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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 09-02-08 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE September 2, 2008 —10:40 a.m. Agricultural Service & Education Center 1960 8 th Avenue, Baldwin, WI CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING — October 7, 2008 LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Agency reports FSA NRCS DNR RC &D West Central Area NEW BUSINESS: Director's report Vouchers Bear Damage agreement 2009 — APHIS Sienna Corp — Sunset Landing OLD BUSINESS: 2008 Strategic Initiatives 2009 budget /COLP (Capital Outlay Plan) Letter — County Aids project — 2009 Staff reports PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS: Director's report Bills /vouchers Pine Lake Park — upper parking lot - update Facility expenditures — authorization - Homestead Parklands - Glen Hills Ag Center — energy cost/Art Tobin OLD BUSINESS: 2008 Strategic Initiatives 2009 budget/COLP (Capital Outlay Plan) ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE ADJOURN SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise DATE: August 21, 2008; amended August 26, 2008 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS (Items may be taken in different order) *Additions /Changes /Corrections UNOFFICIAL ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI September 2, 2008 Members Present: Linda Luckey, Buzz Marzolf, Bill Peavey, Dan Raebel, Gene Ruetz Members Absent: Ken Graf Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise, Administrative Assistant - Arlene Lier Others Present: Mike Reiter - Sportsmen's Alliance Ruetz called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m. Action on Previous Minutes: Motion by Peavey, seconded by Marzolf, to approve the August 5, 2008 meeting minutes. Carried. Adoption of Agenda: Motion by Ruetz, seconded by Raebel, to adopt the agenda. Carried. Date of next meeting: October 7, 2008 FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA) No report. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) Steve Pernsteiner- District Conservationist reported: • NRCS is currently busy processing payments for 2008 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). • The new Farm Bill has appropriated a large increase in funding for EQIP in 2009 and future years. The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is funded for 2009 with a rule change that only agricultural producers are eligible. Enrollment for these programs should happen this fall. • The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is now the Conservation Stewardship Program and contains many changes. It appears the State will get an allotment of money for CSP and all agricultural producers will be eligible to apply. This is different than previously where only producers in selected watersheds were eligible. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) No report. RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (RC &D) Ruetz reported that during their last meeting they toured the Bull Frog Fish Farm, Dunn County, southeast of Downsville. The financial situation has improved with the funding from the Driftless Area Initiative. The grazing program is being promoted. One employee (grazer) has resigned and there are some new employees. WEST CENTRAL AREA Heise reported that there was a meeting on August 20. The president (Al Carothers) of our West Central Area Association is now the state association president. The fall business meeting and speaking contest will be held on Thursday, October 23, at Eau Claire. The speech contest winners give their speeches after the banquet. LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT NEW Bi7SINESS Director's report Heise reported: • Town of Emerald — private drinking water issues — the planning commission had a meeting with some of the concerned citizens which provoked the town to encourage us to have an informational session. We are working with the UW -River Falls and DNR people in hydrogeology. The town of Emerald has some unique geology and karst features (sink holes). The DNR has a well compensation program and we are hoping that they could designate a special project area to help some landowners that have contamination in their water to drill a new well. • TMDL — Willow River — Those meetings are continuing to take place. We are planning to meet on Monday, September 29, with landowners rather than many agency folks. • Land & Water Resource Management Plan — The technical part of the plan is nearly completed. Our next (Citizens Advisory) meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. Our goal is to present changes that the technical committee had proposed. Goals and the mission have not changed, but some activities have been rearranged /changed. We need help from citizens on whether we are on the right track and are the priorities needed in St. Croix County. • Venison Program — The 2008 program is on a holding pattern due to the issue of lead found in the ground venison. • Meeting was held on Friday, August 29, regarding farmland at the county farm (Health & Human Services). The lease is possibly being migrated from Health & Human Services to the LWCC to have more of a formal say on how the crop land is managed in the future. Annual revenue is about $40,000. Revenue may still remain with Health and Human Services, or general fund? • Working Lands Initiative — Heise is one of the names that West Wisconsin Land Trust suggested to attend the tour to the Eastern states. Heise informed the committee that he is not on the fall list, but there may be another tour next spring. Vouchers Reviewed vouchers. Peavey made motion, seconded by Raebel, to approve Chair Ruetz's signature on the September LWCD voucher list (total $17,201.09). Carried. Bear Damage agreement 2009 — APHIS Heise presented a Cooperative Service Agreement between St. Croix County and USDA - APHIS. It is a one -year agreement and the $500.00 cost is reimbursable (100 %) from WI DNR. Raebel made motion, seconded by Peavey, to approve Chair Ruetz's signature on the agreement with USDA - APHIS. Carried. Sienna Corp — Sunset Landing Heise updated committee on the recent meeting between WI -DNR, County staff and the Town of St. Joe regarding litigation proceedings. This development project was proposed 3 -4 years ago