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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 05-06-03 X ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Art Jensen, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation /Resource & Education Committee DATE: May 6, 2003 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: June 3, 2003 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES NEW BUSINESS: Conservation award recipients Request to support intern position Subdivision Review - 10:00 a.m. Vouchers UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Staff Reports Capital outlay Natural Resource Management Plan - Update Municipal Waste- Regional - Update Education Activity Priority Watershed Projects Agency Reports FSA NRCS DNR RC &D West Central Area ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise DATE: April 23, 2003 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES 1�. UNOFFICIAL Convened: 9:00 a.m. Adjourned: 11:32 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI May 6, 2003 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Art Jensen Members Absent Ron Raymond (excused) Staff Present: County Conservationist -Bob Heise; Land Specialists -Pete Kling, Kyle Kulow; County Technician-Ryan Schaefer; I & E Activities Specialist -Ruth Stern; Secretary - Arlene Lier Others Present: Steve Pemsteiner -NRCS; Bob Hendrickson -FSA; Dave Hausman-DNR; Hendrik VanDyk; Aleisha Troendle Meeting called to order by Chair Art Jensen. Berenschot made motion to adopt agenda. Burn seconded. Carried. Bethke made motion to approve the April 1, 2003 meeting minutes. Burri seconded. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. Heise introduced Aleisha Troendle, summer intern, who plans to inventory the Willow River for the Upper River Rehab District, and is also an NRCS volunteer. He also introduced the new county technician, Ryan Schaefer. Both are UW -River Falls graduates. CONSERVATION AWARD RECIPIENTS Heise presented list of candidates for 2003 conservation awards by category and summary of their accomplishments: Conservation Farmer — Randy & Mary Demulling, Dan Luckwaldt Water Quality Leadership Award — Dale & Gloria Fern, Len & Margaret Litzner, and Mike & June Hamerski (Pine Lake) Conservation Teacher — Ann Elling (Rocky Branch Elementary School, River Falls) Conservation Leadership — Renie Howard (Bass Lake) Wildlife Habitat — Star Prairie Fish and Game Club Motion by Cody, seconded by Burri, to approve Randy & Mary Demulling as conservation farmer, and the other candidates named for each category. Carried. County Awards dinner will be tentatively planned for February 2004. We will be hosting the fall area speaking and poster contests, and business meeting on October 20, 2004 at UW- Stout. REQUEST TO SUPPORT INTERN POSITIION Heise reported that he had proposed two work -study students in the 2003 budget to assist the department for the summer months with field work, particularly one individual to assist the department with the oversight of erosion control of the subdivisions. A job description was posted at the UW -River Falls campus seeking qualified candidates to fill these positions. The individuals have to be work -study eligible through the university system. Campus would pay 3 /a of the cost and we would pay the remainder %a cost. One request was received, however the student was not sure he was interested in the position. Heise requested approval to hire an existing intern student (Aleisha Troendle) in our office to assist with construction and erosion control activities within the approved subdivisions (time would be charged to Zoning — reimbursables to cover costs). We would need approximately $4,000.00 (500 hours @a $8.00 /hour) to have this individual provide oversight during the summer months. In fall she would work on the Willow River project. $1,000 was budgeted from Administration and $1,000 from Kinnickinnic Watershed, plus additional funding from watershed and administration dollars saved during vacant county technician position. Burn made motion for approval of allowing Heise to adjust the budget to cover the 500 hours ($4,000.00) for this student. Carried. CAPITAL OUTLAY Heise reminded LWCC that work on the 2004 budget is only a month away. Discussed the 2003 -2009 capital outlay plan. The server should be deleted from 2007 and moved to 2004. 2004 Vehicle - Zoning prefers renting a vehicle from LWCD which eliminates maintenance issue between departments. Suggested the possibility of purchasing a 7- passenger van for approximately $18,000 (4 year period). He will check into purchasing a used vehicle which has come off lease. Estimate $1,200 /year rental from Zoning and $1,000 from Parks department. Ford Contour could be used as a revenue source from Parks department. Heise will talk to Chuck Whiting about the I & E coordinator being a budgeted item in 2004. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN ( LWRMP) — UPDATE Heise reported that two meetings were held during April to work on the LWRMP and incorporate the NR- 151 implementation strategy. Written comments are due no later than May 8 All comments will be consolidated into a final "draft" by Cheryl Bursik. DATCP and Corporation Counsel will review document before our June 3 meeting. MUNICIPAL WASTE - REGIONAL - UPDATE Heise reported that he and Tammy made a presentation before the Warren Town wastewater task force committee on April 22. Hammond and Roberts held an open house on May 1 st to discuss their new wastewater proposal using new technology for their facility. