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Home My WebLink About02-04-97 Land & Water Conservation - Resource & Ed CommitteeTO: Robert Boche, Chairman St. Croix County Board F'RO14: Art Jensen, Chairmann CommITTEE TITLE; Land Conservation/Resource DATE: February 4, 1997 TIME: LOCATION*# Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TQ ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES & Education Committee iJ�F'INISHED BUSINESS 4 $ems: DNR NRCS FSA RC&D West Central Area Education Activities Farmland Preservation Compliance Environmental Stewardship Priority Watershed Projects Kinnickinnic South Fork of Hay River St. Croix Lakes Cluster Set schedule for Watershed Plan approval} Glen Hills Watershed - Flood Plain Study Wildlife Damage Program Baldwin Ag Building Issue Woodville Recreational Trail NEW BUSINESS: Farmland Preservation Applications Subdivision Review - 11:00 a.m. Vouchers ,ANNOUNCNTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITE?�S FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this orde=) 5UEMI'1'TED BY: Charles Christenson DATE: January 21, 1997 Amended January 30, 1997 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES V. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: FROM: Robert Boche, Chairman St. Croix County Board Art Jensen, COMMITTEE TITLE: Chairman Land Conservation/Resource & Education Committee DATE: February 4, 1997 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING. ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Reports: DNR NRCS FSA RC&D West Central Area Education Activities Farmland Preservation Compliance Environmental Stewardship Priority Watershed Projects Kinnickinnic South Fork of Hay River St. Croix Lakes Cluster Glen Hills Watershed - Flood. Plain Study Wildlife Damage Program Baldwin Ag Building Issue Woodville Recreational Trail NEW BUSINESS: Farmland Preservation Applications Subdivision Review - 11:00 a.m. Vouchers ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily SUBMITTED BY: Charles Christenson DATE: January 21, 1997 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE COUNTY CLERK * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES presented in this order) NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS Convened: 9:00 a.m. Adjourned: 11*50 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI February 4, 1997 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Jim Cody, Vernon Dull, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent: None Staff Present: County Conservationist -Charles Christenson, Technician -Bob Heise, Farmland Preservation Technician -David Sander, Lakes Cluster Project Manager -Pete Kling, Kinnickinnic Project Manager -Tim Popple, Secretary -Arlene Lier Others Present: Don Siler-NRCS, Dick Gade-FSA, Pat Collins-DNR, Kim Reaman-UW-EXT, Roger Humphrey-ACA Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Dull made motion to adopt agenda. Bethke seconded. Carried. Berenschot made motion to approve January 7, 1997 meeting minutes. Cody seconded. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, 1997 at 9:00 a.m. DNR Pat Collins (Hydrogeologist) reported: Wildlife Management - Bonus deer tags helped to bring the numbers up on deer kill. Fish Management - Baldwin Pine Lake has been closed since fall of 1995. Netting has been done to get rid of rough fish. The closing has allowed game fish population to increase. Lake will be open May 3. Somerset Pine ,and Squaw may have bottomed out on oxygen levels.. Fall and winter runoff events after ground had frozen caused problems. DNR is reorganizing and the West Central Region (which includes Baldwin) has gained 6 counties from before. Each region has grouped personnel into lands, water, air, and waste sections. NRCS Siler handed out and discussed January activity reports. Explained the new Environmental Quality Incentives Program which replaces the Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP). Staff attended ETN which gave information on the new program. There will be competition for dollars. Good supporting data is needed for better chance to get cost share in county. There will be 5 and 10 year contracts so we are planning numerous projects. 50% is earmarked for livestock operation. Need a volunteer (or recommendation) from LCC and FSA committee along with agency people from DNR, Fish & Wildlife, LCD, University Extension to identify where priorities will be. Allocated 6 million (nationally) for program in 1997 and 200 million in 1998. Need to formulate core group and needs. Bethke was appointed to group. Discussion on problems with offensive odors created by farming operations. Question is, when does it become a problem? Heise stated that permits (WDPS) are required for operations over 1,000 animal units. Need nutrient management plan when affluent discharges into waters. FSA Ag building issue - Gade gave update on building project. Lease has been awarded to Wayne Peters, Eau Claire, contingent on county approval for LCD and UWEX becoming part of the new Ag Service Center. With this award, the Federal agencies are offering to the LCD and UWEX: LAN -VAN Project which will provide voice and data communications between agencies. This proposal is available through 1997 only. In addition, $4,500 offered to assist in moving cost. This offer was made because the federal agencies feel strongly that the LCD and UWEX remain a part of the Ag Center to provide one -stop assistance to our customers. Recently Gade was contacted by John Krizek, County Administrative Coordinator, who indicated that the County may be interested in building an Agricultural Center for federal and county agencies, and renting space to the federal agencies. However Gade indicated that the offer was too late and cannot be considered by the federal agencies since the lease had already been awarded. In addition, the FY 1998 federal budget that will be submitted to Congress by President Clinton, does not allow adequate funding to support the Farm Service Agency at its current staffing levels. As a result, office closures and employee reductions are imminent. Therefore a moratorium is now in effect on the new construction of service centers. However, since Gade awarded a lease before the moratorium, he can proceed through completion of the project. If the County Board of Supervisors