HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 09-04-07 t NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA
• ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
September 4, 2007 —10:40 a.m.
Agricultural Service & Education Center
19608 1h Avenue, Baldwin, WI
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING — October 2, 2007
PARKS DEPARTMENT
NEW BUSINESS:
Director's report
Bills /vouchers
Parks ordinance
2008 budget
OLD BUSINESS:
Pine Lake boat landing - update
Bicycle /pedestrian traiVRFP — Regional Planning
Capital Outlay Plan
LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT
Agency reports
FSA
NRCS
DNR
RC &D
West Central Area
NEW BUSINESS:
Director's report
Subdivision update
Vouchers
2008 budget
Venison program — update/letter
OLD BUSINESS:
Capital Outlay Plan
NR -115 — letter
Discuss ordinance amendment — setbacks for animal waste structures
Staff reports
Priority Watershed Projects
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURN
SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise
DATE: August 22, 2007
COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD
COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS
(Items may be taken in different order)
*Additions /Changes /Corrections
UNOFFICIAL Convened: 10:58 a.m.
Adjourned: 11:30 p.m.
ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI
September 4, 2007
Members Present: Lois Burri, Sharon Norton- Bauman, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise, Operations Manager -Dave Larson, Administrative Assistant - Arlene Lier
Others Present: Donna Seim - Friends of Perch Lake
Action on Previous Minutes:
Motion by Ruetz, seconded by Burri, to approve the August 7, 2007 meeting minutes. Carried.
Motion by Burn, seconded by Ruetz, to approve the August 23, 2007 (budget review) meeting minutes. Carried.
Adoption of Agenda:
Peavey made motion to adopt the agenda, seconded by Norton- Bauman. Carried.
Date of Next Meeting: October 2, 2007
Committee discussed meeting times for UW- Extension, Parks and LWCD. Peavey made motion to keep UW- Extension
at 9:00 a.m., change LWCD to 10:40 a.m. and Parks following LWCD, seconded by Norton- Bauman. Carried.
PARKS DEPARTMENT
NEW BUSINESS
Director's Report
Heise reported:
• Late Saturday night or early Sunday morning there was a break -in at the maintenance building /office at Homestead
Park. Items stolen were laptop computer, two -way walky - talky, phone, answering machine, broke into one truck and
stole a private individual's cell phone, digital camera and docking station. Larson will check on cost of a security
system for the park building.
• Larson handed out the "Park User Fees Report September 4, 2007 ". The 2007 year -to -date (thru August 29 deposits)
revenues for Glen Hills, Homestead Parklands, and Troy Beach have all exceeded the projected budgetary figures for
2007. Glen Hills will exceed 2006 figures and Homestead Parklands and Troy Beach may be down slightly from
2006.
• Recommended changes for the 2008 park hours for Homestead Parklands.
Discussed the issue of Eurasian milfoil problem at Perch Lake with Donna Seim, Friends of Perch Lake. The Scuba
diving club wants permission to pull milfoil on Sunday, September 9.
Bills/Vouchers
The September bills list for Parks was presented. Motion by Ruetz, seconded by Burri, to approve the Park accounts
(total $15,918.33). Carried.
Parks ordinance
Heise reported that he reviewed the parks ordinance which was last amended in April of 1991. There is obvious out-
dated language that should be changed to reflect current conditions. Staff will be working on amendments for the next
several months.
2008 budget
Heise reported that the 2008 budget and Capital Outlay plan have been submitted to Finance and the Administration
Department.
OLD BUSINESS
Pine Lake boat landing - update
Heise reported that staff will be cutting down trees on the north part of landing. A survey was done to determine which
trees should be removed. Silt fence will also be installed. Contact has been made with all vendors for gravel, sand, rock,
etc. We will be ready for the WDNR crew when they arrive toward the end of September.
Bicycle /pedestrian trail/RFP — Regional Planning
Heise reported that staff met with Regional Planning on August 29 to review trails /routes compiled to date. Discussed
the proposed meeting agenda for the September 26 meeting. Staff will be working on some of the maps here and may
do a tour on some of the roads to make sure we are prepared for the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Commenced: 11:45 a.m.
Adjourned: 1:23 p.m.
LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT
Members Present: Lois Burri, Sharon Norton- Bauman, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz
Members Absent: Ken Graf
Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise; Land Specialists -Kyle Kulow, Steve Olson, Tammy Wittmer; Lakes Cluster
Technician/I &E Specialist - Aleisha Miller; Program Assistant -Jonna Fedie; Administrative
Assistant - Arlene Lier
Others Present: Steve Pernsteiner -NRCS
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR)
No report.
FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA)
No report.
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (MRCS)
Steve Pernsteiner- District Conservationist reported:
Judy Derricks will be acting as Assistant for Field Operations for this area of the state. Jerry Thompson has taken a 1 to
2 year detail to work on a project working with alternative Livestock Conservation.
