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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 08-05-03 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: August 5, 2003 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: September 2, 2003 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES NEW BUSINESS: County budget 2004 - Preliminary review Sale of zip seeder Set date for budget review Natural Resource Management Plan - Discuss public hearing August 13 Lakes Planning Grant 2004 - Sediment & Nutrient Conference Conservation Aids Grant 2004 - Apple River Contribution Agreement NRCS - Technical Services Project Personnel Study update Subdivision Review - 10:00 a.m. Vouchers UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Staff Reports Municipal Waste - Regional - Update Glen Hills - Structure #8 alarm 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: July 23, 2003 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES UNOFFICIAL Convened: 9:00 a.m. Adjourned: 11:55 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI August 5, 2003 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent None Staff Present: County Conservationist -Bob Heise; Land Specialist -Pete Kling; Technicians -Ryan Schaefer, Tammy Wittmer; Secretary- Arlene Lier Others Present: Aleisha Troendle, Steve Pernsteiner -NRCS; Bob Hendrickson -FSA; Bob Baczynski -DNR Meeting called to order by Chair Art Jensen. Bethke made motion to adopt agenda, seconded by Burri, carried. Berenschot made motion to approve the July 1, 2003 meeting minutes, seconded by Bethke, carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, 2003 at 8:30 a.m. PRESENTATION — WILLOW RIVER WATERSHED PROJECT Aleisha Troendle, Willow River Rehabilitation intern, gave a presentation on the Upper Willow River Watershed Project which evaluated the sedimentation to the river. The same presentation had already been given at a meeting of the Willow River Rehabilitation District. She canoed the river looking for erosion areas during the survey. Water samples were taken and indicated the various sediment (turbidity) levels of each area. Identified log jams on the river that are creating erosion problems and will be discussing these concerns with DNR regarding removal of the log debris. COUNTY BUDGET 2004 — PRELIMINARY REVIEW Heise reported that there is a new software program for the 2004 budget. Heise passed around a copy of the department's operation budget for the committee to review the new format. The revised capital outlay plan was discussed. Vehicle (2004 purchase — 7 -8 passenger van) would be shared with Parks and Zoning departments. is possibility of purchasing a used vehicle with low miles. Chair Jensen requested Heise to report on the Homestead Parklands at the next County Board meeting. Preliminary DATCP state budget would reduce our staffing grants by $17,000. As of last Friday, alterations were proposed which would go to Department of Administration for approval. If approved, the alternative proposal would have less of a financial impact to our department's staffing grant allocation. SALE OF ZIP SEEDER Two bids were received for the zip seeder. It was sold to Dale Crowley for $531.00. SET DATE FOR BUDGET REVIEW Budget review will be held on September 2, 2003 at 8:30 a.m. GLEN HILLS — STRUCTURE #8 Ryan Schaefer reported: He consulted with Gary Lepac -DNR on July 16 about possible alternatives regarding alarm for dam #8. Gary recommended that visual checks of the dam, with input and output discharges from the dam, would be monitored for a period of time during a significant rainfall event. Rainfall gauges will be placed at the ranger station at Glen Hills Park and possibly a citizen homestead near the dam. In the future, rainfall amounts of this determined amount would mean that a LWCD staff person, after receiving confirmation from the above rainfall stations, would physically inspect the dam and its reservoir for any potential hazards, water levels and proper operation of spillway systems. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN — DISCUSS PUBLIC HEARING Public hearing will be held on Wednesday, August 13, 7:00 p.m. at the Hammond town hall. The plan changes in the "draft" document will be presented. A 30 -day comment period will follow the hearing. Twenty copies of the plan must be submitted to the DATCP by September 8 so presentation can be conducted to the Wisconsin Land & Water Board on October 1, 2003. LAKES PLANNING GRANT — 2004 — SEDIMENT & NUTRIENT CONFERENCE — RESOLUTION Heise presented a resolution to sponsor a Lakes Planning Grant to hold the Sediment & Nutrient Conference in Trollhaugen, WI. Berenschot made motion to approve the resolution, seconded by Bethke, carried. CONSERVATION AIDS GRANT 2004 — APPLE RIVER Heise reported that the Sportsmen's Alliance, during