Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 12-06-05 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: December 6, 2005 TIME: 10:40 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: January 3, 2006 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS: Director's Report Bills /vouchers * Personnel matter ** Bid - Pine Lake Restoration project UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Outdoor Recreation Plan - Approval LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Agency Reports FSA NRCS DNR RC &D West Central Area WLWCA - Resolutions NEW BUSINESS: Subdivision Review - 2:00 p.m. * Land Division Ordinance - recent amendments Vouchers Resolution - Sediment & Nutrient Conference Set date - Close out 2005 - Wildlife Damage Program Ag Center - Drainage issue (entrance) Expense exceeding 90 days 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: November 21, 2005; amended November 30, December 2, 2005 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES Land and Water Conservation Committee - December 6, 2005 Page 3 of 8 I* ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES �I MINUTES I LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMIT °FEE DECEMBER 6, 20 05 Members Present: Lois Burri, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz, Jan Zoerb Members Absent: None Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise, Operations Manager -Dave Larson, Administrative Assistant- Arlene Lier Others Present: Ellen Denzer - County Planner Adoption of Agenda: Ruetz made motion to adopt the agenda, seconded by Peavey. Carried. Action on Previous Minutes: Motion by Peavey, seconded by Ruetz, to approve the November 2, 2005 meeting minutes. Carried. Date of Next Meeting: January 3, 20o6 PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUS Director's Re port Heise reported: We have just finished our 9 -day deer - hunting season, which opens portions of the Glen Hills Park for hunting. We have had no report as to how many deer were taken out of the park. The park will also be open for the muzzleloader season as well as the late T -Zone hunting. During the past month we had an Eagle Scout from Glenwood City build two kiosks at the Glen Hills park. One was built. and installed near the beginning part of our disc golf course where we will put in maps and pamphlets. Another one was replaced in our camp ground area (replaced an old one). The Eagle Scout will receive a merit badge for doing the project. Staff had a site showing for the Glen Hills pier and walkway, and also the Pine Lake restoration project. The Glen Hills fishing pier project received http: / /www.co. saint- croix.wi.us/ Committee /Minutes /2005/LWC /1wcl2O605.htm 2/6/2006 Land and Water Conservation Committee - December 6, 2005 Page 4 of 8 one bid, which came in under budget. The conservation aids project for Homestead Parklands (oak savanna restoration) is in the planning stages. On December 13th Dave Larson will be meeting with park staff and also DNR staff that developed the restoration plan to get together on -site to determine what needs to be completed. This will be a major project for Park staff over this next year at Homestead Parklands. Bid - ._ Pine _ Lake.._ Restora Droi ect Larson handed out the "bid comparison" sheet showing the two bids, which were received and considered. Three bids were received, but one came in late. The base bids (BS Construction - Elmwood and Mattison Contractors - Knapp) are very close, but subtracting the two access points (l00% county share) you get the total shoreline stabilization cost which the state will cost share. BS Construction bid is higher than Mattison. However, doing the cost formula, it basically gets down to the state pays 518,641 versus $16,1oo. Even though the BS Construction bid is slightly higher, the county puts less money in (savings of $2411) if we would select BS Construction. i The county would receive higher state dollars towards the project. Zoerb made motion to accept the BS Construction bid based on county savings being greater, Burri seconded. Carried. Personnel matter Heise reported that he has been informed by the county Risk Manager that one of the Parks seasonal staff has filed a lawsuit against St. Croix County. Human Resources Department, as well as the Parks department, has handed the information over to the county Risk Manager. Bills /Vouchers The December bills list was presented. Motion by Burri, seconded by Zoerb, to approve the Parks account bills ($4,222.54;1. Carried. Outdoor Recreation Plan — Approval Ellen Denzer attended the meeting to review the plan with the amended changes, which were already approved by the committee. Heise stated that the changes in the amended plan were the major changes that the committee asked us to make last month. If we approve this plan now, we would be bringing it to the County Board in January. At the January 3rd meeting we would have a resolution to support adopting the Outdoor Recreation Plan