Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 05-02-06 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE May 2, 2006 —10.40 a.m. Agricultural Service & Education Center 1960 8' Avenue, Baldwin, WI CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING — May 11, 2006 (Annual Glen Hills Dam inspection) June 6, 2006 (June LWCC meeting) COMMITTEE REORGANIZATION: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS: Director's Report Bills /vouchers Emerald Ash borer * County Board Goal Setting - Assignments OLD BUSINESS: ** Personnel matter LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE REPS REORGNIZATION: RC &D, West Central Area, Kinnickinnic CAC, St. Croix Lakes CAC, EQIP Local Work Group, Tri- County Wildlife Damage Agency reports FSA NRCS DNR RC &D West Central Area NEW BUSINESS: Subdivision update Vouchers Farmland Preservation Program Agreements — Daryl & Lurene Bahnsen, John & Mark Bazille Cancellation of Noncompliance — Marvin & Sandra Croes Trust 2006 — Soil & Water Resource Management Grant Glen Hills Dam #4 * County Board Goal Setting - Assignments OLD BUSINESS: Staff reports Priority Watershed Projects ADJOURN SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise DATE: April 19,2006; amended April 28, May 1, 2006 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS (Items may be taken in different order) *Additions /Changes /Corrections UNOFFICAL Convened: 11:21 a.m. Recessed: 12:10 p.m. Reconvened: 1:10 p.m. Adjourned: 3:42 p.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI May 2, 2006 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, Glen Hills Park Site Manager -Joe Grant, Parks Maintenance Manager - Merwyn Neibacher, Homestead Parklands Site Manager -Sam Clapper Others Present: Bill Cranmer- County Board Supervisor -Dist. 22 Adoption of Agenda: Peavey made motion to adopt the agenda, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Action on Previous Minutes: Motion by Peavey, seconded by Ruetz, to approve the April 4, 2006 meeting minutes as printed. Carried. Date of Next Meeting: May 11, 2006 (Annual Glen Hills Dam inspection) June 6, 2006 (June LWCC meeting) Heise, Lier, and the Parks Department staff (Dave Larson, Joe Grant, Merwyn Neibacher and Sam Clapper) introduced themselves and explained their roles and job responsibilities. Chair Raymond introduced the new committee member, Sharon Norton- Bauman. She explained her background and the district she represents. COMMITTEE REORGANIZATION Norton -Bauman made motion to adopt the same officers for LWCC as were elected for the Ag Extension Committee (Ron Raymond - Chairman, Lois Burri -Vice Chairman, and Gene Ruetz - Secretary), close the nominations, and unanimously cast the ballot for these officers, seconded by Peavey. Carried. PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS Director's Report Heise reported: • Non - motorized trail plan - Early January we adopted an "Outdoor Recreation Plan". The Outdoor Recreation plan is a 5 -year plan. A high priority issue identified in the plan was to create a non- motorized/human powered trail system in the county. Heise will be working with the county procurement agent to begin developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek a consultant to assist in development of the countywide non - motorized/human powered trail and pedestrian plan. • Park map - Staff continues to work with J & M printing to have the park map printed (10,000 copies) before the Park season begins. Norton -Bauman commented that the current park map is very nice. She suggested that in the future, perhaps input and cooperation with other municipalities so that more of the parks in the county could be on one map. Heise stated that there is another map in the county (St. Croix County Gateway to Western Wisconsin Map). It provides more detail on different events within the county. When this map was developed, our goal was to specifically target the county facilities. • Glen Hills park — Staff is working with Wisconsin DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on establishing native prairies on our borrow sites at the park. These areas have been mowed throughout the years and now we are trying to convert them back to prairie species, one is in our group area and another two are near the overlook area. • Pine Lake park — The park received some vandalism again this year. Items were repaired or replaced and a damage report was filed with the Sheriff and the Risk Manager. The Sheriff is going to have his staff keep a better watch on the area. Bills/Vouchers The May bills list was presented. Motion by Burri, seconded by Ruetz, to approve the Parks account bills (total $5,299.22). Carried. Emerald Ash Borer — Heise reported that the Emerald Ash borer is an insect that attacks Ash trees. The Emerald Ash borer has not made its way into Wisconsin yet, but it is very close to our borders. Currently staff has been consulting with other WDNR State Parks on their policy on firewood being brought into the Park by campers. Park staff has also changed firewood vendors that provide their product "from Wisconsin only". Volume and quality is equal or better than our past vendor and the cost per bundle is less, which will reflect in an increase of revenue to the Park. County Board Goal Setting — Assignments — Chair Raymond requested Heise to guide LWCC on the items that are the obvious ones to discuss. Heise directed them to page 4 of 7 (External Goal #1, item No. 3). LWCC has some responsibility to get involved in the decision - making. This goal ties in with our Outdoor Recreation Plan and will be an ongoing timeframe. Next would be External Goal #4 — Item #3, Develop a long -range plan for the County — 5 -15 year plan. Ties closely with our Land Conservation and Parks Committee, our Parks Outdoor Recreation Plan (Non - motorized trail plan). Burri brought up the issue of trail system (public safety). This item shall be brought back and discussed at our June