AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION, PLANNING, AND ZONING DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO A FIVE-YEAR REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AGREEMENT WITH THE USDA-NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE AND CREATE 1.0 FULL-TIME CONSERVATIONIST PROJECT POSIT

Committee Status:

Approved

Budget Status:

Budgeted

Decision Impact:

Significant

FTE Impact:

Yes

Funding Source:

Combination

Purpose

To create the position for the RCPP program, and to include an additional $80,000 in the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department 2015-2019 budget. Position will provide one-on-one educational and technical assistance to landowners, information and consultation regarding sustainable practices, materials and operations to citizens, businesses, and communities and will monitor and evaluate plan implementation and progress. Projects will mainly focus on cropland, barnyards and pasture lands.

Resolution Files:

Final Resolution

Budget Status (Other/External Sources):

FISCAL NOTE: Tax Levy Funding of $80,000 to fund a full-time project staff position. See Attachment A for the Full RCPP proposal and Attachment B for the RCPP Conservationist Project Position description. The estimated funding use is in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program Schedule Below.

MIS IMPACT: The additional staff will require the purchase of additional computer hardware and software to be supported by the MIS department. Upfront costs are estimated to be approximately $2,500.00 with ongoing costs for license maintenance estimated to be approximately $1,250.00 annually.

Regional Conservation Partnership Program Schedule
		Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
	Total	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Revenues
Existing LWRM grant	75,000	15,000	15,000	15,000	15,000	15,000
*New USDA RCPP funding	800,000	160,000	160,000	160,000	160,000	160,000
Existing Tax Levy for Staff	225,000	45,000	45,000	45,000	45,000	45,000
Existing Tax Levy County Cost share	100,000	20,000	20,000	20,000	20,000	20,000
New Tax Levy	400,000	80,000	80,000	80,000	80,000	80,000

TOTAL REVENUES	1,600,000	320,000	320,000	320,000	320,000	320,000


Expenses
New Staff	400,000	80,000	80,000	80,000	80,000	80,000
Existing Staff Reallocated	225,000	45,000	45,000	45,000	45,000	45,000
*Conservation Practice Installation	975,000	195,000	195,000	195,000	195,000	195,000

TOTAL EXPENSES	1,600,000	320,000	320,000	320,000	320,000	320,000

* USDA-NRCS RCPP funding is provided directly to the landowners for installation of conservation practices.

Resolution Body

WHEREAS, the Sauk County Land and Water Resource Management Plan goals recognize the need to protect and improve water quality and quantity, protect productivity and viability of agricultural lands, and provide and coordinate educational programming promoting natural resource protection and sustainable living issues; and

WHEREAS, the Sauk County Land and Water Resource Management Plan implementation strategy includes providing one-on-one educational and technical assistance to landowners; providing information and consultation regarding sustainable practices, materials and operations to citizens, businesses, and communities; and monitoring and evaluating plan implementation and progress; and

WHEREAS, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is beginning a new five-year funding source titled the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) which pools $1.2 Billion for NRCS priority conservation projects mainly focusing on cropland, barnyards, and pasture lands; and

WHEREAS, the RCPP is created to require a one-to-one dollar match for the entire five-year project; and

WHEREAS, the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Committee unanimously approved a motion on August 26, 2014 requesting consideration of the Personnel and Finance Committees to create the position for this program, and to include an additional $80,000 in the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department 2015-2019 budget.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors, met in regular session, that the Director of the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department is authorized to act on its behalf as follows:

Sign the Agreement for the RCPP with USDA-NRCS after the announcement of the selected full proposals on November 14, 2014; and
Create the RCPP Conservationist Project Position charged with managing and completing the tasks identified in the funding proposal for projects located within the Baraboo River watershed of Sauk County.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, to add $80,000 to the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department budget for the 2015-2019 budget years.

For consideration by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors on October 21, 2014.

Respectfully submitted,

Requested Board Review Date:

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Committee Review 1:

Pending

Committee Review 1 Date:

Conservation, Planning, and Zoning (CPZ) Committee -- Special Meeting

Committee Review 2:

Pending

Committee Review 2 Date:

Joint Finance and Personnel Committee

Committee Review 3:

Pending

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