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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 01-03-06 ST. CROIX COUNTY 1r , ` NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Ron Raymond, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation DATE: January 3, 2006 TIME: 10:40 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: February 7, 2006 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS: Director's Report Bills /vouchers Homestead Parklands - Stairway design UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Outdoor Recreation Plan - Resolution LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Agency Reports FSA NRCS DNR RC &D West Central Area NEW BUSINESS: Subdivision Review - 2:00 p.m. Subdivision review process Vouchers Wildlife Damage Program - Setting grain prices - 2005 Revenue report UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Staff Reports Priority Watershed Projects ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise DATE: December 19, 2005 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES bfst, 12-20-0 UNOFFICIAL Convened: 11:06 a.m. Recessed: 12:53 p.m. Reconvened: 1:43 p.m. Adjourned: 3:08 p.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI January 3, 2006 Members Present: Lois Burri, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz Members Absent: Jan Zoerb (excused) Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise, Operations Manager -Dave Larson, Administrative Assistant - Arlene Lier Others Present: Ellen Denzer -County Planner, Julie Speer -County Board Supervisor, Buck Malick- County Board Chairman, Sarah Malick, Donna Seim Adoption of Agenda: Burri made motion to adopt the agenda, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Action on Previous Minutes: Motion by Peavey, seconded by Ruetz, to approve the December 6, 2005 meeting minutes. Carried. Date of Next Meeting: February 7, 2006 PARKS DEPARTMENT Outdoor Recreation Plan — Discussion The plan was submitted to the County Board of Supervisors and the County Board Chairman, Buck Malick, has replied via e-mail (LWCC received copies) with some valid points and comments. Raymond reported that the Outdoor Recreation Plan has been reviewed several times and it has been brought to a public hearing. Heise stated that there may be one small amendment that we need to make at the County Board meeting and that is under "Authority to Adopt or Act ". Greg Timmerman, Corporation Counsel, reviewed our resolution and his opinion is that it fits under WI Statute 59.52 (6) (a) rather than 59.69. Assuming this new statute reference is correct, it should be offered as an amendment on the County Board floor. Raymond suggested that we ask Greg Timmerman two questions: (1) Are you sure you have the right statute reference? (2) Do we have to reference that statute to make it valid and binding? Raymond felt LWCC would go along with the opinion of Corporation Counsel. Heise said staff will work with Corporation Counsel on this issue. Discussed County Board Chair Malick's comments. LWCC reviewed the comments and discussed the potential changes to the Outdoor Recreation Plan. Heise was directed to discuss the accounting and budget related language issues with the Finance Director and attend the January 12th Finance Committee meeting to address and resolve these issues prior to the County Board meeting on January 17 Julie Speer questioned the creation of a "regional Park and Recreation Commission" with membership from all local communities. Raymond explained that it would be at the county level with town government appointments. Buck Malick left the meeting at 12:20 p.m. Outdoor Recreation Plan - Resolution Heise presented the resolution to adopt the St. Croix County Outdoor Recreation Plan. Raymond made motion to approve the resolution adopting the Outdoor Recreation Plan and it is subject to final approval of the language on the applicable statute by Corporation Counsel -Greg Timmerman, seconded by Burn. Carried. LWCC approved the resolution and the signature version will be forwarded to the County Clerk for distribution. Director's Report Heise reported: • The timber harvest is starting at the Kinnickinnic Forest. Because there is little to no frost, the timber harvest will begin at the Kinnickinnic forest due to sandy soil, and will proceed to other sites, assuming weather conditions cooperate. • Revenue report (summary through the 4` quarter) was mailed out. • Dave Larson is working with our Procurement Officer on getting out the specs for the park truck and lawn mowers. • Larson is also working with our Procurement Officer, Risk Manager, and Corporation Counsel -Greg Timmerman on our septic contract for Glen Hills. • The Personnel Committee is moving forward on the personnel study with Springsted. No County Department has seen the final job descriptions from the Springsted. study. The Personnel Committee attended the Department Head meeting to hear about this issue. All departments were requested to review the job descriptions that were on the Intranet and any changes were to be given to the Human Resources Department by January 5. Bills/Vouchers The January bills list was presented. Motion by Bum, seconded by Peavey, to approve the Parks account bills ($7,103.37) and Snowmobile account bills ($394.12). Carried. Homestead Parklands — Stairway design Dave Larson gave a power point presentation to the committee on the proposed stairway design. The project is not scheduled for 2006; however, the design features will not change even though it may be constructed a few years from now. Donna Seim reported on the amount of weeds in the swimming beach area at Homestead Parklands. She said years ago her family used a boat to go out and pull the weeds to control them. Heise stated that because it is an "outstanding water resource ", we will never get a permit from the DNR to use any type of herbicide to get rid of the weeds in the beach area. Weed management may have to be accomplished through a manual process of pulling the weeds out by the roots. The "Friends of Perch Lake" are willing to help Sam Clapper, Park Manager, with the weed pulling. Recessed: 12:53 p.m. Reconvened: 1:43 p.m. LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Members Present: Lois Bum, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz Members Absent: Jim Cody, Jan Zoerb (both excused) Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise, Land Specialist -Pete Kling, Administrative Assistant - Arlene Lier Others Present: Bob Hendrickson -FSA, Steve Pernsteiner -NRCS, Bob Bezek -County Code Administrator, Cindy Blonk- Wildlife Damage, Buzz Marzolf -County Board Supervisor LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT - Wildlife Damage Program — Setting 2005 grain prices Cindy Blonk explained that each year in January we set the grain prices so that we can pay the farmers for grain damage. The average prices are obtained from different sources: Corn $1.87/bushel, soybeans $5.84/bushel, organic soybeans $18.00/bushel, and organic corn $5.50/bushel. The organic prices are based on a verbal "estimated" quote from the individual claimant. Peavey made motion to approve the average