Badger Oversite Management Commission

Draft Minutes (359 KB)

                                      Badger Oversight Management Commission
                                                      Meeting Recap (Draft)
                                                              May 17, 2012

The Badger Oversight Management Commission (BOMC) convened at the Sauk County West Square Building, Room 213, for its regular meeting on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Chair Wenzel called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. Staff affirmed compliance with Open Meetings Law.

Attendance:

Commission Member/Representative Present:
HoChunk Nation John Holst
Wisconsin DNR Craig Karr
Sauk County Bill Wenzel
Town of Merrimac Richard Grant

Stakeholder Interest Stakeholder Rep Present:
Badger History Group Michael Goc
Citizens for Safe Water around Badger Laura Olah
UW-Baraboo Ann Vogl
Bluffview Sanitary District Jeff Little
City of Baraboo Eugene Robkin

Commission Liaison Liaison Représentative
USDA-DFRC Lori Bocher
U.S. Army Joan Kenney

Others present: Brian Simmert, Diane Brusoe, Cherrie Nolden, Marya Johnston-McIntosh, David Serafy-Cox, Terre Carlson, Donna Stehling, Lori Bocher, Jeff Johnson, Fred Lochner.

Motion by John Holst, seconded by Craig Karr, to adopt the agenda for the May 17, 2012 meeting. Motion Carried.

Motion by Craig Karr, seconded by John Holst, to adopt an amended version of the minutes from the March 15, 2012 meeting. Motion Carried.

Public Comment: None

Commissioner Reports:
1. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: Craig Karr reported that Steve Schmelzer has been working with the Army and DFRC to coordinate the deer hunt for this fall. The hunt will be by permit only, will be limited in numbers, and people will be assigned to a specified location. Interested hunters will need to apply ahead of time. The Army and Specpro do not want to manage the hunts this year. Kenney indicated that when all of the hazards are removed, there will be no need to restrict access to deer hunting areas. Deer counts have indicated that there are fewer deer at the plant than in other areas. Karr reported that Schmelzer is working on lease agreements regarding the use of building 207 space. Jeff Ackerman from the DNR was not able to attend the meeting to report on cleanup implications for future land uses.
2. Town of Merrimac: No report
3. Town of Sumpter: No report
4. Bluffview Sanitary District: Lisa Rutkowski gave an update on the three construction projects. The master meter project contractor is beginning to install water mains. Construction for the lift station and wellhouse improvement projects will start in June. All project are projected to be completed by November.
5. Sauk County: No report
6. Ho-Chunk: John Holst reported that the Nation is considering appealing the BIA’s decision.

Committee Reports:
1. Executive and Finance: No report
2. Planning and Land Use: Karr referred to separate minutes of the Planning & Land Use Committee. The minutes note the continued work on a project by Cherrie Nolden using goats to graze land and Marya Johnston-McIntosh’s proposal for vegetation monitoring. The master planning process was also discussed during the committee meeting, as well as concerns regarding the EA for the proposed new facilities at the DFRC. The statutory difference between a state park and recreation area was discussed. It was noted that numbers of users can be controlled in a recreation area, whereas numbers cannot be controlled in state parks, and that recreational areas permit hunting. Michael Goc indicated that the Badger History Group intends to suggest a new name for the recreation area the recognizes BAAP history. Donna Stehling stated that the area has always been considered the Great Sauk Prairie. Because the conveyance will be from the NPS to the DNR, uses of the land are limited to conservation, recreation, and education. Robkin reiterated that the DNR is a signatory to the Reuse Plan.
3. Education and Outreach: No report. Donna Stehling spoke about education activities taking place at Badger and in the area. A map that notes the location of areas of significance is being assembled which will also be accompanied by descriptive text accessible in print form or possibly via smartphone or other form of technology. The Sauk Prairie School District’s program entitled, ‘The Right Stuff’ will have curriculum that may highlight the Reuse Plan. Kenney asked if the goal of the BOMC was to increase education efforts beyond Stehling’s efforts. Fred Lochner noted that the area is not taking advantage of natural resources in term of opportunities for economic development. Lochner spoke again about the idea of establishing an electronic kiosk that tells the area’s history and of future things to come.
4. Ad Hoc Committees: No report

Liaison Reports:
1. US Army: Joan Kenney reported on two recent tours for the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology and the Natural Resources Foundation. Both tours began and ended at the Badger History Group exhibit. Sewer removal continues with debris being recycled or buried on-site. Building 200 is now empty. The environmental assessment for the water system is not yet approved. Kenney spoke about metal decontamination using an oven. If the metal cannot be removed from the site, it can be burned or detonated onsite and in some cases can explode. Once decontaminated, the metal is sold. Clean concrete is used to fill in areas where sewers were removed. Painted concrete goes into an onsite landfill. GSA has a goal of transferring all of the property by 2015.
2. USDA: Lori Bocher reported that Larry Chandler has indicated that discussions are taking place to determine if the EA should be reopened for public comment. Chandler will be leaving the Midwest area July 1, however he will have a response on the EA before he leaves. Bocher reported on two research projects taking place. One study involved interseeding alfalfa into corn so that following the corn year there will be higher alfalfa production. A second study involves the timing of manure applications to pasture and yields. See also two handouts: Badger OMC meeting 5-17-12 DFRC report and Recognizing and Preventing Neospora Caninum Infections.

New Business:
1. Consideration and possible approval of a vegetation monitoring project as requested by Marya Johnston-McIntosh.
Johnston-McIntosh reported on a master’s thesis project to establish a volunteer based monitoring site utilizing a ‘citizen science idea.’ Volunteers would sample the presence of invasive species on the Hillside Prairie and report to scientists and managers. One outcome of the project would be a non-academic report for the Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance. A preliminary report will be available in September. Olah asked about restrictions on excavation depths and suggested a comprehensive map be generated at some point. Brusoe indicated that the DNR will map areas as part of the master planning project. Motion to approve the vegetation monitoring project by Grant, seconded by Holst. Motion carried.
2. Define a process for BOMC input to the master planning process for the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area.
Diane Brusoe reiterated that there will be opportunities for input. The planning document is going through an internal review and once completed it will be posted for public review. The DNR is interested in ideas from the BOMC that can be built into the planning process. Brusoe indicated that the DNR has received requests statewide from varying interests regarding future land uses. 1,029 people have signed up to receive information. Donna Stehling suggested that visuals might help people understand what the future uses may look like. Brusoe indicated a willingness to hear what method the BOMC feels is best to give input. Robkin reiterated that the DNR is a signatory to the Reuse Plan and suggested that all proposed land uses reference the Reuse Plan and specify how they are compatible with that plan. Cherrie Nolden indicated that Dave Tremble could not attend, but that he suggests that proposals be presented to the Planning and Land Use Committee and that they go through the same review process followed by approval by the BOMC. Discussion ensued regarding the ability of the Natural Resources Board to make amendments to the master plan prior to adoption. Karr noted that the master plan will likely be somewhat generic, however if the BOMC or a subset of the BOMC came up with specific suggestions, they may be incorporated into the master plan. Olah suggested setting up an ad-hoc committee to assure that the message from the BOMC is unified. Olah spoke about invoking all interest groups to give input and that the focus needs to be gathering public support of the Reuse Plan to guide the master planning process.
3. Discussion and possible action on amending bylaws regarding meeting dates and frequency.
The BOMC group felt that the current bylaws address the needs for meeting frequency.

4. Next Meeting Date: Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.

5. Public Comment: None

Motion by Grant, seconded by Goc, to adjourn at 9:35 Motion Carried.


Respectfully submitted,

Judy Ashford

Recap by Simmert