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Motion by Berenschot, seconded by Bethke, to approve Chair Jensen's signature on the May voucher list. Carried. EDUCATION ACTIVITY Ruth reported that four more conservation field days were scheduled with St. Croix County schools for the month of May. The Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring training will be held on Saturday, May 10 th , at UW -River Falls. Approximately 10 -15 volunteer organizations have signed up to become volunteer i water quality monitors. These groups will test stream water quality at least two times a year on various streams in St. Croix County. The groups include 4 -H Clubs, Boy & Girl Scout organizations, Land Trust and other Environmental organizations. Two teachers (Steve Jensen - Baldwin - Woodville School and Antonia Velure -Rocky Branch School, River Falls) have applied for scholarships to attend the summer conservation course at UW -River Falls. Grants will cover one -half the cost for both of these teachers to attend. Cody made motion to approve that these two teachers receive scholarships to pay for one -half of the course cost, seconded by Bethke. Carried. Grant application has been submitted in amount of $8,500 for Willow River stream monitoring project. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Kulow reported: Kinnickinnic — • We are close to getting the appraisal back for the easement on the Dorwes Farm property. We will soon be hiring a surveyor to survey the site provided David Cowles is okay with the financial numbers. • We will be working with DNR fisheries staff on a streambank restoration project off Quarry Road this summer. Approximately 1,400 feet of streambank will be worked on. • We held school talks, in class and out, on the South Fork with Mary Parson's classes from St. Bridgets. Watershed topics were discussed with much emphasis on development pressures. • We will be holding a site showing at the Kelly Creek gully site with area contractors and staff from the Kinni Land Trust in an effort to get cost estimates for the upcoming project. This will occur Monday, May 12 South Fork — • Stream cleanup is scheduled for May 13 and will involve 170 Glenwood students. Stream ecology workshops will be taught on Wednesday, May 7th. • A manure storage abandonment will be done this summer in the watershed through our Land & Water Resource Management Plan and LWRMP cost share program. • PRIP (Phosphate Reduction Incentive Program) participants are in the process of submitting their final soil test reports for the remaining years of the program. Lakes Cluster — • The site showing for Prairie Flats wetland restoration project was re- scheduled from April 24 to May 22 °d . SUBDIVISION REVIEW Pete Kling presented: WILLOW RIVER EAST - (In part of the SW %4 of the SW 1 /4 of Section 30 and in part of the NW 1 /4 of the NW 1 /4 of Section 31 all in T30N -RI 8W, Town of Richmond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) - 45 acre development, 22 lots total. All storm water and erosion control issues have been resolved and a revised plan has been submitted. The storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable for this subdivision. Hendrik VanDyk expressed his concern about the developer's (David Railsback) Bass Ridge Pines subdivision not being completed. Lighter soils are of concern. Discussion. Berenschot made motion to recommend that this subdivision be tabled for one month and give developer until June 1 to complete the Bass Ridge Pines subdivision. Burri seconded. Carried. HUDSON RODEO CENTER — (In part of the SE' /4 of the SE %4 of Section 28 T29N -R19W, Town of Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 23 acre development, 8 lots total. All storm water and erosion control issues have been resolved and a revised plan has been submitted. A pre - construction meeting will be held prior to the start of any road construction. Berenschot made motion to recommend that the plans are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Bethke seconded. Carried. WINDSOR HEIGHTS 1 sT ADDITION - (In part of the SE %4 of the NW %a and in part of the NE %4 of the SW '/4 of Section 32, T29N -R19W, Town of Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 12 acre development, 9 lots total. All storm water and erosion control issues have been resolved and a revised plan has been submitted. The storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable for this subdivision. Cody made motion to recommend that the plans are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Burri seconded. Carried. COTTONWOOD RIDGE 1 ST ADDITION — (In part of the SE %4 of the NW ' / 4 , part of the SW 1/4 of the NW '/4, part of the NE V4 of the SW 1/4 and part of the NW '/a of the SW %a all in Section 36, T29N - R19W, Town of Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 64 acre development, 23 lots total. All storm water and erosion control issues have been resolved and a revised plan has been submitted. A pre - construction meeting will be held prior to any road construction. The storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable for this subdivision. Cody made motion to recommend that the plans are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Bethke seconded. Carried. i ST. CROIX NATIONAL SOUTHERN ESTATES — (In the NE %4 of the SW %4 and the NW '/4 of the SE ' /4 of Section 18, T30N -R19W, Town of Somerset, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 50 acre development, 15 lots total. All storm water and erosion control issues have been resolved and a revised plan has been submitted. A preconstruction meeting will be held prior to road construction. The storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable for this subdivision. Berenschot made motion to recommend that the plans are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Cody