Sauk County Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee Meeting
September 29, 2010
Committee Members Present: Lehman, Ashford, Gaalswyk, Nobs and Halfen.
Others Present: Mark Steward, Brian Simmert, Mary White, Kelly Felton, Steve Pate, Joe Fleischman, Brent Bailey, Steve Pate, Pat Dederich, and Larry Mundth.
In Chair Lehman's absence, Vice Chair Ashford called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Compliance with open meetings law was certified.
Motion by Halfen, seconded by Nobs to adopt the agenda. Motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Halfen to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2010 committee meeting. Motion carried 4-0.
Chair Lehman joined the meeting at this time.
Public Comment: None
Communications: Mark Steward presented a census certificate awarded to the County. He reported that he had received a report on the economics of small dam removal. He also presented copies of an e-mail from Richard Edwards, with DNR, stating he thought Planning and Zoning had the best maintenance program tracking system in the State. The system had been developed by the County's MIS department. He reported on a report by CSWAB regarding explosives found in rural Merrimac. Dale Burgess received a letter from the DNR regarding his septic waste disposal process. More dumping sites were discussed. Meeting dates with DATCP on the working lands initiative and rewriting of the County's zoning ordinance were reviewed. Monday the 18th of October in Madison seemed best for the Committee members that planned to attend.
Gaalswyk reported that he had been contacted by Nelson Hardwoods regarding logging on the Waldinger property. There is a conservation easement on this property. Steward stated that they were days away from giving permission to start provided they followed a management plan.
Kelly Felton appeared for the Mapping Department along with Joe Fleischman. The monthly departmental report was given. She updated the Committee on projects and issues. The department has received a lot of data requests. She reported that the land council group has been organized and will be meeting in the next several months. The land records modernization plan was discussed which was due to DOA by November 15th to DOA.
Joe Fleischman appeared and gave a report on wetland data. He stated that the DNR is on a 20 year review cycle. Infrared mapping was discussed. The Committee reviewed the maps showing past and present wetlands.
The Mapping Department had no vouchers.
Brent Bailey, Register of Deeds, appeared with his monthly report. Comparison of 2010 to 2009 documents and fees were reviewed. Number of recorded documents is down. Timeshares and condo mortgages were discussed. Bailey submitted his vouchers for review. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Halfen to approve the vouchers in the amount of $5,055.16. Motion carried, 5-0.
Pat Dederich, County Surveyor, appeared next. He presented his vouchers for review. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Gaalswyk to approve the vouchers in the amount of $1,700.00. Motion carried, 5-0. He briefly explained the remonumentation bounty program. The 2011 budget was reviewed. Approximately 2/3 of the corners in the County are done. Discussion followed on getting vertical measurements when obtaining GPS points. He is proposing a 6% increase in the tax levy. The Committee asked why he just doesn't stop approving monuments when the money is gone. Funding of the bounty program out of the Land Records Modernization Fund was discussed. The land records group or council would need to review the process. A 6% increase would be questioned by the County Board. Halfen made the recommendation to not approve the increase and have the Land Records Council come up with some funding. The Committee agreed.
Planning and zoning vouchers were then reviewed. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Ashford to approve vouchers in the amount of $1,505.26. Motion carried, 5-0.
Discussion followed on a proposed ATC power line. Local comprehensive plans and the Baraboo Range Program addresses power line easements. Trying to keep the line on an easement and not cut through the forest and fragment the Range any more was discussed. Power companies don't usually want to deal with individual property owners. Fleischman distributed a transmission line project map. They may follow the I 90/94 corridor.
Discussion and possible action followed on a conditional use permit to create a Planned Unit Development cluster of 2 lots averaging 1.73 acres for each lot and a Farm Consolidation Lot of 1.81 acres all in S30, T12N, R4E, Town of Reedsburg, Sauk County, for Lawrence Mundth in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 7.12 of the Sauk County Code of Ordinances. Simmert appeared and explained the request and gave background information. Conditional use permit standards were read and answered to the affirmative. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Halfen to approve the request. Motion carried, 5-0.
Discussion and possible action followed on a conditional use permit to create a farm consolidation Lot of 1.41 acres in S29, T12N, R4E, Town of Reedsburg, Sauk County, for Lawrence Mundth in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 7.12 of the Sauk County Code of Ordinances. Again, Simmert gave the background and reasons for the request. There is a farm structure on the parcel, but no residence and, therefore, no farm to consolidate. The Committee has supported conservation easements in the past and a PUD could be another way to handle this request. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Gaalswyk to deny the request. Another route for the owner to take would be to create a conservation easement or rezone it. Motion carried, 5-0. The owner was encouraged to go with a conservation easement.
Steve Sorenson then appeared to discuss historic signs. The Town of Dellona is concerned about signs on Highway H and has asked the office to enforcement the sign ordinance. Owners were notified that the signs were OK, but if they were destroyed they would need a permit and setbacks were to be followed. The Corporation Counsel advised the office that if the signs were created after 1969 the department could enforcement the ordinance. An inventory that was done in 1996 covers the eastern part of the County. Sorenson stated that this could be taken on as a winter project, because the department can't be selective. The entire County would need to be covered. The department would need to determine the age of the signs. It was suggested that an ordinance could be written stating if and when maintenance is necessary, a permit is required.
Next meeting scheduled for October 14, 2010.
Motion by Nobs, seconded by Halfen to adjourn. Motion carried, 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Joel Gaalswyk, Secretary
Notes by Mary White