DATE: May 14, 2009
Meeting called to order by Chair Wiese at 9:03 a.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met. Present were Borleske, Kriegl, Posewitz, Puttkamer, and Wiese from the Committee; Livingston-Forester; Van Berkel and Pohle-LCD; Linda White from public. Zowin was absent.
Adopt agenda: Motion by Borleske/Puttkamer to adopt the amended agenda. Motion carried, all in favor.
Adopt minutes of previous meeting: Motion by Posewitz/Puttkamer to adopt the minutes of the regular LCC meeting on April 9. Motion carried, all in favor.
Public comment: None.
Communications:
A. Thursday Note(s)-May 7 Thursday Note was received at the Committee members' homes.
B. DNR Land Purchase Notification-Van Berkel reported a land purchase in the Baraboo Hills recreation area near Devil's Lake State Park.
C. Southern Area Meeting and Tour-The combined tour and meeting will be held on Friday, June 19, in Schullsburg. Motion by Borleske/Puttkamer to approve Wiese's attendance at the Southern Area Meeting and Tour on June 19. Motion carried, all in favor. If other members decide to attend after the itinerary is received, approval will be made at the June meeting.
D. 2009 Soil and Water Resource Management Grant Contract-Final contract for staffing and cost-share money, which had been delayed because of state budget, was received for the amounts previously discussed - $184,174-staffing, $61,394-LWRM bonding, $30,000-nutrient management. Wiese signed contract.
E. Notice from the Victim Witness section of the District Attorney's Office was received regarding disposition of the vehicle tire slashing incident. The LCD spent $1,400 on tire replacements. Restitution of $250 has been set. LCD can file a small claims action against the parents. Committee decided to have this as an agenda item in June and asked staff to gather more information before then.
F. Wiese received acknowledgment from Steve Hilgenberg regarding budget concerns. Van Berkel also received acknowledgment from Fred Clark and Ed Brooks. They all understand the concerns and offered to do what they can.
Legislative updates: Van Berkel received notification yesterday that the Joint Finance approved the Working Lands Initiative proposal.
Reports:
A. Land Conservation Department report-Van Berkel noted the array of efforts reported and questioned how we can continue to meet obligations while continuing to lose staff. He also discussed a chicken farm complaint and how it represents the issues that arise in response to growth in agricultural operations.
B. Natural Resources Conservation Service report-None.
C. Farm Service Agency report-None.
D. Foresters' report-Livingston noted that the state budget problems are affecting them. All state employees will need to take an involuntary eight-day furlough each year for the next two years and possible wage adjustments. He discussed the hiring freeze and how that it is affecting our area. Options for streamlining the forestry program are being discussed. A map of the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine area was provided to the LCC. More monitoring is being done for the Emerald Ash Borer. Gypsy Moth numbers have been going down. There are three sites being sprayed in this area. DNR tree sales planted about 130,000 trees this year. The number of trees being planted has been declining over the past few years. Staff planted 500 trees by hand with YEPS on Devil's Lake State Park property. They also machine planted 42,000 trees in former agricultural fields at the park. Timber markets remain depressed. Staff provided a program the other night at UW-Baraboo/Sauk County on timber harvesting on Managed Forest Law property to landowners. There will be funding for about four applications through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for mainly brush management. DNR also continues to fund forestry practices through WI Forest Landowner Grant Program (WFLGP) although the type of funded practices has been reduced. There are a couple turkey grant applications submitted for work on state lands.
E. Economic Development Committee report-None.
F. Mirror Lake District report-None.
G. Lake Virginia Management District report-No meeting.
H. Lake Redstone Management District report-Borleske reported that they met Tuesday night. There is concern about a sediment plume that happens after rain events by County Road F. Warren Frank will contact the LCD to request assistance on this issue. The Lake Redstone Management District is hiring a plane and will look at water quality during a normal day and then after a rain event to track sediment.
Annual report on Conservation Congress activities - Vertein: Vertein will attend the June LCC meeting.
Review and approval of vouchers: Voucher summaries were distributed to the Committee members. Motion by Borleske/Posewitz to approve bills in the amount of $41,232.88. Motion carried, all in favor.
Review of comments regarding Manure Management Ordinance and consider possible changes: Van Berkel met with White and also received comments from Corporation Counsel prior to the meeting. These recommendations were incorporated in to Draft #9, which was provided to the LCC for review. White noted she also discussed Draft #9 with Don Stevens and Ketty Clow. The ordinance and flow chart were reviewed.
Possible approval of Manure Management Ordinance for consideration by County Board: Van Berkel reviewed the proposed changes for committee. Motion by Borleske/Posewitz to approve the Manure Management Ordinance contingent on clarification from Corporation Counsel. Motion carried, all in favor. The ordinance would be introduced at June County Board and then voted on at the July County Board. White applauded the effort that went into this ordinance. Committee also commended White on all of her work that went into the ordinance.
Review of 2009 Goals and Objectives and consider adjustments due to reduced staff: The 2009 Labor Allocation Worksheet was distributed, and Van Berkel reviewed the reallocation of available staff time. For the 2009 year there has been a 1.25 FTE staff reduction in the department and a reduction of 2.25 FTE over the last two years.
Consider approval of additional application for teacher scholarship: Pohle presented an application from Gary Williams to receive a 2009 teacher scholarship. Motion by Borleske/Wiese to approve Gary Williams for a maximum of $250 to attend the Aldo Leopold Conference in June. Motion carried, all in favor.
Consider authorizing County Conservationist to select bid and award lease for 2009 cropping year at new Health Care Center property: There was an offer made to rent unused land at the new Health Care Center. In order to give everyone the opportunity to bid, Van Berkel placed an ad in the Baraboo News Republic with a deadline for replies on May 20. To allow for immediate use, the committee would have to give Van Berkel authority to approve the high bid and sign the lease. Motion by Borleske/Puttkamer to approve the County Conservationist awarding the lease for the 2009 crop year for the new HCC property. Motion carried, all in favor.
Motion to adjourn until June 4 at 9:00 a.m. by Borleske/Puttkamer at 11:40 a.m. Motion carried, all in favor. A tentative date of July 16 was also set.
Linda Borleske, Secretary