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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 04-03-07 NO NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE April 3, 2007 -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 — May 1, 2007 PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS: Director's report Bills /vouchers Resolution - New Richmond — Outdoor Recreation Plan Resolution — Park Improvement grant proposal Bike loop — Stillwater bridge OLD BUSINESS: Bicycle /pedestrian traiMP — Regional Planning LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Agency reports FSA NRCS DNR RC &D West Central Area NEW BUSINESS: Director's report Subdivision update Vouchers Resolution — Farmland Preservation agreement — Jim Stringer Date — Glen Hills Dam inspection * Authorization to Exceed Motel/Hotel Maximum Allowance OLD BUSINESS: Job description — Land Specialist Non - Metallic mining — proposed language — mining in ground water Update — County owned property — Oakridge Staff reports Priority Watershed Projects ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE ADJOURN SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise DATE: March 21, 2007; amended March 26, 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: 11:00 a.m. Adjourned: 12:55 p.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI April 3, 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: Joe Kerlin -New Richmond Parks Director Action on Previous Minutes: Motion by Peavey, seconded by Raymond, to approve the March 6, 2007 meeting minutes. Carried. Adoption of Agenda: Ruetz made motion, seconded by Burn, to adopt the agenda. Carried. Date of Next Meeting: May 1, 2007 PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS New Richmond — Outdoor Recreation Plan Joe Kerlin -New Richmond Parks Department presented an update of their park plan. Burri made motion, seconded by Norton- Bauman, to approve the "Resolution to Incorporate the City of New Richmond Outdoor Recreation Plan into the St. Croix County Outdoor Recreation Plan" and forward to County Board for approval on April 17. Carried. Resolution — Park Improvement grant proposal Heise presented a resolution for a Park Improvement grant application ($100,000 — 50150 match). Motion by Peavey, seconded by Ruetz, to approve the "Resolution Authorizing Application for Grant Funds to Renovate and Redevelop St. Croix County Park System Facilities" and forward to County Board for approval on April 17. Carried. Bike Loop - Stillwater Bridge Heise reported that Park staff, Highway Department and Wisconsin DOT met recently to discuss the proposed bike loop. DOT is attempting to find a public entity to take over the future roles of operation and maintenance of 5400' of proposed bike loop as it comes off the bridge and another 3200' section leading towards the old lift bridge. Coming into Wisconsin, from West to East, there is a separate bike trail that is off the road that parallels essentially the road up until it hits the intersection of E going into Houlton. (Approximately 5400') DOT had some discussions with the town of St. Joseph as far as taking over this portion of trail and other sections of trail they are proposing in Houlton. The sections in Houlton, which are on the roadway, may be accepted by the Town of St. Joseph. The Department of Administration in Minnesota has accepted taking responsibility of the lift bridge. Minnesota is taking control of their bike trail system. Is the Highway or County Parks interested in taking over these sections of proposed bike trail? Off road bike trails do not necessarily fit well into the Highway Department's overall mission. Committee had a strong opinion that the bike loop and operation and maintenance of the trail fits more of a Town's responsibility. Committee discussion engaged that Towns should be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the trails within their Town. Perhaps, further discussion is required with the Town of St. Joseph regarding this bike loop. Director's Report Heise reported: Interviews were held in March for all of our seasonal park staff. All slots have been filled. Some staff will begin in April and the rest will start the end of May. Bills/Vouchers The April bills list was presented. Motion by Ruetz, seconded by Burri, to approve the Snowmobile accounts (total $16,448.00) and Park accounts (total $2,785.57). Carried. OLD BUSINESS Bicycle /pedestrian trail/RFP (Request For Proposal) — Regional Planning Heise reported that the kick -off meeting will be held on Monday, April 30, 7:00 p.m. at the Ag Center where the trail delegates can meet Regional Planning staff. There are 40 volunteers to assist in the plan development. Our overall goal is to have an approved plan to the Committee and County Board by March 2008. Chair Raymond plans to attend the kick -off meeting if his schedule allows. LWCC members will be informed of the smaller work group meetings in four different geographical areas. LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Members Present: Lois Bum', Ken Graf, Sharon Norton- Bauman, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz Members Absent: None Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise; Land Specialists -Steve Olson, Tammy Wittmer; Administrative Assistant - Arlene Lier Others Present: Chet McCarty- Director, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA) No report. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (MRCS) No report. