish 2010 crop damage price values:

Wildlife Damage Services provided the average value of crops through the 2010 growing season. Using those values and harvest prices the Committee established crop values for 2010 claims at: corn $4.00/bushel; soybeans $10.00/bushel; alfalfa $133.75/ton; honey $1.68/pound; and the replacement value of bee equipment at $.83/frame, $.93/foundation, and $68.50/swarm on a motion by Murray/Kriegl. Motion carried, all in favor.

Approval of 2010 crop damage assessments for Wildlife Damage Program participants:

Peterson presented the 2010 eligible claims. Participants complied with all program requirements. Based upon established crop values the payable claims were: Howard Engel $546.82 for damage to corn, soybeans and alfalfa; Rick Accola $40.20 for damage to bee hives; Brad Moore $3,917.18 for damage to bee hives. Motion to approve these claims for the identified amounts by Murray/Kriegl. Motion carried, all in favor.

Update on Clark Creek Watershed Study:

Van Berkel reported Montgomery Associates-Resource Solutions will be presenting their first analysis to staff and Maxwell as representative of the homeowners' group this afternoon at 4 p.m. in the LCD offices. They plan on presenting additional preliminary data at two public meetings in January - the first in conjunction with the LCC meeting on January 20 and also at an evening session on January 25. The goal of these meetings will be to gather feedback from residents that might help refine their final recommendations. The final report is due February 28, 2011.

Update on Spring Green West Basin Flooding Study:

The November 17 public meeting went very well, gathering considerable public comment and concern in a well structured format. The Nelson Institute staff will now spend time evaluating the questions arising from the meeting and putting together background information to help address these issues. The next update for the Advisory Group will be at a January 10 meeting in Spring Green, and the next public meeting is scheduled for February 16. At that time Nelson Institute staff will try to answer questions that arose and take follow-up questions from attendees for further evaluation.

Review and approval of vouchers:

Voucher summaries were distributed to the Committee members. Motion by Kriegl/Murray to approve bills in the amount of $10,405.74. Motion carried, all in favor.

Review and acceptance of 2010 donations:

Van Berkel presented a summary of 2010 donations received by the department. Motion by Murray/Kriegl to gratefully accept the donations. Motion carried, all in favor.

Communications:

1. No Thursday Note was received this past month due to the convention.
2. Two Targeted Runoff Management Grant awards were received.
3. A Nutrient Management training grant was received.
4. 2010 DATCP staff grant reimbursement was submitted.  Wiese signed each of these grants and the reimbursement request representing the Committee.

Reports:

1. Land Conservation Department (LCD) report: Stanek highlighted the development and goals of the Fairfield Agricultural Enterprise Area application to be submitted to DATCP. This proposal will be presented at the January County Board meeting.
2. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) report: No report.
3. Farm Service Agency (FSA) report: No report.
4. Foresters' report: No report.
5. Economic Development Committee report: Murray reported the most recent meeting focused on the rail issue. They also toured the Spring Green forest and have worked on a report on the future of the old HCC farmlands.
6. Mirror Lake District report: No report.
7. Lake Virginia Management District report: Murray reported that the Association is concerned about the need to revise the junkyard portion of the zoning ordinance and the slow progress toward revisions. They may try to address the problems they are having with storage of junk vehicles and other items through the town.
8. Lake Redstone Management District report: No report.
9. WLWCA Annual Conference report: Wiese reported on his attendance at the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association Conference, the results of the resolutions, and the proposal to consider combining this Association with the employees association-Wisconsin Association of Land Conservation Employees.

Adjournment:  Motion to adjourn until January 20 at 9:00 a.m. by Murray/Kriegl at 11:10 a.m. Motion carried, all in favor. February 10 tentatively set for a meeting date.

Respectfully submitted: Kathy Zowin, Secretary