along the St. Croix River. Board of Adjustment put several conditions on it. Concerns are steep slopes, sensitive natural area, potential erosion, traffic and scenic visibility from the St. Croix River. Developers applied for a Chapter 30 permit which was denied by DNR. Sienna Corp took the WDNR to court. The judge told both parties to evaluate and exhaust all options. A government agency could apply for a Chapter 30 permit (less restrictions on grading and filling, as long as they can see this as a benefit to the public) and install a road. The meeting was held to present DNR's case and share what Sienna is going to present to the County or Town. OLD BUSINESS Letter — County Aids proiect - 2009 Mike Reiter of the Sportsmen's Alliance requested LWCC to reconsider the decision made last month to deny the Hatfield Lake Canoe /Boat Access as the 2009 County Aids project ($4,000 - $2,000 from county and $2,000 from WI- DNR). He reported on the need for building an access on Hatfield Lake in New Richmond. The project would greatly enhance the public's ability to access the lake, not just city residents, but county residents in general. The City of New Richmond has a state grant to develop the land on the west side of the Hatfield Lake but it does not include access to the lake. Heise stated that the county aids grant would be a 50150 match with other funds. The county normally sponsors the grant through the Sportsmen's Alliance. Purpose of the grant is to be used throughout the county for any type of habitat work, fishing or hunting type activities — parking lot, boat landing, etc. The money has to be spread throughout the county. Our goal is to provide hunting and fishing opportunities. $2,000 is in the budget (no project specified) and the grant application is due October 1. As stated last month, Raebel is opposed to funding a city project. Luckey also expressed her feeling that Hatfield is a city park and it is not a proper use of county funds. Reiter confirmed that Hatfield Park is considered to be a regional park rather than a city park. Ruetz stated that Hatfield Lake is used by many county residents along with people from Minnesota. Heise said the project could cost $4,000 48,000. The other $4,000 could come from the Sportsmen's Alliance and/or the City of New Richmond. We will not have a firm cost until we get a commitment to move forward. Luckey made motion, seconded by Marzolf, to approve Hatfield Lake Canoe/Boat Access as the 2009 County Aids project with equal shares not to exceed $2,000 (equal partners are Wl -DNR, County, Sportsmen's Alliance, and City of New Richmond). The access should be open in perpetuity to all residents of St. Croix County and the general public. It should not be construed that this funding is just for the New Richmond Park but also as access to waters of the state. Motion carried. 2009 — Budget /COLP Heise handed out the 2009 budget spreadsheet which was modified since the August 2nd budget review meeting. The total proposed expenses changed by $3,000 due to the downstairs bathroom (Ag Center) expense being moved to the Building Services budget. Heise and Peavey will meet with the Finance Committee on September 4 to present the proposed budgets. Heise offered to arrange a tour of the county parks /other county properties this fall. LWCC discussed and decided to plan a tour in spring rather than this fall. Committee took a break 1:00 -1:10 p.m. PARKS DEPARTMENT Members Present: Linda Luckey, Buzz Marzolf, Bill Peavey, Don Raebel, Gene Ruetz Members Absent: None Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise, Operations Manager -Dave Larson, Administrative Assistant - Arlene Lier Others Present: None NEW BUSINESS Director's Report • YMCA Swim event — August 16' — The event at Homestead Park went well with 80 -100 people swimming from 1 -2 miles. • Jessica Herrman has been hired and began September 1 as the Site Manager at Homestead Parklands. • Park Improvement grant — The 2008 money is being taken out of the budget and the grant (already signed) is moving forward. This reduces the 2009 budget which will be presented to Finance Committee on September 4. Vouchers The September bills list for Parks was presented. Motion by Peavey, seconded by Raebel, to approve Chair Ruetz's signature on the voucher list (total $8,693.47). Carried. Pine Lake Park- upper parking lot Larson informed the committee that Xcel Energy responded on August 81h regarding the auxiliary parking lot at Pine Lake Park. Xcel emailed a proposal for county consideration. County staff from Parks, Corp Counsel and Risk Management reviewed Xcel's proposal and drafted a counter offer which was sent to Xcel Energy. Discussion. Committee will be kept informed with progress of negotiations. Facility expenditures — authorization Heise requested authorization for purchasing items within the parks that need replacement: • Glen Hills Park — Replacement of the hot water heaters for the shower units that are nearly 30 years old. Maintenance has become very costly. Staff recommended tankless "on demand" hot water heaters which will save energy in the long term. Estimated cost is $4,500 (4 units) and we would use the balance in the Parks Outlay budget of $8,400. • Homestead Parklands — Replacement of the old portable satellite toilet located at the maintenance building for staff use. The $2,500 cost would come from the savings of not having a site manager for the last three months. Raebel made motion, seconded by Peavey, to approve the purchases at both parks. Carried. A2 Center — energy cost /Art Tobin Art Tobin (Building Services Manager) was unable to attend the meeting. Heise explained that Tobin was going to put numbers together for potential energy -cost savings on all county government buildings if the staff would work four 10 -hour days versus five 8 -hour days each week. 2009 budget /COLP (Capital Outlay Plan) Heise handed out the 2009 budget spreadsheet and stated that the difference in numbers falls under the Bass Lake boat landing where we have a tax levy increase of $3,000 vs. previous budget figures. LCC manuals were prepared and given to members (Luckey, Peavey and Raebel). Ruetz and Marzolf received their manuals when they attended the LCC training workshop in June. Chair Ruetz adjourned meeting at 1:53 p.m. Buzz Marzolf Secretary Arlene Lier Recording Secretary