Sign -up for the 2008 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) starts today and will end on November 15 lb
Some modifications have been made in cost share rates but payment will be similar to last year as a flat rate will be
specified in contracts. Manure pit covers to capture and dispose of methane has been added as a cost - sharable practice.
The LWCC committee was offered an opportunity to comment on this program so that the Local Workgroup can finalize
the program for St. Croix County. Offering all available practices including the manure pit covers seemed to be
consensus.
MRCS is working with the DNR on a proposal for a SAFE project. This is an enhanced CRP to be offered in areas of
state to assist with adding habitat for species of concern. The local DNR selected several song birds which utilize short
to mid grass prairies as the target species. This program is tied to CRP and pays an incentive to sign up plus an additional
incentive to cost share planting the prairie. The project has to be accepted by FSA in Madison and sent on to the
National FSA for approval.
Steve mentioned that the County Emergency Board met several times in the past month first due to the drought conditions
and then due to the wind storm that passed through St. Croix. The disaster report has been forward by FSA to their State
Office.
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (RC &D)
Ruetz reported that grant funding for the Grazing Program is running out. The requests for assistance are going up. An
attempt is being made to secure more funding for the program. He will be discussing grant possibilities with Pete Kling -
UW- Extension.
He also reported that he is on the Board of Directors and has been elected secretary.
WEST CENTRAL AREA
Heise reported on the meeting he and Raymond attended at the Dunn County Ag Center on August 15 There was a
business meeting, judging of poster and conservation awards. The fall meeting/speaking contestiposter and conservation
awards luncheon will be held on Tuesday, October 23 at the Plaza in Eau Claire. Burri and Ruetz plan to attend. The
county van will leave the Ag Center at 8:00 a.m.
The business meeting agenda will have to be prepared and speakers have to be lined up. Raymond suggested that a
resolution be prepared on the "preservation of water resources for our region" for adoption by the West Central Area and
forwarded to the WLWCA conference held in December.
NEW BUSINESS
Director's Report
Heise reported:
Phosphorous ban on lawn fertilizers — Several months ago the department prepared a letter in support of a phosphorus
ban on lawn fertilizers. A bill was created and the public hearing was held in Madison on August 28.
Subdivision Update
Tammy Wittmer reported on the active projects in the county. In 2007, there are approximately 44 active projects of
which 7 are new construction. Eighteen projects are currently in high priority status for stormwater and erosion issues,
and working toward resolution going into the fall/winter seasons. Several concerns continue with new home construction
projects and the need to ensure homes are built at the proper elevation, the maintenance of drainage easement areas,
ensuring erosion control measures are in place and final lawn establishment. If these measures are not addressed, all
approved stormwater and erosion control features are at risk for failure.
Vouchers
Reviewed vouchers. Peavey made motion, seconded by Norton - Bauman, to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the
September LWCD voucher list (total $18,254.13). Carried.
2008 budget
Heise reported that the 2008 budget and Capital Outlay plan have been submitted to Finance and the Administration
Department.
Venison program — update/letter
Jonna Fedie reported that Deer's Food Locker and Ross' Locker again agreed to process deer for the "2007 Venison
Program to Feed the Hungry" for $50.00 a deer. We will discuss the 2007 program in February and also what
modifications may be made for the 2008 program.
OLD BUSINESS
Capital Outlay Plan
There has been no change since last month.
NR -115 — letter
Heise presented a letter addressed to Toni Herkert, WDNR, Bureau of Watershed Management regarding "Public
Hearing Comments — NR -115" from LWCC and LWCD. After discussion, Ruetz made motion, seconded by Burri, to
approve the signatures of Raymond -LWCC Chairman and Heise -LWCD Director.
Discuss ordinance amendment — setbacks for animal waste structures
Steve Olson updated committee on the animal waste storage ordinance; and a portion of the general zoning ordinance that
pertains to storage setbacks will be on committee agenda in November. Proposed draft amendments will be sent to them
prior to the November meeting.
Staff reports
Priority Watersheds
Kyle Kulow reported:
Kinnickinnic — There are two projects under construction on the Dave Wolf property. Heavy rain has slowed the
construction. Completion is expected sometime in the middle of September. Also, Kyle reported the South Fork of the
Kinni stream restoration project is complete and DNR staff have moved off site. The City of River Falls' engineer has
reported that the City did not receive their grant for the Lake George reconfiguration.
Lakes — We are in the process of designing a lakeshore restoration for the Mackmillers on Perch Lake. We hope to have
it completed by late fall. Also, we have completed a grade stabilization project on Perch Lake and have 3 practices
scheduled for Bass Lake. Soil testing for property owners along Bass Lake continues with approximately 7 landowners
participating at present. Results from tests show high levels of phosphorus in the lakeshore samples, so far.
Chair Raymond adjourned meeting at 1:23 p.m.
Gene Ruetz
Secretary
Arlene Lier
Recording Secretary