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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-02-97 Land & Water Conservation - Resource & Ed CommitteeST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: FROM: Robert Boche, Chairman St. Croix County Board Art Jensen, COMMITTEE TITLE: DATE: December 2, Chairman Land & Water Conservation/Resource & Education Committee 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 Environmental Stewardship Priority Watershed Projects Kinnickinnic South Fork of Hay River Pilot Project/Conservation - St. Croix Lakes Cluster Glen Hills Watershed - Flood Plain Study Wildlife Damage Program - Food Shelf Project Baldwin Ag Building Update EQIP Plan Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area UWLWCA Annual Conference NEW BUSYNESS: 1997 Conservation Awards Dinner Computer Equipment Order 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: November 18, 1997 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE COUNTY CLERK * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES Credit presented in this order) NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS Convened: 9:05 a.m. Adjourned: 11:35 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI December 2, 1997 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Jim Cody, Vern Dull, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent: None Staff Present: County Conservationist -Charles Christenson, Technician -Bob Heise, Lakes Cluster Project Manager -Pete Kling, South Fork/Kinnickinnic Project Technician -Kyle Kulow, Secretary -Arlene Lier Others Present: Jay Custer-NRCS, Dick Gade-FSA, Kris Belling-DNR, Roger Swanson-UW-EXT Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Berenschot made motion to adopt agenda. Bethke seconded. Carried. Dull made motion to approve November 4, 1997 meeting minutes as mailed out. Seconded by Berenschot. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 6, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. DNR Kris Belling (Wildlife Biologist) reported: The number of deer registered in St. Croix County is down about 5% from 1996. More information will be available when numbers are broken down by deer management units. Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area - Open houses were held to present and accept comments on the draft project alternatives on October 7 (New Richmond) and October 8 (River Falls). A total of 118 general comments were received, of these 92 (78%) were in favor. Several organizations have indicated an interest in working with the Department to implement the project if approved, and several landowners have expressed an interest in having their land involved. The Draft Feasibility Study/Environmental Impact Statement will be written over the next couple of months and will be out for a 45 day public review period and a public hearing sometime this winter. Custer asked whether current CRP prairie grasses would meet criteria. Belling stated that they perhaps would, but there would be a problem with the permanent easement on the land. Forestry - Tax rates for the Managed Forest Law program have been changed. New tax rates are: Open Land - $.51 per acre, Closed Land - $1.20 per acre. This is the first time the tax rates have dropped on any of the forest tax law programs ,since their inception. The old rates were $.85 per acre for open land and $2.00 per acre for closed land. The Managed Forest Law provides for the tax rates to be re -assessed every 5 years. The last tax rate re -assessment was in 1992. The DNR State Nurseries have now sold out of all hardwood tree species. Anyone needing trees to plant for CRP contracts must now purchase their hardwoods from private nurseries. A list of private nurseries can be obtained from the DNR office in Baldwin. Conifers and shrubs still remain available through the DNR nurseries. MRCS Custer reported that sign-up. The number People took more time making their bids. November was completely dominated by the 16th CRP of landowners bidding was less than last spring. to understand the environmental numbers before Thanks to LWCD and the watershed staff for their assistance on the CRP sign-up. 1998 EQIP - Cost share program - Proposals have same boundaries as priority watersheds. Tentatively approved - no final word yet. Will move ahead with next portion - cost share criteria. Meeting scheduled on December 11 at 8:30 a.m. to get guidance in process - DNR liaison. 1997 EQIP contracts were signed and approved in September. Conservation plans for people who had CRP contracts expiring will be done over winter. Some landowners did not make a bid and are putting land back into production. Will need to develop conservation plans if land is highly erodible. Cost share on conservation tillage and nutrient management. FSA Gade reported on the 16th Conservation Reserve Program sign-up which concluded November 14, 1997. Although the number of offers are not available, Gade indicated that St. Croix County's sign-up totals ranked extremely well in comparison to the other counties in the state. Gade thanked the LWCC for use of the LWC staff in the CRP sign-up. Currently FSA is busy disbursing 1997 crop commodity loans. Producers can obtain these 9-month loans by using their 1997 commodity as collateral. Loans are available for barley, oats, wheat, soybeans and corn. Interest rates are currently at 6.5% annually. Gade announced that Program Assistant Sue Kaczmareck will be retiring from F5A effective January 2, 1998. He indicated that he will be able to fill the vacated position. Berenschot reported: Conference call meeting on ,November 17. RC&D has denied payment of his expenses for the state association meeting. Will re -submit to County. Had meeting at Jake's Supper Club on November 19. Organization history. Nonprofit organization was set up by USDA in 1962. It has lost impact. Larry Swain conducted meeting.. Issue. Big co-ops take money out of community. Thought it would be good for communities to have co-ops again and keep money in area. Must talk to more people as we are a liaison. Are working on re- design of entire RC&D in Wisconsin. Ed Weber (Coordinator) and Bill Rubin (St. Croix Economic Development Corp) looked at Glenwood City community and visited Logghe Trucking. Mission statement has been changed. WEST CENTRAL AREA Roger Swanson reported that area did well on 1997 Conservation Awards. Country Today had good coverage on the Water Quality Leadership Award winner (Eau Claire County). Tree Farmer of the Year was from Barron County. