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Home My WebLink About03-04-97 Land & Water Conservation - Resource & Ed CommitteeST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Robert Boche, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Art Jensen, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Land Conservation/Resource & Education Committee DATE: March 4, 1997 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Highway Department Office, CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES Hammond UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Reports: DNR NRCS FSA RC&D West Central Area Education Activities Farmland Preservation Environmental Stewardship Priority Watershed Projects Kinnickinnic South Fork of Hay River me St. Croix Lakes Cluster Glen Hills Watershed me 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: February n, 1997 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE COUNTY CLERK * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES presented in this order) NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS A Convened: 9:00 a.m. Adjourned: 110.45 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Highway Department Office, Hammond, WI March 4, 1997 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Jim Cody, Vernon Dull, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Staff Present: County Conservationist -Charles Christenson, Farmland Preservation Technician -David Sander, Lakes Cluster Project Manager - Pete Kling, Secretary -Arlene Lier Others Present: Dick Gade-FSA, Harvey Halvorsen-DNR, Kim Reaman-UW- EXT, Frank Ivy Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Bethke made motion to adopt agenda. Dull made motion to approve February out. Berenschot seconded. Carried. Berenschot se�'onded. Carried. 4, 1997 meeting minutes as mailed Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 1997 at 9:00 a.m. DNR Harvey Halvorsen (Private. Lands Wildlife Biologist) reported: Forestry - (Kathy Nelson, Forester) The state is inviting businesses, laboratories and universities to apply for grants up to $100,000 each to look for new products or new ways of making them from wood. Wisconsin will be the first partner in the three -state Lakes States Wood Utilization Consortium to offer grants under the new Wood Utilization Program. Minnesota and Michigan still are working to set up their counterpart grant programs. The aim of the program is to boost the state's wood products industry by developing new manufacturing techniques and technology, and new products. It is documented that some of the region's wood resources are underused. The grants are aimed particularlyat projects that develop products from manufacturing by-products and wood residue, economically improve protection of the environment and improve use of timber resources, especially small diameter and low value stock. Wildlife Management - (Kris Belling, Wildlife Manager) Unit 21 deer population is 34 deer/square mile, goal is 25 deer/square mile. Unit 60B population is 23 and goal is 20. Unit 60M population is 20 and goal is 10. There is no good data base for Unit 60B or 60M. Unit 59B deer population is 20 deer/square mile and goal is 15 deer/square mOle. Fish Management - (Marty Engel, Fisheries Biologist) Early catch and release season is getting underway. It is a 3 year trial program using artificial lure. All trout streams have been opened for trout. Halvorsen reported that Mark Kubler (Manager, Willow River State Park) is now located at Baldwin. He will be supervising forestry and wildlife programs for counties of Pierce, Dunn and St. Croix. DNR Secretary George Meyer has directed staff to assist in the CRP enrollment. Kling questioned automatic flow control on dam at Willow River State Park. Does Hudson now have to install automatic gate controls at Mallalieu? NRCS Activity reports for February were handed out. Bethke asked for explanation of reason for landowners needing conservation planning and application. Revision is needed to meet conservation needs for federal program eligibility if seeding failed or want to plant more corn. Berenschot asked for explanation of agricultural wetlands: If you can till with conventional tillage, you can do it. Not allowed if you have to use backhoes, tiling machine, or dozer to reduce water level. FSA Gade reported that the Ag Credit staff is currently doing year-end analyses. Sign-up runs March 3-28. DNR and Fish & Wildlife are assisting MRCS. FSA will be doing their own part. Landowners have to call for appointments, which currently are scheduled every 15 minutes. There is concern about the amount of bid dollars involved (bidders receive a bid cap - depends on soil types and based on a point system). Most of the county is in a "priority area" which makes it more likely to get into program. Criteria includes location, soil types, and cover. Will promote conversion from sites with existing cover and re- establish a different cover such as prairie grasses. County had approximately 1,300 contracts and total of 45,000 acres. Looking at 36.4 million acres nationwide. Contracts expiring have been in program 10-12 years (maximum). Ag Building Issue -Discussed informational material prepared by Kim Reaman (County 4-H & Youth Agent). During meeting with Finance Committee Chair, 120-day escape clause was questioned. Two things are important: The five ag agencies would stay together and the location would serve our county best. Finance Director Loney has taken an objective view of the numbers. We are in a time crunch but were unable to meet with Finance in January. Information was presented at the February Finance Committee meeting and we have taken into account comments from the committee. Motion made and seconded to approve resolution supporting ag building proposal. Copy of award agreement to be given to Corp Counsel for their review before the March 17th Finance Committee meeting. RC&D Berenschot reported that no meeting was held. WEST CENTRAL AREA No meeting, therefore no report. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Sander reported that Conservation Camp is in planning stage. Christenson had contact from St. Croix Central School at Roberts. Will meet with 4th grade teacher and set up ground water activity. Kling reported information on Climb Theater activity (play "Totally Turtle") for K-3 grade. Looking for outside sources to support presentation of the play for 200-300 children. Possibly Watershed could make contribution. FARMLAND PRESERVATION Sander reported he continues to issue zoning certificates. Some landowners are looking at getting out of program for certain reasons. Asked for opinion of LCC on "Special exception" - Ag land going to Ag Residential. LCC should look at program as a whole. Do they want to preserve agriculture in the county? How should this be addressed.in the comprehensive plan process? He recently attended a training session on Farmland Preservation. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Raymond reported that a Zoning Administrator has been hired. Stated that he wants a legal opinion on NR118 versus Forestry laws. He is not satisfied with opinion on cutting trees along the St. Croix River. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Kinnickinnic - No report. South Fork of Hay River - Christenson reported: Plan is being completed. Project Manager Mike Kinney plans to attend the April 8th LCC meeting. Lakes Cluster Project - Kling reported: Planning process has taken about 1-1/2 years. Changes to the draft plan can be made up until March 12. Citizens' Advisory Committee made motion to approve the plan. There were no negative comments from farm groups. Public hearing is scheduled at 7:00 p.m., March 10, at WITC. Presented resolution on the Priority Watershed Plan for review. Chair Jensen will present the resolution to the County Board on March 18. Citizens' Advisory Committee representatives will attend and explain the plan. Berenschot made motion to approve the resolution. Cody seconded. Carried. GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Flood Plain Studv - No report. 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. WOODVILLE RECREATIONAL TRAIL Jensen reported that the Army Reserve will FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS No applications were presented. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Rocky Ridge Estates - Frank Ivy (engineer) attended meeting to review the plan. Revisions were made according to previous comments from Heise. Tabled approval. Special LCC meeting scheduled for March 21, 9:00 A.M., to review plans for Troy Village, Rocky Ridge Estates, and Homestead Estates. VOUCHERS , Reviewed vouchers. Berenschot made motion to approve vouchers as presented. Dull seconded. Carried. MISCELLANEOUS Discussed changing department and committee name to include the word WATER. Berenschot made motion to develop a resolution to change name to 1°Land & Water Conservation Committee". Raymond seconded. Carried. Christenson reported that a "thank you" card was received from Kari Heebink, Speaking Contest Award winner. The two Speaking Contest winners will be invited to present their speeches during the April County Board session rather than in March, as originally planned. Ron Roettger, St. Croix Sportsmen's Alliance, will report to County Board in March in place of the assigned LCD oral report. Bass Lake boat landing was roughed in last fall. Meeting held with Highway Department on February 26 to outline what work has to be done and who will do it. Berenschot made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:45 a.m. Raymond seconded. Carried. Vernon Dull Secretary By Arlene Lier