Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 05-03-05 ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Ron Raymond, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation DATE: May 3, 2005 TIME: 10:40 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: June 7, 2005 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS: Director's Report Bills /vouchers Snowmobile ordinance - Propose dates public hearing Campground host UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Outdoor Recreation Plan Job Description - Operations manager LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Agency Reports FSA NRCS DNR RC &D West Central Area NEW BUSINESS: Subdivision Review - 1:00 p.m. Vouchers Prairie Flats - Show case event - May 16 Conservation awards 2005 Grant allocation agreement Land division & zoning ordinance amendments * Wildlife Damage - Assembly Bill 166 - Tri- County agreement UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Farmland Preservation Program - Soil & Water Conservation Standards Staff Reports Information & Education report Priority Watershed Projects ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise DATE: April 20, 2005; amended April 21, 2005 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES Convened: 10:55 a.m. Recessed: 12:37 p.m. Reconvened: 1:36 p.m. Adjourned: 4:17 p.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI May 3, 2005 Members Present: Lois Burn, Jim Cody, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz, Jan Zoerb Members Absent: None Staff Present: Bob Heise, Arlene Lier Others Present: Buck Malick- County Board Chair, Ellen Denzer - Planning, Julie Speer - County Board Supervisor, Peggy Rode, Donna Seim Adoption of Agenda: Cody made motion to adopt the agenda, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Date of Next Meeting: June 7, 2005 Action on Previous Minutes: Motion by Peavey, seconded by Burri, to approve the April 5, 2005 meeting minutes. Carried. PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS Director's Report Heise reported: • Highway Department replaced the Glen Hills boat landing (received a grant). Courtesy dock should be delivered on Thursday, May 5. • Paddleboats that we had in the budget are delivered and the two older ones will have to be sold (worth about $200.00 - $250.00 each). Heise recommended placing them at the registration station with a "for sale" sign on them and advertising them on the internet. • Electrical upgrades project for Glen Hills began on Monday, May 2. • Handicapped toilet facilities should be installed on May 10. • Larson is conducting a site showing with some engineers for a stairway design at Homestead Park. • We have assembled 20 new picnic tables at Glen Hills. The Fair Board will be taking the 20 old ones. • Jim Remington, New Richmond Trail committee member, sent a letter requesting the committee to begin pursuing concept of an off -road trail (an old abandoned railroad track along A) from New Richmond to Hudson. It went back to private ownership but there still are sections that are not. He is asking us to pursue if there is any validity of looking at that as an off -road bike trail. Schaefer is working on maps, querying landowners from parcel data. • There are a couple of trail training workshops that either Dave or myself will attend. One is June 16 at Oconomowoc (trail construction) by WI DNR. There is also a Rails and Trails session in the Twin Cities. - A C, - C . 1 BillsNouchers Bills list was presented. Motion by Peavey, seconded by Cody, to approve the Park account bills in the total amount of $35,615.75. Carried. Snowmobile Ordinance Heise reported that the amended Snowmobile ordinance has been reviewed by the Sheriff's department, WDNR wardens, and Corporation Counsel. Discussion on the proper official committee name (Land & Water Conservation Committee). Raymond made motion to schedule the public hearing (class 2 notice) at the Ag Center on Wednesday, June 1, 7:00 p.m., seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Campground host Heise reported that there is a possibility of a camp host for the month of June. Currently going through the required application and background check. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Outdoor Recreation Plan Denzer attended the meeting to review and discuss the "revised draft" of the introduction and the proposed goals and objectives of the plan with the committee. The "Needs Analysis" is a compilation of the 2004 phone survey, park survey and the Citizen Advisory Committee suggestions and comments. Raymond suggested that we prioritize our goals. Denzer commented that we could say that the county's highest priority would be the trails system. Ruetz commented that the trails system would include all (multi -use) trails. Denzer stated that there would be multiple priorities. Peavey questioned what the "adopted level of service standards" are and where would he find them. Denzer explained that they do not exist; they need to be developed and adopted. The plan says that we should have them and use them as a guide. Discussed date (August) for a special meeting to approve the final version of the plan. Job Description — Operations manner Heise reported that he and Zoerb are working on the new job description. They will be meeting with Deb Kathan- Personnel on May 12. Recessed at 12:37 p.m. s Reconvened: 1:36 p.m. Adjourned: 4:17 p.m. LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Members Present: Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz, Jan Zoerb Members Absent: None Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise, Land Specialists —Pete Kling, Kyle Kulow, Steve Olson; Secretary- Arlene Lier Others Present: Pat Collins -DNR, Bob Hendrickson -FSA, Cindy Blonk- Wildlife Damage, and Dave Fodroczi- Planning & Zoning NEW BUSINESS Subdivision Review Kling presented: Meadow Ridge of Troy - (Located in part of the SE 1 /4 of the SE 1 /4, part of the NE 1 /4 of the SE 1 /4, part of the NW 1 /4 of the SE 1 /4, part of the SW 1 /4 of the SE 1 /4, part of the SW 1 /4 of the NE 1 /4, and part of the SE 1 /4 of Section 17, T28N -R19W, town of Troy, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) —150 acres, 70 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 approval of this subdivision subject to compliance with St. Croix County's 20% slope policy, and a letter be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, Burri seconded. Carried. Joshua Hills CSM - (Located in the NW 1 /4 of the SE 1 /4 and in the NE 1 /4 of the SW 1 /4 of Section 11, T29N -RI 9W, town of Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) —12.5 acres, 4 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 this minor subdivision are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, Cody seconded. Carried. Kling reported that there is a sinkhole (approximately 50 -60 feet wide, 30 feet deep) at the Hawks Landing subdivision located north of Hammond on County Road T. It formerly was used as a dumping area, which had a federal I.D. number as a waste disposal area. Pat Collins (DNR Hydro Geologist) discussed the environmental issues /concerns related to this area. Kling also reported that there is another sinkhole about 250 yards west of the first sinkhole, also located on County T. A sinkhole opened up right in the owner's front lawn and it was capped. Heise stated that last week he showed some USGS staff other issues and also showed them this particular sinkhole. Raymond suggested more investigation be completed before the subdivision is brought to LWCC. FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA) Robert Hendrickson reported: • CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) - Staff is working on the 29 CRP signup folders. Compliance — Staff has sent out all of the 817 -U for CRP. Many have been returned already. • DCP (Direct and County Cyclical Program) — Deadline for producers to sign up is June 1S Two - thirds to three - fourths are complete. • Producers can still sign up for the advance Counter Cyclical payments for 2004. • The interest rate for February Commodity Loans is 3.75% and 4.25% Facility Loans. • No MILC (Milk Income Loss) payments for April at this point. • The LDP's (Loan Deficiency Payments) for today are: .12 for Corn, .27 for Barley, .00 for Soybeans and .03 for HRS Wheat. • There is a heavy load of Re -cons this year (approximately 650 are complete). • Disaster Program — This program will be big this year. Producers can sign up for either 2003 or 2004. They can choose which year they would like to get paid on, not both. Appointments are being taken for sign up. Approximately $500,000 has already been approved. The sign up goes fairly well for those that had insurance. The producers that had a loss (and did not have insurance) will have to prove to us what their loss was (records of production, sales receipts, cattle sold because of it, etc.). If producers get a payment on any crop, they will have to have insurance for the next two years on that crop. • Livestock Assistance Program (LAP). St. Croix County qualified for 2003. Producers will have to prove to us that they had a loss in 2003, cattle sold because of lack of pasture, extra hay purchased, feeding earlier than normal, etc. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (MRCS) Pernsteiner provided a written report: • EQIP signups are over — 16 applications for local EQIP funding, 2 for Comprehensive Nutrient Management funding, and one manure storage. If contracts are developed for all EQIP, will fund $213,600 in St. Croix. Nutrient management and no -till again very popular. • Conservation Security Program (CSP) is again being offered in Eau Galle Watershed until May 28. Little new interest is being shown for the program. • Eleven applications received for Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). Three have been tentatively approved. • Jay Custer has been assigned to work one -half time in Pierce County. We will have a summer student here starting end of May. • Two CREP contracts have been signed. Three additional landowners have expressed interest in CREP, not sure when we will get to them with Jay Custer working in Pierce County. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) Pat Collins -Hydro Geologist reported: He works with soil and groundwater contamination, working with landfills, industrial sites, gas stations, individual sites where there is contamination in a 6- county area. St. Croix County has several landfills and our rapidly developing population base almost exclusively uses groundwater for their drinking water. He reported on projects that he is involved with: Star Prairie, City of New Richmond landfill, Town of Warren, Junker -Nor Lake area. The underground tank program is gradually coming to a close. Most of the tanks have been replaced. Dave Hausman - Warden Supervisor — Law Enforcement — Reported that Warden Paul Nadolski has transferred to a site at Poynette, WI. Warden Paul Sickman (Kenosha County) will replace Nadolski. Ellsworth Warden Station is still vacant. The Warden Force will have approximately 25 vacancies statewide by the end of 2005 due to retirements mainly. Kris Belling- Public Lands Wildlife Biologist — • Recent acquisition for HRA (Habitat Restoration program) was 120 acres in the Town of Rush River. They continue to acquire land but the development pressure and land values make it difficult. • Wildlife crews are in the middle of the prescribed burn season. • Deer Units 60M, 59B and 22A are proposed for T -Zone; 60B and 21 will have a regular season framework. Harvey Halvorsen- Private Lands Wildlife Biologist — Baldwin is now in the 4 1 ' phase of the wetland conservation grant. Funds are available for non -farm bill types of grassland and wetland projects. Funding can be used to match WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program), but not CRP (Conservation Reserve Program). Prescribed burning is anticipated to continue for two more weeks. Wildlife Damage Assembly Bill 166 - Cindy Blonk explained that a person who receives only wildlife damage abatement assistance and not any wildlife damage payment as a result of damage caused by deer would not have to permit hunting of deer on the land involved in the Wildlife Damage program. That is different than it is right now. If you are involved in the program, you have to allow hunting. Zoerb made motion that LWCC supports legislation to amend Assembly Bill 166, seconded • r by Peavey. Carried. Blonk will write a letter on our behalf Tri- County Agreement — Blonk indicated that the Tri - County agreement has terminated. Discussion on agreement. Motion by Cody, seconded by Burri, to continue the Tri - County Agreement. Carried. Peavey left meeting at 3:00 p.m. Vouchers Reviewed vouchers. Ruetz made motion to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the May voucher list in amount of $15,235.71, seconded by Cody. Carried. Prairie Flats — show case event — May 16 Olson reported: On Monday, May 16 at 10:30 a.m. there will be a Conservation showcase event at the Prairie Flats North Wetland Restoration site on the north end of Squaw Lake. Area legislators along with County Board Supervisors and residents of the Squaw Lake Watershed are invited. There will be a short presentation from Fish & Wildlife Service, DNR, Squaw Lake District, and LWCD followed by a tour of the Wetlands. Priority Watershed Projects Kulow reported: South Fork Hay River - The Tiffany Creek Project is well underway at the county fairgrounds. We are currently about one week ahead of schedule. Approximately 150 yards of streambank improvements have been completed. One issue that has presented itself is the high amount of black dirt (fill) that we are accumulating on site. We may have approximately 5,000 to 10,000 cubic yards of fill stockpiled to remove from the site. The Committee stated that we (LWCD) could bid the material out and proposed that the money go back into the Fair Board's budget and/or be used for the restoration project. In addition, the City of Glenwood could take as much as they could utilize since part of the project runs through their property. The Fair Board has expressed interest in using some of the fill on site for possible use down the road. The project is still slated to end about a week and one half prior to the start of the County Fair. Land Division & Zoning Ordinance Amendments Dave Fodroczi- County Planning & Zoning Director updated the committee on the timeline for review of Chapter 13, Land Division Ordinance and Complementary Changes to Chapter 17, Zoning ordinance. The Planning & Zoning Committee requested staff to visit with the Transportation Committee and the Land & Water Conservation Committee. Discussed the issues with these proposed ordinance amendments. Fodroczi stated that it appears like the Riverway and Sanitary ordinances will be going to public hearing the end of May, County Board in June, month of August for the Floodplain and Land Division ordinance. 2005 Grant Allocation Agreement Heise presented the 2005 State grant agreement. He stated that the grant agreement includes staff and cost - sharing dollars (Watersheds and Resource Management Plan); $90,000 cost share for this year and $212,483 for staff funding, total $302,583.00. Burri made a motion to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the grant allocation agreement, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Conservation Awards Staff suggested candidates for each of the award categories: Conservation Farmer (Schulte Bros. Farm), Conservation Teacher (Cindy Landers), Water Quality (Squaw Lake District), Wildlife Habitat (Tiffany Creek Improvements — Local Chapter TU), Leadership Award (Shawn Schottler). Discussed changing the "Conservation Farmer Award" to "Conservation Landowner Award ". LWCC will approve the candidates for each award category at the June meeting. r RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (RC &D) Ruetz reported that he would be attending a meeting on May 4 at Eau Claire. He is involved with "fund raising" for the RC &D Council. The "Training Conference for RC &D Council Members" will be held on May 19 -20 at the Wisconsin Lions Camp Retreat & Conference Center, Rosholt, WI. Zoerb made motion to approve paying for Ruetz' mileage expense to attend the RC &D training conference, seconded by Cody. Carried. WEST CENTRAL AREA Raymond announced that the 2005 Summer Conservation Tour would be hosted by Barron County on Thursday, June 16. Burri, Cody, Peavey, Raymond, Zoerb, and Heise plan to attend. Raymond reported that he had a meeting with the Wisconsin Land & Water Board yesterday via phone. There will be a West Central business meeting as part of the Conservation Tour. The Wisconsin Counties Association has scheduled a board meeting in Barron County the next day. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Farmland Preservation Program — Soil & Water Conservation Standards Heise stated that the amendments have already been made to the standards (two sentences have been deleted). Heise informed the committee that the Statute language requires committee approval and does not require full County Board approval. The State Land & Water Board only requires approval from LWCC. The committee concurred that their approval is sufficient and it is not necessary to take to the full County Board. Information & Education Report Heise reported that the I & E report was mailed to the LWCC. Heise stated that in March, two (Parks and LWCD) Coop -Cog plans were presented for signature. Due to the Risk Manager change at Government Center, our LWCD plan was lost. The Parks plan needed the staff addition of Sam Clapper, Site Manager- Homestead Parklands. Chair Raymond re- signed the LWCD plan and signed the Parks plan. Raymond adjourned meeting at 4:17 p.m. Jan Zoerb Secretary Arlene Lier Recording Secretary