Joint Meeting Land Conservation Committee and Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee

August LCC/PZLR 2011 Minutes (176 KB)

Land Conservation Committee (LCC) members present: L. Borleske, P. Murray, R. Puttkamer, L. Wiese, K. Zowin

Planning, Zoning, & Land Records (PZLR) Committee members present: J. Ashford, J. Gaalswyk, F. Halfen, G. Lehman, D. Nobs

Others present: B. Bergstrom, M. Bohn, H. Bonilla, J. Brandt, A. Brinkman, D. Curran, D. Gantz, T. and L. Gillen, S. Justus, K. Kimpfbeck, M. Krueger, N. Ladas, C. Lapp, A. L. and J. Mack, L. Meyerhofer, B. Michalek, T. McCormick, D. Mor, M. Muray, S. Pate, B. Pesz, P. Peterson, P. Pohle, K. Schauf, T. Stone, B. Vaillancourt, K. Vertein, C. Volkey, W. and G. Wolter,D. Zeman
 

Absent: T. Kriegl was absent.
 

1. At 5:32 p.m. PZLR Vice Chair Ashford called the Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee meeting to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.
   
   LCC Chair Wiese called the Land Conservation Committee meeting to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.
    
2. Adopt agenda: Vice Chair Borleske chaired the meeting until Lehman arrived. Motion by Halfen/Murray to adopt the agenda with removal of agenda items 9 and 10 and to move up agenda item 11d to public comment. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.
   Lehman took over as chair of the meeting.
3. Adopt minutes of previous meetings: Motion by Halfen/Borleske to adopt the minutes of the meeting on July 14 of the Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee and Land Conservation Committee. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.
    
4. Public comment:
   a. Teacher scholarship recipient presentation: Dan Curran briefly told about the two-day “Wet & Wild” workshop he attended with a scholarship from the LCC and expressed his appreciation.
   b. Conservation camp scholarship recipient presentations: The following students told about their camp experiences and expressed their thanks for the scholarships. Jared Mack attended the Sand Lake Camp near Crivitz in Marinette County. Haley Bonilla, David Reifsteck, and Marco Reifsteck attended the WLWCA Camp near Ladysmith in Rusk County. Pohle briefed the committees on the costs and outcomes that have been gained from past scholarship recipients. Thank you letters were included in the members packets from two recipients who were unable to attend this meeting.
   c. Conservation Congress budget request: Vertein submitted a request for the same $1,200 budget amount as the past three years. He emphasized the role of the Conservation Congress and asked that the Committee keep them informed if they have any issues of concern. This amount is included in the combined department’s budget proposal. Provided pamphlets about the Conservation Congress which is an advisory board to the DNR. Have reported to LCC over the past four years and have updated them well.
5. Administrative review procedure-Corporation Counsel:
   a. Review of initial determination of a farm consolidation request by Larry Mundth per Sauk Co. §33.02: Kleczek Bolin noted that action on this agenda item is from only the PZLR Committee and provided background on the farm consolidation request. Mundth and Brandt from Team Engineering expressed their concerns and why they felt the consolidation should be granted. They also questioned the procedures for determinations, the appeals process, and the ordinance language. Borleske submitted an email dated August 10 from Ed Brooks for the record that read as follows: “Subject: Larry Mundth farm stead consolidation; Linda, Please represent the Town of Reedsburg on the above matter. Both the Plan Commission and the Town Board have recommended the request. Previously we have provided minutes that support our recommendation. Thank You Ed Brooks chairman Town of Reedburg” Motion by Halfen/Nobs to postpone until August 23. Motion carried, with all in favor except Gaalswyk voting no. Committee members requested that pertinent information be forwarded to them before the next meeting.
   
   Buckwheat Valley Citizens Coalition regarding Badger Coulee Transmission Line: Michalek gave the guidelines for the information gathering presentations. Alvin Brinkman presented concerns for the transmission line and requested a taskforce group be formed. Beverly Vaillancourt expressed concerns as the La Valle Town Chair and on behalf of the town board and noted the issue should not be about where the line is located but to determine if there is a need for the line. She also requested forming a combined committee with county and town officials. Vaillancourt offered to serve on the committee. There was a five-minute recess.
   Badger Coulee Transmission Line proposed by American Transmission Company-Lee Meyerhofer, ATC: Meyerhofer and Justus discussed ATC’s process which includes a public input process to gather information. An informational folder including maps of potential routes was provided to the committee members. There are a number of potential routes in Sauk County. There is a lot in the county to study and learn about including the environmentally sensitive areas. Have received a lot of input and opinions, especially relating to the Baraboo Range. They expect to come back with two proposed routes in 2012, anticipate construction to begin in 2014 and be operational in 2016.
    