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Kling reported: Latest Rural Leadership participation took him to Richland County, which has not changed in years. They have problems with lack of economic development. TIF district was formed for housing development. Studied housing and industry in the area. FARMLAND PRESERVATION Christenson reported that zoning certificates for tax credit will be issued after January 1. Could be a problem with move into new ag building. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Raymond mentioned issue of Riverway ordinance amendment (revision) pertaining to clear cutting for river view. Task force group is composed of new people who own large areas of land with large houses. LWCC should have an interest because of the environmental issues involved. Berenschot made motion that Christenson prepare a letter addressed to Chairman -Planning, Zoning and Parks Committee requesting opportunity for LWCC to review the proposed zoning changes addressing the St. Croix Riverway ordinance. Bethke seconded. Carried. Raymond stated that there is no advocate in county designated to represent environmental issues (erosion and water pollution). Discussed seeking opinion of County Board supervisors regarding such a job position in county. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Lakes Cluster - Kling reported that Bass Lake is down 11 inches. Perch Lake is down 5 inches. Conducted two shoreland habitat restoration workshops (natural vegetation along shoreline). Mentioned Piechan property on west side of Bass Lake, which is flooded and property is riot worth much. It is a natural wetland. Would need 25% matching funds to purchase. Would County Highway donate time and materials for the 25% share? Perch Lake - Finished fencing. Now putting in driveway. Squaw Lake - Split in different drainage units. State money could be used to purchase wetlands. Landowner Russ Strohbeen is considering selling some land for filtering. Fish and Wildlife funds could be used. Lake District would have to sponsor. Pine Lake - Vrieze Farms is considering expansion. They have asked for more calculations to spread manure. Will refer them to crop management planning. Kinnickinnic - Kulow reported they are working on getting inventories done. CRP sign-up took staff time in November. Will start writing plan in late winter or early spring. Should be completed by May. South Fork of Hay River - Christenson reported that resolution was prepared last month concerning approval of South Fork Watershed plan. Resolution 9(97) addressed issue of getting new legislation for support of incentive plan. Chairman Jensen will introduce the technical staff at the County Board meeting on December 16. Plan summary to be sent to each County Board member. Discussed egg business proposed along Hay River (major watershed issue). GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Flood Plain Study - Christenson reported receiving cost estimate of $5,400 from Horizons Inc. to digitize area below on Structures 1,2, and 3 (south west of Glenwood City) from recently received aerial photos. Digitizing would be at 4-foot intervals. County has already spent $5,600 on survey and GPS work. Approximately $5,400 plus $5,600 amounts to $11,000 already expended. This would be over and above the administrative block grant. Appears we will be within estimate presented to Finance in 1996. Next step is to get bids or quotes for service to complete study and present them to Finance. Christenson to handle. WILDLIFE DAMAGE PROGRAM Christenson reported $625 has been donated so far for processing donated deer for local food shelves. There is $5,000 in Wildlife Damage Program abatement portion which can be used for administration of project. Mentioned that agreement has been signed. BALDWIN AG BUILDING UPDATE Gade reported that he has been attending the weekly contractor's meeting for construction progress updates. Currently dry walling is being taped and duct work installed. Contractor indicated that lights in the parking lot will not be installed until spring due to frost and heaving concerns. However, the contractor felt that outdoor lights on the building would suffice this winter. The LAN/WAN team will wait until the building is completed before they begin their work. 1997 CONSERVATION AWARDS DINNER Discussed awards dinner. Directed Lier to handle the plans. COMPUTER EQUIPMENT ORDER Raymond has discussed computer equipment with Computer Services. Commitment with NRCS - automation - equipment has to physically be there for installation of card. Computer Committee meets next week and wants to be sure we are purchasing the right equipment for GIS requirements. Important - memory/processor. Gade-FSA stated that installation would occur mid -January. Christenson mentioned that LWCD is budgeted for the equipment. WLWCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Discussed travel plans for the conference which will be held December 3-5 at Holiday Inn Madison West, Middleton, Wisconsin. Berenschot, Bethke, Heise and Christenson will attend. FARMT.AND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS No applications were presented. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Evergreen Ridge Subdivision (Sec. 6 - Town of St. Joe) - Heise presented storm water and erosion control plans which were reviewed. This is a 10-lot subdivision with 4 large ponds. Berenschot made motion to recommend that the plans are acceptable with conditions as presented and a letter be forwarded to the Planning, Zoning & Parks Committee. Bethke seconded. Carried. Discussed and decided to invite the newly -hired Zoning Director, Cindy Sherman, to attend a LWCC meeting. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Bethke made motion to approve vouchers. Seconded by Dull. Carried, MISCELLANEOUS Lier presented the LWCD/NRCS meeting -training calendar for December. Berenschot made motion seconded. Carried. Vernon Dull, Secretary By Arlene Lier td o ajourn meeting at 11:35 a.m. Bethke