Land Conservation Committee

January LCC 2011 Minutes (26 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, Kriegl, Murray, Puttkamer, and Wiese from the Committee; Livingston-DNR; Brereton-NRCS; Van Berkel, Bergstrom, Pohle, and Stanek-LCD; Tim Stone-Town of Fairfield. Zowin was excused.

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

Presentation by Montgomery Associates - Resource Solutions on flooding issues in Clark Creek watershed:

Montgomery Associates - Resource Solutions presented their preliminary data on the Clark Watershed Study.

Public input and committee discussion regarding Clark Creek watershed presentation:

Public comment was taken during the presentation and after the presentation with Montgomery Associates - Resource Solutions.

Consider resolution in support of Fairfield Agricultural Enterprise Area (AEA):

LCC moved to Room 328. Stanek and Town of Fairfield Chair Tim Stone updated the Committee on the AEA and noted that there are seven eligible landowners signing the petition. The LCD was instructed to send the County Board a color copy of the AEA map. Motion by Murray/Borleske to forward the resolution supporting the Fairfield Agricultural Enterprise Area to the County Board for approval. Motion carried, all in favor.

Approve Certificate of Compliance for Farmland Preservation Participants:

Stanek completed 54 ATCP 50/NR151 farm inspections. State law requires that all farms be reviewed for compliance by December 2015. Eleven of the first 54 farms reviewed are in full compliance and require a "certificate of compliance" form. No motion is necessary. The "certificate of compliance" just requires the LCC Chair's signatures. The ATCP 50/NR151 checklist used for farmer inspections was also explained to the LCC. Stanek informed the Committee about the new conservation requirements and workload, and the increased FPP tax credit levels.

Consider resolution to participate in Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative:

Van Berkel presented a resolution requiring that the county or LCD consider bird habitat in all their decisions. Partnership is wide ranging, and Sauk County would be the first county to do it at a county level. Motion by Murray/Borleske to endorse the resolution to have Sauk County participate in the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative. Motion carried, all in favor.

Conditional use application for cropland at new Health Care Center property:

The LCD is planning to rent 12 acres of cropland this year at the new Health Care Center. The land is currently zoned for residential property use, and the department needs to apply for a variance from the City of Reedsburg to plant agricultural crops. The department must pay a $153 fee this year to apply for a variance. In future years the fee will increase to $400. It is anticipated that we will request rental bids in March. Last year's bid was $80 per acre.

2011 Dues and Memberships:

Van Berkel presented the following annual dues for the Land Conservation Department:  Minimum entry level for National Association of Conservation Districts-$775, Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association-$1,611.98, Southern Area Association-$50, Southwest Badger Resource Conservation & Development-$100, Wisconsin Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin-$100, Wisconsin Association of Land Conservation Employees-$20/employee, Wisconsin Association of Environmental Education-$25. Budgeted $4,000, no formal action necessary.

Review and approval of vouchers:

Voucher summaries were distributed to the Committee members. Motion by Borleske/Murray to approve 2010 and 2011 bills in the amount of $13,395.19. Motion carried, all in favor.

Communications:

1. Thursday Note(s)-Van Berkel highlighted the January 13 Thursday Notes.
2. Van Berkel received a request for a letter of support from two retired DNR employees, Ron Grasshoff and Dave Marshall, for lake studies on Hemlock Lake and LaValle Pond. Motion to send a letter of support to DNR by Borleske/Kriegl. Motion carried, all in favor.

Reports:

1. Land Conservation Department (LCD)report-Bergstrom discussed the Bear Creek project. Pohle discussed having Pedal Power demonstrated prior to a County Board meeting. The Committee recommended presenting around Earth Day to promote the event. Some LCC members will assist with the demonstration. The monthly department report included the end-of-year accomplishments. The output measures should be used to stress the department's staffing needs. Motion by Murray/Kriegel to send a letter from LCC to Personnel Committee, Executive & Legislative Committee, and Kathy Schauf regarding staffing needs in the LCD and include justification of working with farmers. Motion carried, all in favor.  Montgomery Associates-Resource Solutions addressed the LCC on Clark Creek.
2. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) report-Brereton reported the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) signups ended last Friday. There were 38 EQIP applications and 2 WHIP applications, one of those applications is for a Trout Unlimited project on Bear Creek. Sauk County will receive $115,147 to use on cropland and pasture. We may also receive money from fund pools held at the area office. Conservation Security Program (CSP) signup deadline is Friday, January 21.
3. Farm Service Agency (FSA) report-Puttkamer had nothing to report.
4. Foresters' report--Livingston mentioned that DNR has a new Secretary and highlighted some additional staffing updates. The Division of Forestry is forward thinking, working with private landowners that have not participated in programs in the past and new landowners remains a high priority . LCD (Stanek) has requested assistance from DNR Forester for an assessment of the woodlands on the old Sauk County Health Care Center for purposes of management and income. Livingston did conduct an assessment about ten years ago and will revisit the property. Foresters are working with property managers on state lands in the county for forest management needs which includes timber harvest establishment. Busy with Managed Forest Law-44,000 acres in the county and about 40 new applications this year. Landowner Grant Program has 132 active projects right now, 12-13 active projects in EQIP, Conservation Reserve Program has 5 current projects. DNR tree orders are down. High density hardwood plantations are planned on state land this coming spring.
5. Economic Development Committee report-Murray stated there have not been any meetings for two months.
6. Mirror Lake District report-No report.
7. Lake Virginia Management District report-No report.
8. Lake Redstone Management District report-Borleske reported they are working on prioritizing nutrient reduction projects.
9. Personal reflection, Land Conservation Department history 1984-2010-Van Berkel gave a brief overview of his time working in Sauk County which started when he was hired in 1979. Stressed to continue to keep conservation at the forefront!

Approval of Resolution Honoring Joe Van Berkel:

Motion by Kriegl/Borleske to approve the resolution honoring Joe Van Berkel and present at County Board for approval. Motion carried, all in favor.

Motion to adjourn until February 10 at 9:00 a.m. by Borleske/Murray at 12:55 p.m. Motion carried, all in favor. March 10 was tentatively scheduled.

Respectfully submitted: Kathy Zowin, Secretary