6. Communications:
   a. Thursday Note(s): Bergstrom gave a brief summary of the August 4 Thursday Note. Pohle will ask to have the PZLR Committee members added to the WLWCA email group for the Thursday Note in the future.
   b. Request for letter of support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC): A request was received from TNC to support their acquisition of two properties in Sauk County (179.38 acre parcel-Town of Sumpter and 20.00 acre conservation easement-Town of Baraboo; both in the Baxter’s Hollow State Natural Area). There was discussion on TNC’s reduction in paying taxes and about TNC’s restricted access to their properties. Motion to approve a letter of support by Murrary/Gaalswyk. Motion failed with Ashford, Gaalswyk, Murray in favor; opposed Lehman, Wiese, Puttkamer, Nobs, Halfen.
7. Land Records Modernization (Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee):
   a. Monthly report. The monthly report was provided to the committees.
   b. Review and approval of vouchers: Motion by Ashford/Gaalswyk to approve vouchers in the amount of $8,648.24. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.
   c. Review and possible action on 2012 budget: Budget information was provided to the PZLR Committee members for their review.
    
8. Register of Deeds Department (Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee):
   a. Monthly report: Bailey was excused, and this item was removed from the agenda due to time restrictions.
   b. Review and approval of vouchers: Bailey was excused, and this item was removed from the agenda due to time restrictions.
   c. Review and possible action on 2012 budget: Bailey was excused, and this item was removed from the agenda due to time restrictions.
    
9. Surveyor Department (Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee):
   a. Monthly report: This item was removed from the agenda due to time restrictions.
   b. Review and approval of vouchers: This item was removed from the agenda due to time restrictions.
   c. Review and possible action on 2012 budget: This item was removed from the agenda due to time restrictions.
   
    
10. Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department:
    a. Monthly report and department updates: Michalek presented monthly reports for Planning & Zoning and for Land Conservation. Will attempt to keep track of violations/complaint driven system. Merging both departments into one budget. Presented a draft structure of the merged department; looking at a series of management teams with team leaders. Team leaders will report to Michalek. It was noted that the key is to have management (department head) play an active role in this type of departmental structure.
    b. Review and approval of vouchers: Motion by Borleske/Wiese to approve vouchers in the amount of $57,505.22. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.
    c. Consider approval of participation in 2011 Venison Donation Program (LCC): Peterson presented background on the history of the Venison Donation Program and the benefit to food pantries. There is no cost to the county to participate, and there are a couple of processors available in the county. Motion by Borleske/Puttkamer to participate in the 2011 Venison Donation Program. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor. Wiese signed the participation agreement. Will appear at either the September and/or October meeting for establishing crop prices and budget
    d. Review and possible action on 2012 budget: Michalek reported that we are still working with Beghin to merge the two budgets and will report at the next meeting with both committees. Committee asked that budget packets be sent prior to the meeting.
     
11. Reports:
    a. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) report: None
    b. Farm Service Agency (FSA) report: Puttkamer reported that the FSA Committee will have a face to face meeting next month; teleconferencing in between due to federal budget cuts. Some people are pulling out of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to crop the lands and are paying back funding received using a formula.
    c. Foresters’ report: None.
    d. Economic Development Committee report: Murray reported that at their last meeting they received an update from the DOT and DNR on Rails to Trails. The next meeting on August 22 will be to talk about what to do with the county forest and to make a recommendation to Property and Insurance Committee. The subcommittee’s task is to put together a list of stakeholders to be involved and to make it an open process.
    e. Mirror Lake District report: None.
    f. Lake Virginia Management District report: Nothing to report. Discussed the Nuisance Ordinance passed in the Excelsior Township.
    g. Lake Redstone Management District report: Borleske reported on their annual meeting held last Saturday. There were approximately 120 in attendance. DNR fisheries presented a report. Montgomery & Associates presented their report which provided alternatives that were very costly and not feasible for the Lake Redstone Management District. Their next goal is to look at low cost ways to improve runoff; working with Jon Field in Juneau County. Michalek presented on the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department merger.
    h. Report on Southern Area Association of Land Conservation Committees’ meeting and tour: Murray and Wiese presented on the meeting and tour which included a mill along with a dam and fish ladder, mint oil distillation plant, pheasant farm hatchery, and Rock Prairie Dairy construction site.
     
12. Next meeting of the Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee will be held on Tuesday, August 23, at 9:00 a.m. and Tuesday, August 30, at 7:00 p.m. at the La Valle Town Hall. Notifications going out next week to landowners who are possibly affected with Lake Redstone’s dam breach. Wednesday, September 28, will be the next public hearing. Next meeting of the Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee and Land Conservation Committee will be held on Thursday, September 8, at 9:00 a.m.
    
13. Motion by Wiese/Gaalswyk to adjourn at 8:46 p.m. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.
14. Respectfully submitted 
    Kathy Zowin                                                           Joel Gaalswyk
    Land Conservation Committee, Secretary              Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee, Secretary