seconded. Carried. FARM SERVICE AGENCY Robert Hendrickson reported: • Livestock Compensation Program II (LCP) - Approximately 250 applications have been accepted since program began on April 1. The payments have not been authorized yet. • CREP — We have been working on 2 more applications. • CRP — Sign up runs May 5 -May 30. We expect a large turnout, 15 participants have shown interest already. Our Agency encourages landowners to call for an appointment. • Commodity loan interest rate for May is down to 2.25 percent. Producers still have until the end of May to apply for a corn or soybean loan. • DCP (Direct and County Cyclical Program) sign up is 98% complete. Deadline for producers to complete their application is May 16. Some producers have until June 2 °a to sign their contracts. • MILC (Milk Income Loss Contract) — Monthly payments are now being made to dairy producers. The April rate is $1.792 and we have paid out close to 3.8 million dollars. • Interest rates for our facility loans are 3.5 %. This again is a seven -year program and is for most grain facilities. • Not much information available on a Crop Disaster Program for the years 2001 or 2000 which will begin in June for any producers who may have had a 35% loss or more in grain. • Budgets for the rest of the year do not look good. • Mary says that they have been getting a few requests from producers and banks about operating money. Producers are finding it hard to come up with money to put their crops in this year. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE Steve reported: Steve reported that several students plan to be working in the office this summer. Two students will be working through internship programs, one will be a volunteer, and another will be hired directly by NRCS. A work -study student will also be located here. It is projected that the EQIP funding will become available May 13 We will have a slight reduction from the original allocation of $187,000. We will take signups at least through June 1 and have already received several applications for funding. We have had many new inquiries into the CREP and Continuous CRP programs. DNR Warden Dave Hausman reported: He offered DNR staff to participate in school field days. Bob Baczynski has already participated in a school event this year. Fisheries — It has been 4 years since the New Richmond dam was installed. A fish survey in New Richmond indicated several large species of fish such as Northern pike, large mouth bass, with a developing pan fish population. There were some nice sized Blue Gills, many small bass, and some large brook trout surveyed at the Glen Hills reservoir. Stream bank work was completed at Spring Valley. Prior to removal of an old metal bridge, Trout Unlimited crew built lunker structures and stacked them, later to be placed in the stream. Lunker structures are oak planks (low benches) that are placed in the stream outside bends. Trout like to hide under the structures. Contractor's crew took about Y2 of the lunker structures ($3,000 worth of time and materials) and dumped them in big piles. Wildlife — Staff have been doing prairie grassland burning. Forestry — New forester, Dahn Borh, has been with DNR for over 10 years. He is originally from Africa and recently purchased a home in Baldwin, so will be relocating his family soon. The Natural Resources Board narrowly approved a ban on baiting and feeding deer. The permanent rule will take effect on September 1St Budget — With proposed cuts in the budget, license fee increases will provide additional money for a temporary relief Law Enforcement — Operating budgets have been cut. $7,500 proposed for our operation budget, this includes mileage, meals, cell phone usage, etc. Years ago wardens were allowed $10,500- 12,000 /year. There are more expenses now, wardens have to work more efficiently. RC &D Berenschot reported: • Bids being taken on 2000 Ford Explorer, 4 door, 4 wheel drive, auto power, 52,000 miles. Minimum bid is $14,500. • State meeting was held on April 24 at Stevens Point. • Funded new RC &D — Town & Country, Milwaukee. • Planned the next State meeting which is to be held at Siren, WI. • Rotational grazing meeting will be held at Hixton, WI. Mary Anderson will give a field tour. • $550,000 will be coming to Wisconsin for "rotational grazing ". • Announced raffle of PACKER tickets (December 7 — Bears/Packers). Funds are used for Education purposes within RC &D. • Next National meeting will be held at San Antonio, Texas. WEST CENTRAL AREA Heise reported on the area spring meeting and speaking/poster contests held on April 9. Cody made some comments on the business meeting which he attended. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Heise handed out a copy of proposed legislation that is to eliminate local control over zoning decisions for concentrated animal feeding operations (up to 10,000 cows). Local authorities would not have opportunity to make approval of these operations. Heise handed out memo regarding a proposal from our state legislature that would take $1 million dollars from staffing grants and use it to fund ethanol incentives and the cost sharing of non - bondable cropland practices. This proposal is to be included in the state budget. If it is not stopped before it is included in the budget, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to remove from the budget bill. He encouraged LWCC to contact our local legislative representatives, particularly State Senator Sheila Harsdorf and State Representative Kitty Rhodes, who serve on the joint finance committee. Bethke made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:32 a.m., seconded by Burri, carried. Jim Cody Secretary