Sauk County Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee Meeting

March 30, 2010

Committee Members Present: Ashford, Gaalswyk, Netzinger, Lehman and Blakeslee.

Others Present: Mark Steward, Brian Simmert, Mary White, Steve Pate, Brent Bailey, County Board members and interested citizens.

Chairman Lehman called the meeting to order at 5:00 and compliance with open meetings law was certified.

The Chairman made the following changes to the agenda. 9.d and 9.f moved up to 9.a and 9.e to be deleted. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Gaalswyk to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried, 5-0.

Motion by Blakeslee, seconded by Gaalswyk to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2010 Committee meeting. Motion carried, 5-0.

Public Comment: None

Communications: Gaalswyk stated there was an article in the Home News regarding the Birkemeier sawmill.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Chair Lehman called the public hearing to order. Members of the Committee and staff were introduced and the order of the hearing was explained.

The first item was a petition to rezone certain lands in the Town of Excelsior, County of Sauk, Wisconsin, from a Resource Conservancy 5 to an Agricultural Zoning District. Lands are owned by Myrna Armstrong c/o Glen and Karen Stieve.

Brian Simmert, Planner, appeared, gave the background and history of the request, and the recommendation of approval. He explained that the property was currently being rented. This change was requested because the property was being sold. Ashford asked if this couldn't be a PUD and Simmert indicated that the Town of Excelsior wasn't in that program. Replacement of the septic system was discussed.

Mr. Glen Stieve, agent for the owner, appeared. The alternative would be to abandon the property and they didn't want to do that because it would become an eyesore. The present owners wished to stay there. The current owner lives out of state.

Karen Stieve appeared in favor. Repeated the reasons they would like it rezoned. Current owner wished to sell the property.

Junior Gurgel, representing the Town of Excelsior, appeared in favor. The Town of Excelsior had approved the request.

Allegra Zick appeared in favor. She went into the history of the school and property.

Seeing no one else wished to speak the public portion of the hearing was closed.

Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Blakeslee to approve the rezoning request. Motion carried, 5-0.

The next item for public hearing was a petition to rezone certain lands in the Town of Spring Green, County of Sauk, Wisconsin, from a Resource Conservancy 35 to an Agricultural Zoning District. Lands are owned by Dale & Judith Clark.

The property owners were not in attendance.

Dave Williams, representing Dave and Carol Jefferson, appeared in favor. He owns property on Pearl Road. He was in favor of reducing the water level.

Gerald Bindl appeared in favor. He owns property west of the proposed area. He was also in favor because of the flooding. Making this land lower would increase the flood capacity. Judy asked if the land is still under water - he stated, no. Reclamation of the property was discussed. The reclamation would raise the level of the ground. Flooding was discussed further. Blakeslee stated the property would be reclaimed at a lower elevation. Static elevation of the ground water was discussed. Blakeslee doesn't see this as a solution. No reclamation plan has been submitted and wouldn't be until this request goes to the Board of Adjustment.

Joe Bauer appeared in opposition. He stated that if they mined up to the power line, it would cause the water to run right through his shop.

Kevin Lins appeared as interest may appear. He had no problems with the mineral extraction, but was concerned about the flood control.

Simmert pointed out some timing issues. The property owner wanted this hearing scheduled as soon as possible. They originally thought the hearing would be at a day meeting. There would be a problem rescheduling the hearing. He would have been in attendance at a day meeting, but would substitute an agent for the night meeting.

Seeing no one else wished to speak the public portion of the hearing was closed at 5:55 P.M.

Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Blakeslee to postpone any decision until more information was supplied. Lehman asked if they were planning to remove sand on all parcels. Simmert responded one or two at a time. Ashford stated there had been enough questions raised, more information was needed. Lehman requested that someone from Jewell Associates be at the next meeting. Motion carried, 5-0.

The Public Hearing was closed and Committee reconvened in regular session.

The next item for discussion was consideration of programs and priorities of the Mapping Department. Steve Pate appeared and gave the Committee and attending Board members an overview of the Mapping Department. Staffing was discussed and the Committee was notified that the new GIS position had been filled and he was on the job. Part of the funding for that position came from the Planning Department. Duplication between departments was discussed. Merging of several department was briefly reviewed. Marty Krueger noted that merging was not well received. Staff learning how to use the new technology was discussed. Pate discussed restructuring of the department. Getting digital or point copies rather than just paper copies of maps and surveys was discussed. The Committee discussed consistency in surveying/mapping formats. It should be up to the surveyor or property owner to supply useable information to the County. These items would need to be discussed further.

Register of Deeds, Brent Bailey, then appeared. He stated the Register of Deeds has two programs, namely recording real estate documents and maintaining vital records. Both are required by statutes. Staffing was reviewed. The department isn't as busy as it was three or four years ago. Tax levy funding wasn't used by the department. The budget was briefly discussed. He reported on the scanning program the department has been working on.

The Needham PUD request will be handled at the next meeting because it was omitted on the agenda.

The James and Kathleen Balfanz PUD cluster lot was discussed. Simmert appeared and gave the staff report and background information on the request. The conditional use permit standards were read and answered in the affirmative. Additional standards were also answered in the affirmative. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Blakeslee to approve the conditional use permit. Motion carried, 5-0.

The Robert Yanke PUD was then discussed. Simmert gave the staff report and stated that the 70 acres shown in the staff report should have been 170 acres. Item 6 under conditions should be deleted. Simmert stated that the easement couldn't be recorded until DNR consented. The Town of Franklin has not approved of it yet. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Netzinger to postpone the request until the Town of Franklin has acted on it. Motion carried, 5-0.

Planning and Zoning vouchers were reviewed. Motion by Blakeslee, seconded by Ashford to approve the vouchers in the amount of $1,012.41. Motion carried, 5-0.

Mark Steward appeared and gave a brief overview of department programs. Most are mandated. The Board of Adjustment has a separate budget. Wisconsin fund program was reviewed, along with other individual programs. Gaalswyk stressed that signs and sign permits were part of department duties. More information on the Badger program was requested. Staff handles the agendas, minutes and correspondence. The department is the keeper of records for the commission. The Baraboo Range program was briefly discussed. The department monitors the land in the program.

Lester Wiese requested that the department notify Board Supervisors when a PUD request falls within their supervisory district.

Discussion on a request to carry forward money into 2010 was discussed. Carry forwards included money for the Natural Beauty Council, Badger Army Ammunition Plant, Comprehensive Planning and the County appropriation for purchase of development rights. The programs and dollar amounts were reviewed. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Blakeslee to approve the carry forward request and forward on to Finance and County Board for approval, stating that the comprehensive planning dollars are to be used for the ongoing implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.. Motion carried, 5-0.

Alene Kleczek, Acting Corporation Counsel, appeared regarding the Tri-county Airport. The County owns all the land, but it is split up in three separate parcels. A complete survey has never been done on it. Chapter 41 of the County Codes covers the airport and requires permits be issued for structures. All buildings must meet setbacks. The Committee needs to request the County Surveyor to survey the property and combine it in one parcel. Pat Dederich, County Surveyor, has agreed to do so. He will be returning to Sauk County on April 5, April 15 is the next airport meeting. On May 6 the township could approve the survey. Discussion followed on the length of time it would take to complete the survey. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Netzinger to have the County Surveyor do the survey which should be done by April 13, 2010. Payment was discussed. The County Surveyor already gets a salary. Motion carried, 5-0.

Goette property division should be added to the agenda for the next meeting along with the survey of the airport.

Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded Netzinger to adjourn. Motion carried, 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Joel Gaalswyk, Secretary

Notes by mary white.