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) No report. RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (RC &D) No report. WEST CENTRAL AREA No report. NEW BUSINESS Director's Report No report. Vouchers Reviewed vouchers. Burri made motion, seconded by Ruetz, to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the April LWCD voucher list (total $8,553.91). Carried. Date — Glen Hills Dam inspection Heise proposed Thursday, May 10, as the date to conduct the annual Glen Hills dam inspection. This will give the boot camp crew enough time to make our spring clean -up of all our dams. Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. in Glenwood City. Subdivision Update Tammy Wittmer provided a summary of March application submittals and an overview of where they fall within the county. Two projects in the Town of Hudson are getting ready to begin and one project in the Town of St. Joseph. The Town of Hudson is working on a long -term maintenance agreement for all stormwater improvements. We will be working with them to get this finalized and recorded properly. Resolution — Farmland Preservation agreement — Jim Stringer Heise presented a resolution to support a new Farmland Preservation Agreement for Jim Stringer located in the town of Cady. Graf made motion, seconded by Peavey, to recommend approval of the Farmland Preservation agreement for the Jim Stringer family and forward to County Board for approval at the May 15th meeting. Authorization to Exceed Motel/Hotel Maximum Allowance Heise presented two requests for approval of "Authorization to Exceed Motel/Hotel Maximum Allowance" (exceeds $62.00): • Aleisha Miller, Lakes Conference in Green Bay (April 25, 26 and 27) - $97.00 per night • Ryan Schaefer, National Watershed Coalition Conference in La Crosse (May 21 and 22) - $99.00 per night Burri made motion, seconded by Ruetz, that LWCC authorizes both requests for exceeding the maximum room allowance. Carried. OLD BUSINESS Job Description — Land Specialist Heise presented the proposed changes to the Land Specialist job description. All of the amendments have been reviewed and approved by the County's compensation specialist and the PAWG committee. The addendum more accurately breaks down the Land Specialist (Agricultural, Urban, and Watershed) roles and responsibilities, which compliment the job description. Peavey made motion, seconded by Burri, to approve the revised Conservation Land Specialist job description and the Addendum with language corrections. Carried. The job description will be evaluated and pointed. Non - Metallic mining - proposed language — minim in ground water Steve Olson reported: The St. Croix County Non - metallic mining ordinance is currently being amended. The LWCC discussed the amended language, proposed by LWCD staff, in regards to mining into groundwater. The following language is what the committee modified and recommends to the Planning and Zoning Department/Committee to be implemented into the ordinance amendments: 8. Groundwater Protection a. Nonmetallic mining operations and reclamation shall be conducted in a manner which does not cause groundwater quality standards in Chapter NR 140, Wisconsin Administrative Code to be exceeded at a point of standards application defined in that chapter. b. Nonmetallic mining operations are prohibited from dewatering for any proposed mining activities. c. Wash ponds shall have a 5 foot separation to groundwater. d. For sites with planned excavation lower than the groundwater table a detailed hydrologic report shall be submitted. The operator shall be required to reimburse the county for the expense of a legal opinion or professional work in review of a hydrologic report if outside opinion is recommended by staff or committee. Update - County Owned Property — Oakridge Chet McCarty, representing U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, attended meeting. Heise reported that about a year ago the Finance Committee requested us to make recommendations on several county -owned parcels. One of those parcels was the Oakridge property (surrounded by either DNR land or U.S. Fish & Wildlife property, approximately 73 acres of the 75+ acres being under water). There are only two acres above water. The Committee recommended that this property be kept in a public entity and still be open to the public. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service had the property appraised (not a formal appraisal as with federal properties). The County waived our rights to a formal appraisal by their appraiser. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service made a $12,500 lump sum offer to purchase to the County. Each and every year there is revenue sharing in lieu of taxes, which will go to the Town of Stanton. DNR offered $1.00 for the property. Norton- Bauman made motion, seconded by Ruetz, that LWCC recommends to the Finance Committee that the offer ($12,500.00) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Oakridge property is acceptable. Carried. Staff reports Priority Watersheds No report. Announcements & Correspondence Heise reported that he was asked by the Kinnickinnic Land Trust to provide a letter of support for continued "reauthorization of the Stewardship fund ". LWCC directed him to draft a letter. Heise will present the department report to County Board on April 17. Chair Raymond reported that Heise, Parks /LWCD Director, will take steps to begin on the Rural Leadership program. Chair Raymond adjourned the meeting at 12:55 p.m. Gene Ruetz Secretary Arlene Lier Recording Secretary