do not approve the project to allow the LCD and UWEX to be part of the Ag Service Center, he is not able to resolicit for new space while the moratorium is in effect and our plans are dead. This could put the federal agencies in a position where we would be very vulnerable to even possible office closures in St. Croix County. The Washington level of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are looking at FSA offices that are within 25 miles of each other to consider an elimination of one office. The Ag Center in Baldwin and the FSA office in Ellsworth are within 25 miles. The moratorium will be lifted only when it has been determined: (1) which offices will be closed, (2) where employees will be reduced and (3) how long it will take to accomplish the goals of the moratorium. Kim Reaman (County 4-H & Youth Agent) presented cost (capital, annual) figures for both relocation and staying at present ag building. Meeting with Finance Committee scheduled for February 5. Gade, Reaman, Sander, and Jensen will be attending. Motion by Berenschot that LCC supports LCD and UWEX offices moving with federal agencies. Cody seconded. Carried. Berenschot reported on last meeting held in Eau Claire. Discussed goals and action plans for 1997. Develop resources to fill the gap where ag is slipping, an example being David Crockett (Town of Springfield) who raises tomatoes hydroponically. Christianson stated that he received memo from Ed Weber (RC&D Director) regarding EQIP program. LCC supports philosophy but need more information. WEST CENTRAL AREA No meeting, therefore no report. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Kling reported on Rural Leadership Program session which he attended in January. Discussion area included state funding including schools, voucher system, etc. Christenson reported that he participated in Tom Wells' freshman class at New Richmond High School. Also participated in a senior class discussion on the school's Environmental Ed Center. Students are involved in future planning and are to find potential people who can assist them. FARMLAND PRESERVATION Sander reported that zoning certificates are being issued as the real estate tax statements come in. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Raymond reported that interviews will be conducted for Zoning Administrator approximately February 11-14. St. Croix River Cutting - Heise and Tom Nelson are getting together on reforestation. Very detailed plan to be written up. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Kinnickinnic - Popple reported: Steering committee met on January 9. New members were introduced, Berenschot being one of them. Mission statement was created in December and finalized in January - "To Preserve and Enhance the Cold Water Kinnickinnic Watershed Ecosystem". February meeting will include group structure - election of chair, vice chair, and secretary. Ron Struss will be attending the meeting. Possibility of EPA grant for River Fa11s retention basin. Nutrient management plan is being finalized. Checking into legality of becoming a non-profit organization. South Fork of Hay River - Christenson reported: He talked to Jim Forester, County Conservationist -Dunn County - final stages of developing plan to be submitted to DNR. They are trying to hold the line on some type of incentive program, which Project Manager Mike Kinney presented to us a few months ago. An alternative plan will be prepared which will follow conventional plan used in other watershed projects. The second plan would definitely meet DNR and state statutes. We may have to live with conventional type practices (BMP). Lakes Cluster Project - Kling reported: Good attendance at January advisory board meeting. Have a very aggressive time line for plan - public review meeting scheduled for March 10 at the Cashman Conference Center, WITC-New Richmond. Plan is scheduled to go to state Land & Water Conservation Board for approval in April. GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Flood Plain Study - Christenson: Lubich (NRCS) is working on contract for obtaining low flight (leaf off) photography county -wide. County's share of cost will be $7,500 (advance from watershed accounts) and NRCS share will be $18,000. Heise stated that public hearing on flood plain zoning was cancelled and re -scheduled for March 13 at the Glenwood City Community Center. WILDLIFE DAMAGE PROGRAM Sander reported: There are 3 individual claims - Villman Farm (deer damage to corn field - $550.00), Chuck Weyer (deer damage - $312.00), and Glen Weise nursery - $5,000.00 maximum). Dull made motion to approve Chairman's signature for payment on these 3 claims. Seconded by Berenschot. Carried. FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS No applications were presented. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Heise presented information on subdivisions: Gracie Estates Addition Town of Somerset, Sec. 33) - Roger Humphrey, engineer representing A.C.A., was also present and submitted some changes to the original plat. The committee requested that Heise review the changes and forward those comments, by letter, to the Zoning Office. Bethke made motion to approve with recommended conditions. Berenschot seconded. Carried. Prairie Flats Subdivision (Town of Star Prairie, Sec. 13) - Roger Humphrey, engineer representing A.C.A., was also present. Heise listed 3 to 4 conditions that he recommended be resolved. Berenschot made motion to approve with recommended conditions. Cody seconded. Carried. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Bethke made motion to approve vouchers as presented. Berenschot seconded. Carried. MISCELLANEOUS Christenson presented the final agreement with Regional Planning for Kinni project (Twin Lakes Study). Spot check report: Three (Hill, Gausman, and Donahue) were checked and done according to specs. Letter from DATCP reminding us that there is cost share available for shoreline management practices. Requires an Agricultural Shoreline Management ordinance. With proposed zoning ordinance change, this is good timing to get proper wording in place. Will possibly fit into watershed project for source of funding. Raymond made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:50 a.m. seconded. Carried. Vernon Dull Secretary By Arlene Lier Berenschot