prices with the elimination of the Chicago Board of Trade, seconded by Raymond. Carried. Last month we denied payment of claims from two tree farmers. One of the tree farmers asked to attend our February meeting. The item will on the February agenda. FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA) Robert Hendrickson - County Executive Director reported: • Additional information will be required from a few producers before staff can process the annual CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) payments. • There are a few producers that have not certified their CRP acres for the last 2 to 6 years. These producers will not be paid until they certify their CRP acres. • Compliance is nearly completed. Late file reports cost $25.00 per farm and $10.00 per field • Staff is taking DCP (Direct and County Cyclical Program) sign -up for 2006 and are making the advance DCP payments. • The advance DCP and Advanced CC payments for January will be made this week. • Staff can still make small grain loans and LDP'S (Loan Deficiency Payments) until March 31 of this year. For Coarse grains, corn and soybeans, the deadline date is May 31 of this year. • The interest rate for January Commodity Loans is not available at this time. • The LDP's (Loan Deficiency Payments) for today: Corn .08, Barley .3 5, Soybeans .00, HRS Wheat .00. So far this year we hit a high of .48 cents for corn. • Over $500 million in loans and farm program payments were delivered to Wisconsin producers in the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2005. • FSA provided $191million in loans to assist Wisconsin producers begin farming, purchase land, equipment, and livestock. • $389 million was granted in farm and program support payments - Farm program payments are designed to improve the economic stability and viability of the Ag sector and to help ensure the production of an adequate and reasonably priced supply of food and fiber to Americans. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) Steve Pemsteiner- District Conservationist reported: Environmental Quality Incentives Program ended December 30 in St.Croix with sign up for over $185,000 in cost sharing requests. Currently, St. Croix has been allotted $129,000 for funding in 2006. Several requests are for Comprehensive Livestock Farm Plans. We may receive additional funding as the totals come in for other counties. The agency had received one request for Manure Storage and one request for Alternative Manure Systems, these requests will be submitted for statewide funds. NRCS funding will be tight this year. It appears there will be few students hired for summer help. Jerry Thompson, Assistant State Conservationist for our area, is on detail in Washington until end of January. Until then, Randy Gilbertson is acting and can be contacted at the Spooner Office. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) No report. RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (RC &D) Ruetz reported: • Meetings are scheduled every two months. • A teleconference is scheduled for this evening. WEST CENTRAL AREA Heise reported there has been no area meeting recently. WLWCA Raymond reported that the West Central Area members discussed the 15 resolutions during the WLWCA annual conference held on December 7 -9. A handout was provided to the committee on the results of the resolutions. Heise reported that the auction brought in $300 less than in 2004, even though the number of counties and people attending the annual conference was down. NEW BUSINESS SUBDIVISION REVIEW Kling recommended approval of the following two subdivisions: Croix Hills - (Located in part of the SW ' / 4 of the NW '/4 of Section 35, T29N -R17W, Town of Hammond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 40 acres, 17 lots total. All storm water and erosion control issues have been resolved and the plans conform to the St. Croix County Subdivision Ordinance. The storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable for this subdivision. Daysprina Vistas — (Located in part of the NE ' / 4 if the NW ' / 4 of Section 5, T30N -Rl9W, Town of Somerset, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 39 acres, 11 lots total. All storm water and erosion control issues have been resolved and the plans conform to the St. Croix County Subdivision Ordinance. The storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable for this subdivision. Peavey made motion to recommend that the plans for the two subdivisions are acceptable and letters be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, seconded by Burri. Carried. Cove Ridge — Town of Troy - Buzz Marzolf, St. Croix County Board Supervisor 18, attended meeting to share the concerns he has regarding the 13- parcel development being proposed by Bruce Lenzen. The preliminary plat comes before the Town of Troy Planning Board at its January 5 meeting. As a teenager, he frequently walked the land on which this development has been platted, and is very familiar with its geology and topography. He listed the principal conditions which he anticipates could result in potentially grave consequences. Since this subdivision came in as a concept, Heise commented that it would be reviewed under the old ordinance. Kling reviewed this subdivision concept with the Planning & Zoning staff. Bezek commented that the Planning & Zoning Committee went out to the site. Marzolf thanked the LWCC for the opportunity given him to present his concerns. Subdivision Review Process With the recent adoption of the Land Division Ordinance, the future role of the LWCC/LWCD during the subdivision review process was discussed. Bezek stated that the Land & Water Conservation Committee's role, wherever it is in the process or however that input is provided, is very important. The Planning & Zoning staff values the LWCD input and review of the erosion and sediment control plans. Staff offered that the committee's input at the concept review would be very helpful. Heise stated that the committee members have been in the county much longer than staff, and supervisors may know of some of the resource concerns in certain areas of the county. As an example, Kling mentioned the Hawkins site which he found out through Hawkins that there had been a dump on that property. Ruetz stated that he has knowledge of concerns in the county. In the future, staff is to provide the committee with a summary list with the various stages of subdivisions that are currently being reviewed. Staff will share Conceptual - major subdivisions with the committee, specifically those with conservation design or potential environmental resource concerns. Vouchers Reviewed vouchers. Peavey made motion, seconded by Bum, to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the January LWCD voucher list in the total amount of $115,644.16. Carried. Revenue report Heise stated that the revenue report which was mailed out was a summary through the 3rd quarter. Estimates are sent to Zoning on a quarterly basis. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. Peavey made motion to adjourn meeting at 3:08 p.m., seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Arlene Lier Recording Secretary