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

Minutes Jt Meeting PZLR/LCC October 13, 2011 (43 KB)

Land Conservation Committee (LCC) members present: L. Borleske, T. Kriegl, P. Murray, R. Puttkamer, J. Smoke, L. Wiese

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

Others present: B. Bergstrom, Kleczek Bolin, M. Krueger, T. McCormick, B. Michalek, P. Pohle, B. Vaillancourt, D. Wernecke

Absent: No committee member absent.

At 9:08 a.m. Chair Lehman called the Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

Chair Wiese called the Land Conservation Committee to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

Adopt agenda: Motion by Borleske/Gaalswyk to adopt the agenda. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.

Adopt minutes of previous meetings: Motion by Ashford/Murray to adopt the minutes of the meeting on September 8 and 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.

Public comment: Beverly Vaillancourt addressed the negative impacts of the American Transmission Company (ATC) Badger Coulee Transmission Line to the Town of La Valle. She also spoke on the importance of comprehensive plans and concern over the State of Wisconsin possibly allowing them to be discarded. Requested tabling of a decision on the Lake Redstone Dam until further information can be collected and asked for a copy of Humpal’s PowerPoint presentation to put on the town’s website.

Terrence McCormick expressed opposition for the ATC Badger Coulee Transmission Line coming through Sauk County and questioned the need for the transmission line. Also, noted the need for obtaining additional information. The Baraboo Range Preservation Association invited the committee members to their upcoming lectures relating to the transmission line.
Election of Land Conservation Committee Secretary for remainder of term: LCC Chair Wiese asked for nominations for the LCC Secretary to replace Kathy Zowin. Motion by Borleske/Puttkamer to nominate Peter Murray for LCC Secretary. There were no other nominations.
Motion by Borleske/Smoke to cast a unanimous ballot for Murray as LCC Secretary. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.

Communications:
a. Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Association (WLWCA) Newsletter-Thursday Note(s): Bergstrom highlighted the September 15 and October 6 Thursday Notes including the WLWCA Conference.

b. AB 303/SB 225, Allowing Municipalities to Repeal their Comprehensive Plans: Simmert discussed a bill that would make comprehensive planning optional for municipalities. The Wisconsin County Code Administrators and Wisconsin Land Information Association both oppose this bill. Will put as an action item on the November agenda.

c. Letter regarding Lawrence and Bridget Mundth’s farm consolidation appeal: Kleczek Bolin informed the committee members that an administrative hearing will be held on October 20 at 9:00 a.m.; no agenda is necessary as it is similar to a court hearing and there is no business. The PZLR Chair may speak on behalf of the committee. Mundth will have ten days from the date of the hearing to make a decision. A written decision will be sent to the PZLR. If appealed, it will go to court.

d. Southern Area Association Meeting-Thursday, October 27: Murray will attend this meeting.

e. Michalek informed the group that County Board Supervisor Art Carlson questioned if there is assistance or sources of funds for the Spring Green Cemetery that the committees are aware of. There have been issues there ever since the flooding. No recommendations from committee members.

f. Michalek mentioned he received communication from DNR regarding an information session on flood risk management on November 8. The CPZ received a disc which Cunningham is reviewing. Also received notice of an educational seminar on mining on November 14 being put on by the Wisconsin Counties Association on mining; Koenig and Michalek may attend. Letter included in packet from Town of Winfield. Three affected townships receiving DNR notice in November to put on website.

Discussion regarding the Badger Coulee Transmission Line proposed by American Transmission Company: Discussed the proposed transmission line. Place on the November meeting agenda for a resolution.

Discussion on Highway 12 money from Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT): Staff explained that there was a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1999 with DOT for $250,000 of committed money to use for purchasing lands, scenic or agricultural easements, or agriculture rights for five years. The Sauk County Board appropriated $200,000 for conservation land which is the match required by DOT. CPZ staff recommended to use for stream and scenic easements, adding parking lots/pulloffs, walkways, and bike trail versus Purchase of Development Rights (PDRs). Also discussed an easement to the 80-acre piece in Dellona/Delton township that is landlocked. Funds cannot be used for development. Will bring a resolution in the next couple of months to make official and finish the Memorandum of Understanding, along with more specifics.