and will be presented to the County Board in January. Burri made motion to approve the 20o6 Outdoor Recreation Plan and move on to County Board, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Discussed the County Board process. Heise will be making the presentation. Chair Raymond suggested that he stress that the plan does not have funding authorization. The "level of service standards" should be discussed at the January LWCC meeting. Larson reported on the research he did on trails. Multi -use trails tend to be for local use in rural areas. If economics are a consideration, it is best to target one specific trail. Not all user groups are compatible: horses and http://www.co.saint-croix.wi.us/Conimittee/Minutes/2005/LWC/Iwc 120605.htm 2/6/2006 Land and Water Conservation Committee - December 6, 2005 Page 5 of 8 ATV's are not compatible, bikes (bicyclists) and walkers (hikers) are compatible. Human powered trails would be the best to concentrate on. Chair Raymond requested a summary be prepared on trail information. Zoerb suggested checking with Washington County, MN on multi -use trails, which is demographically similar to St. Croix County. Recessed: 11:3o a.m. Reconvened: 12:30 p.m. LAN & WA CONSE RVAT. I(�N..DEPARTMENT Members Present: Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz, Jan Zoerb Members Absent: None Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise, Land Specialist -Pete Kling, Administrative Assistant- Arlene Lier Others Present: Bob Hendrickson -FSA, Ellen Denzer - Planning Department, Cindy Blonk- Wildlife Damage FARM SERVIC A FSA1 Bob Hendrickson - County Executive Director reported: -Staff is waiting for additional information before annual CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) payments can be processed. -There are a few producers that have not certified their CRP acres for 2 to 6 years. They will not be paid until they certify their CRP acres. -Compliance is nearly completed. Late file reports cost $25.00 per farm and $1o.00 per field. -Staff will be accepting the DCP (Direct and County Cyclical Program) sign Up for 2oo6 and will be making the advance DCP payments. -Staff is conducting the 2005 Commodity Loans and (LDP) Loan Deficiency Payments. The area hit a HIGH of .48 per bushel for the Posted County Price (PCP) for corn. Test weight on corn has been very high this year and the moisture low. -The interest rate for December Commodity Loans is 5.375 %, Facility Loans is 4.5 %. -All MILC (Milk Income Loss) payments have been completed. There is no word at this time whether the program will be extended. -The LDP's for corn today is .21, Barley .28, Soybeans .00, HRS Wheat .00. -The COC (County Committee) will be counting the election ballots for a new COC member this coming Monday morning. http: / /www.co. saint- croix.wi.us/ Committee /Minutes /2005/LWC /1wc l2O605.htm 2/6/2006 Land and Water Conservation Committee - December 6, 2005 Page 6 of 8 NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NR Heise reported for Steve Pernsteiner - District Conservationist: -Environmental Equality Incentives Program (EQIP) sign up will end on December 31, 2005. Funding will be ended after that day. •A news release was sent out and an informational meeting was held at the Ag Center explaining the different cost -share programs. Heise, Hendrickson, and NRCS participated in providing information on county programs, CRP (Conservation Reserve Program), and CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program). -Dan Cain - Peasants Forever is contracted with NRCS to do the technical work on 14 -15 CREP contracts throughout the next two years. DEPARTMENT._ OF_ NATU RE SOURCES (DNR) No report. RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (RC &D) Ruetz reported: -He was unable to attend the November 2nd meeting. -They had a teleconference on November 30. -They will be assisting Barron County on a program to reduce invasive aquatic weeds (erasion milfoil, purple loosestrife). -Fund raising - $ 8,000 has been raised since October 1't. -Next meeting will be held in January. •Interest in the grazing program is intensifying. W EST CENTRAL A REA Raymond reported that he attended a board meeting in Stevens Point. He also served as moderator at the WLWCA state speaking contest held on November 12 at UW- Stevens Point. WLWC - RE SOLU TIO NS The WLWCA annual conference will be held at the Plaza Hotel & Suites in Eau Claire on December 7-9. Raymond explained the 15 resolutions, which will be brought forward for a decision at the conference. Zoerb made motion for Chair Raymond to use his discretion in voting on the resolutions, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. NEW BUSINESS http://vrww.co.saint-croix.wi.us/Committee/Minutes/2005/LWC/Iwc 120605.htm 2/6/2006 Land and Water Conservation Committee - December 6, 2005 Page 7 of 8 SUBDIVISION_ . . . . ....... . ................... REVIEW . ....... - ......... . . No report. Land Division Ordinance xeceiRtamendments