meeting. Chair Raymond recommended that the committee review the document and offer any comments or suggestions next month. Comments will be compiled and presented to Chuck Whiting, Administrative Coordinator. Heise will accompany Norton - Baumann on a tour of all of the county parks to become familiar with them. OLD BUSINESS Personnel matter — Heise updated LWCC on the personnel matter, which was reported at the December, 2005 meeting. We have to answer questions that are being asked. He is working with Human Resources and the Risk Manager. Recessed: 12:10 p.m. Reconvened: 1:10 p.m. LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Members Present: Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Sharon Norton - Bauman, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz Members Absent: None Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise; Administrative Assistant - Arlene Lier; Program Assistant - Jonna Fedie; Land Specialists -Kyle Kulow, Steve Olson, Tammy Wittmer; County Technicians -Jeff Lueck, Ryan Schaefer; I & E Specialist - Aleisha Miller Others Present: Bob Hendrickson -FSA, Steve Pernsteiner -NRCS, Pat Collins -DNR, Bill Cranmer- County Board Supervisor -Dist. 22 Jim Cody introduced himself to the new LWCC member (Sharon Norton - Bauman). The Land & Water Conservation staff (Donna Fedie, Kyle Kulow, Jeff Lueck, Aleisha Miller, Steve Olson, Ryan Schaefer, and Tammy Wittmer) introduced themselves and explained their roles and job responsibilities. Chair Raymond introduced the new committee member, Sharon Norton - Bauman. She explained her background and the district she represents. COMMITTEE REPS REORGANIZATION Committee representatives appointed were: RC &D — Ruetz, West Central Area Association — Raymond; Kinnickinnic CAC — Norton - Bauman; St. Croix Lakes CAC — Burri; EQIP Work Group — Cody, Tri- County Wildlife Damage — Raymond. Committee recommended that Dale Fern continue to serve as RC &D Member at Large from St. Croix County. FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA) Robert Hendrickson - County Executive Director reported: • Approximately 80 people attended the two CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) informational meetings that were held for the 2008- 2010 Re- enrollment/Extension contracts. • Newly hired (Kevin Cooley) will soon begin compliance checks on CRP for the 2007 contracts. • Over 50 percent (51 %) of the 2007 CRP contracts were either re- enrolled or extended. Only 12 new CRP contracts were signed by Friday, April 28. • Staff currently is about 80 to 85% complete with the DCP (Direct and County Cyclical Program) sign up. • Staff can still make coarse grain loans for corn and soybeans by the deadline of May 31, 2006. • The interest rate for April Commodity Loans is 5.875 and facility loans 4.875. • The LDP's (Loan Deficiency Payments) for today are: Corn .00, Barley .32, Soybeans .00, HRS Wheat .00. So far this year we hit a high of .48 cents for corn. • MILCX (Milk Income Loss Contract program) is up and running. The first sign up runs March 27 -May 17. • MILCX payment rates known to date are: Oct. 5th - . 00, Nov. 5th - . 00, Dec. 5 - . 04 cents, Jan. 5th - . 10 cents, Feb. 5 th - . 10 cents, March 6 th - . 4080 cents, and April 6 th - . 8398 cents. May is .9248. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) Steve Pernsteiner- District Conservationist reported: All 2006 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contracts have been signed and approved. St. Croix has 13 contracts for almost $160,000. Three producers with contracts containing major construction projects decided not to sign for various reasons; this money went back to the State pool of funds to be redistributed. NRCS staff is currently doing status reviews on previous EQIP contracts. We hope to soon get the re- enrolled CRP landowners list and start developing those plans. Jay Custer is now back working full time in St. Croix and will be busy with construction projects DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) Pat Collins -Hydro Geologist reported: • Fish Biologist —Marty Engel — Busy doing stream shocking and lake population estimates. Fishing opener for game fish is Saturday, May 6. • Forester Dahn Borh — One delivery of trees came in last week, the second delivery is on May 3. • Wildlife Program — This has not been a great season for burning, it was too dry for a while and now it is too wet and too green. They were able to burn some properties but not as many as they would like. New sites for prairie planting are now being prepared by staff. • Deer regulations — It is up in the air yet. Maybe a decision will be made during end of the legislature session. • CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) Program — St. Croix, Dunn, and Pierce counties are considered designated counties this year. The last two years we have not taken deer heads, but this year we will be taking as many as we can get for testing. They will be testing the lymph nodes (instead of brain stems) which is a more accurate test. • Wastewater Program — Pete Skorseth — handles all municipal wastewater sites in the County. Roberts and Hammond are in full construction on the new and upgraded wastewater facilities. • Water Regulations and Zoning — Eunice Post is busy with the home construction season starting. She and Jim Devlin (Stormwater Specialist) work with county and federal staff to insure all regulations are adhered to. • Environmental Cleanup Program — Collins gave an update on the activity: New Richmond landfill project and Town of Warren (off of Badlands Road, 80 Avenue). • The Groundwater (Tri- County -St. Croix, Polk and Pierce) meeting will be held at the Ag center on Tuesday, May 9, 1:00 -4:00 p.m. RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (RC &D) Ruetz reported that there will be an RC &D meeting the end of May. WEST CENTRAL AREA Heise reported that Buffalo County is to host the summer tour on June 15. The organization