LAND RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

Minutes (131 KB)

SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
LAND RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Room 213, Sauk County West Square Building

 

Land Resources and Environment Committee members present:  J. Berlin C. Spencer, M. Krueger, B. Newport, and J. Dietz, C. Whitsell, R. Puttkamer, G. Johnson.

Absent:  None.
 

Others present:   G. Templin, B. Simmert, M. Stieve, J. Alt, M. Schlupp, S. Gaeddert, and J. Butteris.    See registration slips for public comment.

At 9:00 a.m., Spencer called the Land Resources and Environment Committee meeting to order and Templin certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law. 

Adopt agenda:   Motion by M. Krueger/C. Whitsell/ to adopt the agenda with the following modifications:  move items 6 and 7 after all items 8 and allow Stieve to make a presentation under item 8c and hold the public comment portion of the meeting after item 8b.   Motion carried, all in favor.

Adopt minutes: Motion by Johnson/C. Whitsell to approve the July 23, 2019 minutes LRE Committee meeting minutes.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Public Comment:

See below.

Communications:

Schlupp appeared and provided communications regarding Ag Plastics. 

Spencer spoke of a letter from Chuck Setter

Land Records

Department report.  Felton reviewed the department report for Land Records.
Review and approval of vouchers.  No vouchers to report.
c.  Discussion and possible action on 2020 Land Records Modernization Budget.  Felton reviewed the proposed 2020 Land Records Modernization budget.  Motion by M. Krueger/G. Johnson to approve the 2020 Land Records Modernization budget onto finance.  Motion carried, all in favor.
 

Register of Deeds
a.  Department report.  Bailey reviewed the ROD department report.
b. Review and approval of vouchers.  Bailey reviewed the vouchers in the amount of $10,570.59.   Motion by J. Berlin/G. Johnson for vouchers as submitted.  Motion carried, all in favor.
c. Review of preliminary 2020 budget.  Bailey reviewed the 2020 preliminary ROD budget. Motion by M. Krueger/G. Johnson to approve the budget as presented and move forward for review.  Motion carried, as presented.
 

Land Resources and Environment

a.  Department report.  Staff reviewed the department report.
b.  Review and approval of vouchers.  Templin reviewed vouchers in the amount of $11,138.74 and $19,487.14.   Motion by C. Whitsell/M. Krueger to approve the vouchers in the amount of $11,138.74 and $19,487.14.  Motion carried, all in favor.
c.  Discussion and possible action on Resolution Authorizing the Decision to Remove/Repair Hemlock Dam and Authorizing the Land Resources Department to Proceed with an Application for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Municipal Dam Grant.  Stieve appeared and gave a presentation on the Hemlock summary and options for decision and grant opportunities.  The committee asked about the type of structure is there now and if an extension would cause any ranking liability with the grant request.  Stieve explained.  He also recommended applying for the DNR Dam Removal $50,000 grant no matter what the motion today is for, and the department can always decide not to accept it.  Motion by J. Berlin/C. Whitsell to apply for the $50,000 DNR Dam Removal grant.  Motion failed 5-3 with Puttkamer, Krueger, Spencer, Johnson, and Newport in opposition.
 

Motion by M. Krueger/B.  Newport to lay item 8c on the table to allow public comment.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Public Comment:
Dan Quimet appeared and provided a statement regarding the CUP public hearing that took place on July 23, 2019.  He also provided a written statement.

Barb Quimet appeared and provided a statement regarding the CUP public hearing that took place on July 23, 2019.  She also reviewed the written statement provided by Mr. Quimet.

Ray Demaske, speaking on behalf of the Hemlock Dam and due to the limited difference in the cost between removal and repair, would suggest repairing it.

Paul Bodendein, speaking on behalf of the Hemlock Dam, and spoke of the goals of Sauk County to promote park use and requested repairing the dam.

Bev Vaillacourt, spoke of the parks being an essential part of the community.  She also thanked the committee for the financial support to the Friends of the Baraboo River.

Teddy Nobs, speaking on behalf of the Hemlock Dam, asked about the handicap the pier and those that use it.  She asked what will happen to the things that are left behind if the dam is removed, such as the pier, the trail, as well as property that is adjacent to the park.

Richard Sharratt, speaking on behalf of Hemlock Dam, spoke of the financial aspect of the repair of the dam, emotional issues, and the handicap fishing pier.  He recommended replacing the dam and returning the water level to the highest level.

Motion by M. Krueger/B. Newport to take item 8c off the table and bring back to the committee for discussion and possible action.  Motion carried, all in favor.

The committee discussed the report by Stieve.

Whitsell asked about the funding and if it was planned for in the department’s budget.  Stieve stated $250,000 has been put into the budget for this purpose.   Krueger suggested that this not be a department item budget and that is should come from fund balance and meets the criteria for such use.

Stieve then addressed the pier stability and the possible need to be removed.  He also explained that the height of the pier when built was due to ADA requirements and not the water level of the pond.

Krueger asked about additional stop logs to artificially raise the water and if reconstruction were to take place, where the water level would be legally per the DNR standards.  Stieve explained and also suggested a bathymetric survey to be done.  Krueger asked about the cost of the survey.  Stieve suggested right around $2,000 if they continued to use Ayres due to the work already done on the site, but wasn’t completely positive.

Berlin asked about the impact to the 400 trail if the water level is raised.  Stieve explained, but also confirmed that staff has never inspected the 400 trail as part of this project.

Motion by M. Krueger/C. Spencer to apply for the $50,000 Dam Removal Grant to protect the county’s options and also apply for an extension from the DNR until the February 2020 deadline date.  This will allow the committee to explore all options, including the bathymetric survey, as well as have discussions with DNR on their intentions with the 400 trail, as well as looking into the pier and restrooms and other issues that may need to be addressed at the park. 

The committee discussed the motion.

Johnson stated he would vote against the motion because he believes he has enough information to make a decision today.

Newport stated he agrees with Johnson and is confused by the State stating they have plenty of money to update their parks, but yet no funds here.

Spencer stated his hesitation is based on needing more information to determine it is the highest and best use for that property for the parks systems in Sauk County, such as a wetland bird sanctuary or a niche in the county parks system that we do not have.  He also suggested having conversations with the Township and their planning efforts.

Stieve stated he would hire an Engineering firm to apply for the grant in February and it would be approximately $1,200 for that service.

The committee asked that a “Hemlock update” be a regular agenda item at the first meeting of each month.

Motion carried, 6-2 with Newport and Johnson in opposition.

d.  Update on SCORP process.  Simmert thanked Josh and Susan for all their hard work and provided an update on the SCORP process. Butteris provided the background on the public engagement sessions.  Gaeddert spoke of the goals and objectives for the plan. She also reviewed a list of core values to help with the implementation of the plan.
e.   Discussion and possible action on Resolution Authorizing the Land Resources and Environment Department Director to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sauk Soil Water Improvement Group .  Schlupp appeared and reviewed the resolution for the Sauk Soil Water Improvement Group.  Motion by M. Krueger/B. Newport to approve the resolution Authorizing the Land Resources and Environment Department Director to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sauk Soil Water Improvement Group.
f.   Discussion and possible action on the waiving of entrance fees during the Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan public engagement event at White Mound County Park.   Motion by C. Whitsell/J. Berlin to allow waving of entrance fees during the Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan public engagement event.

Next meetings of the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Committee will be held on Tuesday, August 27th and Thursday, September 12th, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. Motion by C. Whitsell/M. Krueger to adjourn the meeting at 11:22 a.m.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Glen Johnson, Secretary