amendments . ......... . .... Heise referred to the "Summary of Recommended Changes to Land Division Ordinance & Zoning Ordinance Amendments based on Public Hearing Comments" which was sent to the committee. There has been a lot of discussion and we finally got to the point where we brought this ordinance to a public hearing on November 2. It was a very effective public hearing. We heard some good comments throughout the hearing, some very positive comments on the ordinance that evening. That is a complement to the committee and the staff for putting the ordinance together. We had received other written comments. The spreadsheet that is handed out represents the proposed comments and suggested changes to the ordinance by the Planning and Zoning committee. The revised ordinance will be brought forward to the County Board on December 1 3. Ellen Denzer stated that a complete copy of the ordinances, Land Division ordinance and Zoning Ordinance amendment, with the changes tracked based on public hearing comments and the exact same summary was sent out to all County Board supervisors. She explained the submitted comments (oral and written) to the committee. Vouchers . . ........ --- . ....... — Reviewed vouchers. Ruetz made motion, seconded by Zoerb, to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the December LWCD voucher list in the total amount of $41,765.87. Carried. Resolution — Sediment & Nutrient Conference Heise stated the department would be submitting a small Lake Planning grant application to the DNR to sponsor the 2oo6 Sediment & Nutrient Conference. We have submitted this grant in the past and a formal resolution is a required element of the grant application. Burri made motion to approve the resolution and send it to County Board, seconded by Zoerb. This resolution will be presented to the County Board on December 1 3, 200 5. Carried. Set date — Close out 2oo5 — Wildlife Damage Program Cindy Blonk reported that the closure date for the crop program is based on when go% of the row crops are harvested in the county. We cannot extend the date beyond December 31. There still are some crops in the field to be harvested. Zoerb made motion, Peavey seconded, to extend the closing date to December 31. Carried. Blonk reported that there are two unusual claims in the county. Both are tree farms and are miles apart (Greg's Tree Farm-Polk/St. County line, approximately 25 years old; Bob Groepper-Town Star Prairie, approximately 4 years old). Damage occurred to expensive trees and both were issued shooting permits. Discussion on the rules for payment of claims. The "Plan of Administration" states that. orchard, Christmas and nursery stock must have been planted prior to January 1, 199o. Heise http://www.co.saint-croix.wi.us/Committee/Minutes/2005/LWC/Iwcl2O605.htm 2/6/2006 Land and Water Conservation Committee - December 6, 2005 Page 8 of 8 stated that the nurseries (commercial businesses) should consider fencing as part of the up -front expenses because of the heavy deer population in the county. Raymond made motion to decline both of the nursery claims, seconded by Peavey. Carried. Ag Cente — Drainage issue (entrance Heise reported that during the last few years there has been a drainage issue that shows up during the winter months in the front entrance of the Ag Center. The drainage from the Ag Center melts from the northwest to the southeast. It melts and freezes across the main entrance. We have had the public, as well as staff, slip on this ice. We developed a letter from the CAC (County Agricultural Committee) addressed to Ralph Robole- Building Services with copies to Chuck Whiting - Administrative Coordinator and Kristen Ziliak- County Risk Manager to remedy this issue. He has been working with Robole on correcting the problerrn. Building Services had a rock channel installed along the sidewalk from west to east with a heated cable within the rock, which hopefully will correct the problem. Expense exceedi g 9y day Heise stated that two of the LWCD staff submitted expenses that exceeded the 90 -day policy (one 91 days and the other 94 days). After discussion, Zoerb made motion to approve the two expense reimbursements to the staff members, seconded by Raymond. Carried. Heise will be informing the staff to submit expenses not to exceed 6o days, no matter what the amount. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. Announ & Corr espondenc e Heise reported: A letter was received from the DNR providing the county access on the proposal to discontinue 240t Street in the town. of Cylon. Steve Olson and Tammy Wittmer will be giving a presentation on the Prairie Flats project at the Wisconsin Land & Water Board meeting today in Eau Claire. Chair Raymond adjourned meeting at 2:56 p.m. Jan Zoerb Secretary Arlene Lier Recording Secretary not CARMICHAEL ROAD * HUDSON X4 54016 715.386.4600 LAST LTPDKM: FEB 3, 2oo6 DISCT.AIME;R http: / /www.co. saint- croix.wi.us/ Committee /Minutes /2005/LWC /1wcl20605.htm 2/6/2006