Badger Oversight Mangement Commission - Planning and Land Use Subcommittee

FINAL minutes of the July 13, 2010 BOMC Planning and Land Use Committee meeting:

In attendance: Steve Schmelzer, Richard Grant, Laura Olah, Frank Olah, Mary Yeakel, Randy Poelma, Don Hammes, Rick Walgenbach, Craig Karr.

USDA SUMMER INTERN REPORT

Mike Casler, USDA, and two student interns - Ivan and Emily - shared with the committee the work they are doing this summer.
On both Ho-Chunk Nation lands and USDA lands they are inventorying vegetative cover and identifying any native plants. They are also taking soil samples and plant samples to test for contaminants.
Information gathered will assist USDA and NRCS with development of a "conservation plan" for USDA lands.
There are insufficient funds to test the soil and plant samples to the level desired. Various options for funding were discussed by the committee.
Mike Casler may return to the PLU Committee meeting in September to give a final report.

MARKING OF FARMSTEADS

The Badger History Group has agreed to study the issues the PLU Committee forwarded to them concerning an individual's request to USDA to place a marker on his family's farm location.
They will address the possible future of the existing farm memorial (next to "Red Roof Inn"), identifying archives and documentation that exists concerning the farms, and the preferred means of marking the locations of the farms.

POSSIBLE SAUK COUNTY FUNDING REQUESTS

The Committee discussed possible requests for funding from the $10,000 (per year) HCN gaming revenues that have been earmarked for BOMC.

One suggestion was to request funds to support the student intern soil/plant sample analysis (perhaps $2500).
Another was to seek funding for a study of cost to future landowners to remove the remaining infrastructure - especially big ticket items such as the Filtration Plant and the River Pump Station.

Craig was asked to broach this topic with the Army to get their opinion on the most workable means of seeking funding to allow Spec Pro to remove this infrastructure.

A third suggested funding request was for continuation (and ramping up) of invasives control and prairie restoration work - possibly to The Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance, possibly to Army.

MAPPING NEEDS

The Committee continued discussion of the need for maps, what is available, and the best means of obtaining maps.
Map priorities include:
Land Use restrictions.
Vegetative cover.
Water resources - both surface and groundwater.
Infrastructure
Flora and fauna.

Craig was asked to investigate how restrictions such as "no dig" and restrictions incorporated in DNR's Closure decisions can be portrayed on maps.

Craig was asked to share with the committee Inventory/Data/Survey needs identified by DNR staff as being needed for the master planning process.

Craig and Randy were asked to learn what information (including maps) will be provided to landowners when the Army completes its work and compare that with our data needs to
help determine the gaps.

Laura stated the Hank Kuehling (DNR) has expressed willingness to share information about the DNR databases and how to access them.

PARCEL N - CLINGMAN PROPERTY

The Committee continued discussion about future land uses of this parcel and the planning process to use to gather input and make decisions.

Richard Grant shared perspectives of the Town of Merrimac and stated that the Town will be putting these in writing soon and will share them with the Committee.

Craig volunteered to try to put DNR issues in writing as well.

Neighbors of the parcel have expressed interest in meeting with DNR to share concerns, opinions, and have opportunity to ask questions.
There was discussion about the role the Planning and Land Use Committee (and the full BOMC) should play in this process. Opinions ranged from the Committee being the forum for stakeholders and
the public to provide their input to the Committee being reactive to DNR/Town of Merrimac proposals to weigh their conformance with the

Reuse Report.
The issue of the extent to which land use planning for this parcel should be the Committee's priority issue was also raised.

BATS

DNR scientists are studying BAAP to determine current bat inventory, species present, and habitat (including infrastructure) being used for roosting, maternity, and hibernation.
The intent is to identify means of enhancing the habitat.

NEXT MEETING

September 14, 2010, 9:30 a.m., Dairy Forage Research Center farm conference room.
Possible agenda items:
- Final summer intern report. Mike Casler, USDA.
- Possible approval of Sauk Co. funding request(s).
- Reports on mapping possibilities.
- Parcel N - Clingman property.
- Is there a need for a name of the whole Badger property? Mary Yeakel.