Review and recommend options for repair or disposal of machine shed at county farm to Property & Insurance Committee: Options were discussed. Motion by Murray/Kriegl to pass recommendation to Property and Insurance (P&I) Committee and do the cheap fix and offer for rent. Murray withdrew motion. Lehman will communicate with Virgil Hartje and P&I the committee’s concerns and have the P&I make a decision on the machine shed.

Discussion on county farm lease agreements - cropland, pasture, machine shed, and barn: Bids will be advertised in the newspapers and will be due at the beginning of November. Working with Attorney Liebman on the agreement, and UCC financing will be tied in. Only for the old Health Care Center (HCC) cropland not Reedsburg HCC. At the end of the lease, county staff will do soil test sampling to check fertility.

Discussion on moratoriums: Kleczek Bolin informed the committees that in order to have a moratorium, you need an ordinance. This would require holding a public hearing and following the appropriate procedures for an ordinance with final approval by the County Board. A specific area can be identified or can do moratorium for the entire county. Need to explain why wishing to do a moratorium. The final draft sign ordinance will be presented to the towns starting the first week of November, will hold a public hearing before the PZLR in November, and action in December by the County Board. The Town of Delton will be made aware of the meeting and offering to meet with their town board.

Discussion on county forest: Lehman and Michalek attended the Economic Development Committee where the DNR talked about what it takes to create a true county forest versus a community forest. There is a 50 percent match for a county forester or a consulting firm forester. They will investigate how other counties are working before their next meeting. The forest requires management. It would be a permanent easement if making a county forest. Properties being discussed include land at the landfill, the old HCC, and land in Dellona - about 1,700 acres in parcels (not including White Mound) of which about 1,200 acres are woodlands. Positive outcomes would be the ability to get loans and the cost-share funds for an administrator of county forest land.

Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department:

a. Department reports and updates: Michalek presented the LCD and P&Z departmental reports.

b. Status of recommendation from over-site committee regarding vacant engineer position in budget: At the second Finance Committee meeting, they removed the $100,000 but placed it in a contingency fund if we need the funds in the future.

c. Review and approval of vouchers: Motion by Borleske/Wiese to approve 2011 and 2012 vouchers in the amount of $86,694.31. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.

d. Discussion on farm consolidations: Joseph W. and Clara Mae Bontrager: Simmert informed the committees that this is not a formal request, just a request by Town Chair Terry Smelcer for clarification. Proposing to sell off the farm building and farm house and retain the rest of the home on their land - total of 51 acres. Discussed the farm consolidation definition and creating a smaller number of farms. Consensus that this is not reducing the number of farms. They have the option of appearing before the PZLR on this.

Reports:
a. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) report: None.

b. Farm Service Agency (FSA) report: Puttkamer stated that conservation will be hit hard in the new farm bill.

c. Foresters’ report: Livingston commented on the well-run education programs in CPZ. There are approximately 50,000 acres enrolled in the Managed Forest Law (MFL) Program with over 1,000 participants. Busy with tree plantings. There are approximately 150 landowners currently participating in the Wisconsin Forest Landowner Grant Program (WFLGP), and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has about five participants this year. Nursery tree order forms for next spring’s delivery are now available. One of the two tree planters is getting adjustments done, and CPZ will be getting the bill. Briefly discussed the turkey stamp grant program and hardwood forestry fund. Doing a lot of invasive control work. Setting up timber sales on state properties - a 400-acre harvest at Devil’s Lake State Park this fall and a 150-acre harvest at Mirror Lake State Park. DNR Forester Paul Kloppenburg received the federal Johnny Appleseed Award recently.

d. Economic Development Committee report: None.

e. Mirror Lake District report: Smoke will be the new Land Conservation Committee representative.

f. Lake Virginia Management District report: None.

g. Lake Redstone Management District report: Borleske reported they met on Tuesday night. Discussed how they are going to address the recommendations in Montgomery Associates’ final report. Talking to DNR about doing some spot dredging.

Next meeting of the Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee will be held on Tuesday, October 25, and the meeting of both the Land Conservation Committee and Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee will be held on Thursday, November 10, at 9:00 a.m. Tentatively set Wednesday, December 7, at 9:00 a.m.

Motion by Gaalswyk/Halfen to adjourn. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor. Motion carried, all LCC members in favor.
Respectfully submitted,

Peter Murray, Secretary                    Joel Gaalswyk, Secretary
Land Conservation Committee         Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee