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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 03-01-05 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: March 1, 2005 TIME: 10:40 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: March 4, 2005 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS: Director's Report Bills /vouchers Electrical bids Coop -Cog Department Plan Park map UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Site Manager position - Homestead Parklands Park Awareness "Promo" LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Agency Reports FSA NRCS - Local work group DNR RC &D West Central Area NEW BUSINESS: Subdivision Review - 1:00 p.m. Coop -Cog Department Plans Vouchers * WLWCA annual membership dues UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Draft MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) - DNR Administering NR -151 Farmland Preservation Program - Soil & Water Conservation Standards - Public hearing comments /adoption 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: February 17, 2005; amended February 22, 2005 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES X Convened: 11:05 a.m. Recessed: 12:21 p.m. Reconvened: 1:15 p.m. Adjourned: 2:55 p.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI March 1, 2005 Members Present: Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz, Jan Zoerb Members Absent: Bill Peavey (excused) Staff Present: Bob Heise, Dave Larson, Arlene Lier Others Present: Ken Taillon —SEH, Julie Speer - County Board Supervisor, Rudy Erickson, Gene Nelson Adoption of Agenda: Zoerb made motion to adopt the agenda, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Date of Next Meeting: March 4, 2005 Action on Previous Minutes: Motion by Zoerb, seconded by Raymond, to approve the February 1, 2005 meeting minutes and also approve the February 2 minutes (public hearing) with the spelling correction of the name Ruddy to "Rudy" Erickson. Carried. PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS Electrical bids Ken Taillon with SEH (Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.) attended the meeting and presented the electrical upgrade bids for review covering Phases 1, 2 and 3. The bid packages were sent out by SEH and were returned to SEH for their review by February 18 Taillon explained the process of how bids are reviewed, looking at quality, quantity, and references. Seven bids were received. The bids ranged from high of $90,060 (B & B Electric) to a low bid of $26,400 (Smith Electric). He recommended that we do an audit of the bid from Smith Electric. Zoerb made motion to approve the cost of up to $500.00 to have SEH audit the bid from Smith Electric and advise us of the results of that audit by Friday, March 4, at our scheduled meeting, and table this bid until the audit is completed, seconded by Raymond. Carried. Taillon will meet with Heise on Thursday, March 3 to discuss the status of the bid audit. BillsNouchers Bills list was presented. Motion by Zoerb, seconded by Burri, to approve the bills, Snowmobile accounts $22,175.37 and Park accounts $16,134.40. Carried. Director's Report Heise reported: The Citizens Advisory group met again on February 23. It was another brainstorming facilitating effort where we were able to use the ideas that were generated at the January 20 meeting, offer new ideas, break down in categories, and expand upon that. Handed out a list of the people who attended that meeting and a summary of the discussion items. Staff is working on the Outdoor Recreation Plan and establishing goals and objectives. The formatting of the Outdoor Recreation Plan will be similar to other county plans. Park staff and the Planning Department have been working on portions of the plan for several months. Heise would like to see our first cut as a plan by the end of March or first part of April. Timeline needs to be established and presented to committee. Raymond commented that enough time should be budgeted for discussion of this 2005 Outdoor Recreation Plan. It is revised every 5 -years which allows us to acquire different grants. If we don't have a plan that identifies these different projects, we probably would not be eligible for these grants. • Lawn mowers have been delivered to the Parks. • Staff is working on prairie restoration. • Staff is working with Simple Sports on the Frisbee golf layout. • Sport Fish Restoration project — Fishing pier grant was submitted to DNR this past month. We are hoping it turns out positive. Tammy Wittmer and Dave Larson met with DNR. Our grant point values came out quite high. We also got support from Town of Springfield about putting money into that project. • The snowmobile trails are still open; weather will determine how long. _Coop -Cog Department Plan - Continuity of Operations, Continuity of Government The plan was developed after "911 ". If a situation or occurrence happens in the county, how would we assure that we can still have government and still function the way we do. Each department was required to go back and update their plan. The only change made was to remove Dick Henning's name and put in a vacancy for site manager- Homestead Parklands at this point. Administration requested that we review it, discuss, and have the LWCC chair sign the document. Zoerb made motion to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the plan, after these conditions are met, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Park map Heise reported that he saw the proof last week Thursday. The 11" x 17" looks good. The 36" x 24" map size had some formatting errors. The good news is that additional ads were sold. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Site Manager Position — Homestead Parklands Heise reported that five candidates were interviewed on February 24"'. Reference checks were done on an individual and the position is being offered to that candidate. Park Awareness "Promo" Glen Hills Campground Registration Report - Heise handed out "local park comparison - # of camper unit days" sheets. The camping trend isn't necessarily downward in the area, but is downward for the Glen Hills Campground. Heise met with the Glen Hills Golf Association this past month and shared similar information. The Golf Association said if they had their numbers available that evening, they would probably be similar. Discussed sending out a letter to former park users offering them "a free third night" of camping. Dave Kremer, manager of the Golf clubhouse, offered to add additional coupons in our letter to get more people over to his facility. One night free would not include holiday weekends. Also discussed offering "one free park weekend" pass on the second weekend in June. It would be day use, not camping. A questionnaire could be handed out when they enter the park. LWCC directed Heise to send the letter to former park users and also offer the "free weekend "pass to improve park attendance. Recessed at 12:21 p.m. Reconvened: 1:15 p.m. Adjourned: 2:55 p.m. LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Members Present: Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz, and Jan Zoerb Members Absent: Bill Peavey (excused) Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise, Land Specialist —Pete Kling, Secretary - Arlene Lier Others Present: Bob Hendrickson -FSA, Steve Pernsteiner -NRCS, Julie Speer - County Board Supervisor; Rudy Erickson, Gene Nelson NEW BUSINESS FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA) Robert Hendrickson reported: • Compliance has been completed. Very few problems were found. • CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) — Met with my District Director (DD), Bob Heise, and Steve Pernsteiner on February 14. Agreed that it is a good program but it takes manpower to implement it. Decided to keep CREP in St. Croix County and use it when the right situation comes up. • Staff has the folders ready for the 29 ffi CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) signup and is waiting for the next step. Staff is also getting the 817 -U ready to send out to all the CRP people for them to certify compliance. • Approximately $252,000.00 in advance DCP (Direct and County Cyclical payments) have been paid. Also sent out another $800,000.00- 900,000.00 on the Counter Cyclical side for DCP. Producers must sign up by June 1" for DCP (Direct and County Cyclical Program). • If producers haven't signed up for the advance Counter Cyclical payments (first and second) for 2004, they can do now. • The interest rate for February Commodity Loans is 3.325% and 3.875% Facility Loans. • No MILC (Milk Income Loss) payments for February at this point. It sounds like the MILC program has been put before Congress to be extended for another 2 years. • The LDP's (Loan Deficiency payments) for today are: .00 - corn, .23 - barley, .00 - soybeans and .00 - HRS wheat. • Recons, farm divisions and combinations are heavy this time of year. Land being sold for houses is a big concern. • Disaster program for 2003 or 2004 may begin the end of March. • There is a good chance that we will be applying for a Livestock Assistance Program (LAP) next week. This will be for those producers that pasture their animals and had a loss of feed for 2003. It looks like we won't qualify for it for 2004. You had to have a shortage of rainfall for 90 consecutive days during the grazing period to qualify for the program. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)/LOCAL WORK GROUP Steve Pernsteiner reported: Sign up for the 2005 Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) ended February 15. There will be about $20,000 left if all applicants are approved. Would like to hold another application period until April 15. NRCS has also received funding for Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning (CNMP). This program is for landowners to hire a contractor to review complete farm operation and list needed updates to address all resource concerns. Funding pays landowner $1,000 for records gathering and up to $10,000 for contractor to write the plan. NRCS would like to see at least two plans done in St. Croix County. Sign up to run until April 15 • Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) sign up runs until March 11t". • We have started writing CRP plans for the newly approved participants. • NRCS is busy processing previous year's EQIP program payments. DNR No report. Subdivision Review Kling presented: Dick Stout CSM - (Located in part of the NE 1 /4 of the NW '/4 of Section 32, T29N, R18W, Town of Warren, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 7.2 acres, 3 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. Cody made motion to recommend that the plans for this minor subdivision are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, Ruetz seconded. Carried. RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (RC &D) Ruetz reported that the 2005 budget is short $9,000, so some programs will have to be cut. President Bush's proposed budget eliminates 200 RC &D's; River Country-Eau Claire is one of them. There is a campaign now to write letters to the Congressmen to oppose the elimination of those RC &D's. The Grazing Program has 3 signups in Pierce County. West Central Area Raymond reported on the February 23 meeting which he and Heise attended at the Ag Center, Menomonie. Since the president and secretary/treasurer of the West Central Area Association resigned, the meeting was held to see if any one would volunteer for the positions. All 9 counties in the association were represented. Both he (president) and Heise (secretary- treasurer) received unanimous votes. The vice president is from Barron County. • Meeting will be scheduled early -mid April. • Summer tour will be hosted by Barron County on June 16. • Polk County will sponsor the fall meeting (Speech and Poster contests) in Eau Claire on October 26"'. • Reported that a 16- member subcommittee has been formed to start working on the by -laws (one vote per county. They were to meet on February 24. County Conservationists are on committee but they have no vote. Coop -Cog Department Plan - Continuity of Operations, Continuity of Government The Land & Water Conservation Coop -Cog plan has been updated. All information is current. Zoerb made motion to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the Land & Water Conservation Coop -Cog plan, seconded by Burri. Carried. Vouchers Reviewed vouchers. Zoerb questioned the Heise voucher with the different amounts. Heise explained that five different account numbers were charged for a total of $244.67 (travel voucher - January, February expenses) - Zoerb made motion to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the March voucher list in total amount of $7,363.75, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. WLWCA annual membership dues Heise explained the reason for our paying the membership dues even though there was an effort by some counties to hold back the dues. Discussion. Decision was made to pay the 2005 dues ($950.00). UNFINISHED BUSINESS Draft — MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) - DNR Administerin NR -151 Heise reported that the MOU has been returned from the State DNR with their signatures. It clearly defines the responsibilities of both the DNR and our LWCD. The MOU follows the format that we had in our Land & Water Resource Management Plan. Ruetz made motion to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the Memorandum of Understanding, seconded by Burri. Carried. Farmland Preservation Program — Soil & Water Conservation Standards — Public hearing comments /adoption Heise reported on the public hearing held on February 2 at the Ag Center. He handed out a summary of the comments on the Farmland Preservation Program Soil & Water Conservation standards. Two people provided oral testimony at the public hearing and written comments were received from one person by the February 18 deadline. Rudy Erickson stated that their major comment was being told that opting out of the Farmland Preservation program was easy to do. All you had to do was to sign a non - compliance form and the person would be on his way out. If he stayed out of the program for 10 years, he would not have any repayment or interest on the payment. Most of the people went into the program in the early 1980's and now would like to get out of it. They are having their land go into "commercial" and they don't want to pay this rebate. Now you have to go through steps 3 and 4. We would like to see if there is a way out of it. Heise stated that under exclusive ag zoning you can file a voluntary form of non - compliance, this would result in non - compliance of the Soil and water Conservations standards and would make the landowner ineligible to receive tax credits, but they would still remain in exclusive agricultural zoning. Their main concern was trying to get out of the program without having to pay a penalty. Heise stated that with a Farmland Preservation agreement, fulfilling the terms of your contract and there is no penalty; however, there may be a payback of tax credits received for the past ten years. There was a request to have LWCC put in writing "how to get out of Farmland Preservation ". Zoerb stated that the purpose of the public hearing was Farmland Preservation Program Soil & Water Conservation standards. Heise stated that a landowner in exclusive Agricultural Zoning could voluntarily choose not to comply with standards and therefore would not be eligible to receive their tax credit. Heise stated that this public hearing was strictly to receive comments specifically on the soil & water conservation standards. Staff looked for valid comments received that warrants us to consider changes to these standards. Zoerb questioned whether the LWCC ever fined any landowners on the Farmland Preservation standards. Heise said "no ". If we don't receive the self - certification, we send it out again. Zoerb asked "would eliminating that fine from this document, these set of "standards ", not comply with state statutes and/or not enable us to participate in any programs? It would be the committee's decision. Discussion on the $50.00 fee (penalty) assessed to landowners. Zoerb stated LWCC received one letter as written comment to the public hearing of February 2 regarding this issue and it becomes a part of the permanent record of that public hearing, therefore is available. Handed out and discussed letter: 1) First paragraph of the letter is not germane to content of the proposed soil and water conservation standards. 2) Second paragraph list fines and penalties. Heise said there is a penalty /fine for failure to annually self - certify compliance to these proposed standards. Erickson stated that the plan states that there is a $50.00 fine. 3) Paragraph three stated questions on how to get out of Farmland Preservation program. Not germane to the topic of discussion. Raymond questioned whether these questions are pertinent to the proposed Soil and Water Conservation Standards. Zoerb stated, in light of the document that we are discussing, and considering the comments from the public hearing, it has nothing to do with getting out or staying in the Farmland Preservation program. It has everything to do with compliance to those standards and how that enables you or impairs you from participating in Farmland Preservation. Erickson disagreed with the LWCC. Heise stated that the purpose was to update the soil & water conservation standards; this is all we should be talking about today. Committee asked if we received any comments that warrant any changes to the soil & water conservation standards? Nelson brought up an issue about getting out of the Farmland Preservation program. Raymond commented on whether this is germane to the document that we are going to try to approve? Heise said "no ". Raymond said that it was an interesting comment but it is not valid to the subject at hand. Zoerb stated that there were some comments regarding fines and penalties and she hasn't heard an argument that it would make her think that it was necessary one way or the other to maintain or remove the $50 penalty /fine. If we never used that form of enforcement, unless someone can verify that it is enough of a deterrent to do enough protection of our land and water in St. Croix County, then it could be taken out. Erickson stated that we have some type of penalty; indirectly they are against the word "penalty ". Discussion on the $50.00 penalty. Heise stated that the penalty falls under the annual compliance certification. Last sentence states that the fee structure will be set by the Land & Water Conservation Committee but shall not exceed $50.00 per participant. If you fail to annually certify by deadline, it would result in a late certification penalty fee. This only refers to the Farmland Preservation Program. LWCC can adjust that fee. We have never charged that fee. We re- send a notice of certification. Zoerb made motion that we remove the fee (up to $50.00), from the Farmland Preservation Program Soil & Water Conservation standards, Cody seconded. Carried. The LWCC was asked if there are other comments. Erickson asked to have a document in writing stating how a person can manage his farm to do what landowners want. Zoerb made motion to take these revised Farmland Preservation Program — St. Croix County Soil and Water Conservation Standards, to the St. Croix County Board, as modified in the draft form dated February 2nd with the one change in regards to elimination of the $50.00 fee, seconded by Burri. Carried. Farmland Preservation agreements are for 10, 15,20,25 years (at discretion of landowner). Landowners would have to deal with the State of Wisconsin on attempting to get out of the program. Farmland Preservation Agreements are between the landowner and the State of Wisconsin. The County does have the authority to grant removal from the program. Chair Raymond stated that it was the consensus of the LWCC that we cannot provide written information on "how to get out of program." It was suggested that landowners can go to the Register of Deeds office to get a copy of their recorded agreement, if they have none available. Information & Education Report Heise reported that Aleisha provided a written I & E report which was mailed to the LWCC. Priority Watershed Proiects No report. Announcements & Correspondence Heise reported: • April 5 — Will have a short meeting in a.m. and will visit the John Vrieze farm (Emerald Dairies) /manure digester in the afternoon. We will begin at 8:30 a.m. and shorten our agenda. Cody to be called with time for meeting at the Emerald Dairies. • There will be a public hearing on sitings legislation on March 24, WITC -Eau Claire. • On April 4, UW- Extension is going to hold an informational meeting on sitings legislation in Menomonie. • On March 4 agenda, a Wildlife Damage claim for organic soybeans (price when sold) was lower than what was proposed so a revised claim form will have to be approved. Ruetz made motion, seconded by Zoerb, to adjourn meeting at 2:55 p.m. Carried. Jan Zoerb Secretary Arlene Lier Recording Secretary