will have to restructure at the business meeting. Raymond (President) and Heise (Secretary/Treasurer) will continue to serve as Area officers, if they are nominated. NEW BUSINESS Subdivision Update Heise explained the April summary report of subdivisions at various levels of completion. He also gave the history of our providing service to the Planning & Zoning Department in reviewing the stormwater and erosion control plans, meeting the county ordinances as well as how it meets our Land & Water Resource Management plan goals. Since the staff position has been vacant since March, the decision was made to re- organize the department and the decision was to have Tammy Wittmer (Lake Cluster Technician) fill the position of Land Specialist (Urban). During the interim, Pam Quinn (Planning and Zoning Department) is filling in the gap for reviewing stormwater and erosion control plans. Wittmer will be working into her new position. Vouchers Reviewed vouchers. Ruetz made motion, seconded by Cody, to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the May LWCD voucher list in the total amount of $11,603.13. Carried. Farmland Presentation Program Agreements — Daryl Bahnsen (25 years), John & Mark Bazille (10 years) — Two landowners are applying for new Farmland Preservation agreements. LWCC recommended approval of Chair Raymond's signature on the two agreement applications and forward to County Board for approval at the June meeting. Cancellation of Noncompliance — Marvin & Sandra Croes Trust — Croes signed a voluntary notice of noncompliance a number of years ago. The landowner has now changed management and tillage practices on his property and has requested to become eligible for tax credits. Staff developed a farm plan for Croes that meets the county's soil and water conservation standards. Cody made motion to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the Cancellation of Noncompliance for the Croes Trust, Burri seconded. Carried. 2006 — Soil & Water Resource Management Grant Heise presented an agreement with the State of Wisconsin, DATCP, for soil and water conservation programs administered by LWCD staff. State dollars ($203,000) are offered to the county to offset costs and provide cost sharing dollars to St. Croix County landowners. Peavey made motion to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the 2006 Soil & Water Resource Management Grant agreement, seconded by Burri. Carried. Glen Hills Dams — Annual Inspection Discussed the scheduled annual inspection (Thursday, May 11) of the Glen Hills dams. Schaefer provided information on the ten Glen Hills dam structures which are regularly inspected as well as testing (April through November) the alarm signals (five of the structures — located in flood plains). He provided photos of the needed repair on Structure #4. I & E Report Information & Education Specialist, Aleisha Miller, introduced herself and explained her program to the new LWCC member. The 2006 Earth Day Celebration was a success with 200 participants. Upcoming events include 4 field days, 2 stream clean-ups, 3 classroom presentations and the WAV workshop. County Board Goal Setting — Assignments Heise referred to Internal Goal #4 (Item 1) — Identify land parcels - Help identify parcels that the county owns and try to figure out what we are going to do with these parcels. The committee has reviewed the conservation parcels and made recommendations to the Finance committee. The Finance committee minutes directed this back to LWCC. Heise will request further clarification from the Administrative Coordinator. External Goal #4 (Item #5) - Continued land regulation to encouraging growth — LWCC may have some involvement along with Planning & Zoning. Goal #3 Ongoing (Item #3) — To continue to implement the County's Land Management Plan — To be coordinated with LWCC. LWCC should review each goal for discussion at the June meeting. OLD BUSINESS Priority Watersheds Kulow reported: Kinnickinnic —The South Fork Kinnickinnic project is underway and we have completed about 100 feet of stream restoration to date. In addition to this project we are working on 4 projects with the City of River Falls and have met with landowners in the city to begin our rain garden project. This project addresses storm water runoff from residential buildings and lots. We have allocated all of our 2006 soft practice money for this year and may have to request money from Pierce County should they have unspent funds. South Fork Hay River — The stream restoration on Tiffany Creek was inspected for erosion and was found in great condition. It appears this project was a success from all indications. We continue to work with two landowners on property downstream for the purpose of acquiring conservation easements on additional reaches of the stream. Wittmer reported: Lakes Cluster — • Bass Lake - The landowners on 132' Avenue have received all permits necessary for the road removal. We will be signing cost -share agreements for a shoreline restoration that should be completed by this fall. Additional projects include a large shoreline restoration and 3 rain gardens. • Squaw Lake - The Prairie Flats North Water Quality Monitoring project went very well this spring. We were able to collect samples through 2 runoff events. We are still waiting for the results. • Pine Lake - The shoreline restoration project was completed earlier this year on Pine Lake Park. Access steps should be completed within the next couple of weeks. • Perch Lake - A shoreline restoration project is scheduled for early this summer. A native planting in the stormwater retention area at the end of the cul -de -sac is also scheduled for this summer. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Heise stated that there is a training session scheduled for new as well as existing LWCC members on June 12 in Eau Claire, location to be announced. Raymond adjourned the meeting at 3:42 p.m. Gene Ruetz Secretary Arlene Lier Recording Secretary