their July meeting, suggested the Apple River project (Canoe Landing) as the 2004 Conservation Aids project. The project was proposed to the committee last year, however it was suggested we wait a year on this particular project. Heise recommended proceeding with this project. Raymond made motion to approve Chair Jensen's signature on the grant application, seconded by Bethke, carried. CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT NRCS — TECHNICAL SERVICES PROJECT Heise reported that there is a possibility the department could assist NRCS with their CRP workload. As a result, the department would generate revenue to help offset the reduction from staff funding by DATCP. Heise reviewed the agreement, made corrections, and forwarded the document to Greg Timmerman, Corporation Counsel to review. LWCD would act as the technical service provider. CRP sign -up #26 plans would have to be done by September 24, 2003 with other terms of the work agreement extending to September 30, 2004. Berenschot made motion to have Chair Jensen sign the agreement, seconded by Raymond, carried. PERSONNEL STUDY UPDATE Heise reported that all departments were requested by Chuck Whiting to work on their department's portion of the Personnel Study. Our version followed a similar format used by Computer Services. Burri made motion to accept the LWCD personnel study, Cody seconded, carried. MUNICIPAL WASTE - REGIONAL - UPDATE Heise reported that "Comments on the Facility Plan Amendment" were submitted on behalf of the LWCC and PZ &P. The comments were signed and hand delivered on July 25 to the Village of Roberts as part of the hearing process for the CSCSC (Central St. Croix Sewerage Commission). A copy of the comments was also submitted to Pete Skorseth, DNR. STATE BUDGET UPDATE — STAFF FUNDING Heise reported that Joint Finance cut DATCP $500,000 annually in their staffing grant allocation for both 2004 and 2005. DATCP has not made any decisions on how these reductions are to be distributed and how this is going to affect local LWCD's. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Motion by Bethke, seconded by Burri, to approve Chair Jensen's signature on the August voucher list. Carried. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Tammy Wittmer reported: Squaw Lake - Prairie Flats Wetland project - Contractor site showing was held on July 29th. The awarding contractor will be notified by Thursday, August 7 Hope to have all work completed this fall. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Pete Kling presented: LUNDY'S MEADOWS - (In the NE %4 of the SE' /4 and the NW %4 of the SE' /4 of Section 22, T30N- R18W, Town of Richmond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 78.7 acre development, 36 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. Berenschot made motion to recommend that the plans for this subdivision are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, Raymond seconded, carried. WHITETAIL MEADOWS - (In the SE 1 /4 of the NW 1 /4 and part of the SW 1 /4 of the NW %4 of Section 23, T30N -R18W, Town of Richmond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 69 acre development, 30 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. Discussed maintenance of ponding areas. Raymond made motion to recommend that the plans for this subdivision are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, Berenschot seconded, carried. WALNUT HILL FARM - (In the SE 1 /4 of the SE %4 and in part of the SW 1 /4 of the SE 1 /4 and part of the NW 1 /4 of the SE 1 /4 and in the SW %4 of the NE 1 /4 and in part of the NE 1 /4 of the SW 1 /4 and in part of the NE 1 /4 of the SE 1 /4 of Section 22, T28N -R19W, Town of Troy, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 252.2 acre development, 76 lots total. This subdivision is a Conservation Design type development with lots clustered on small acreage. The infrastructure for a shared wastewater treatment facility may be installed concurrent with other construction activities. 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 with the following condition: The County obtains a maintenance guarantee for the storm water management facilities per 18.19(B)(2). Raymond made motion to recommend that the plans for this subdivision are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, Berenschot seconded, carried. FARM SERVICE AGENCY Robert Hendrickson reported for FSA: • The Livestock Compensation Program H (LCP) has ended with 360 applications being accepted. • CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) activity continues. • CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) is over and we are waiting for information on the accepted bids. • There has been a Marketing Assistance Loan on Corn loans for the last week or two. Today's repayment rate is $1.80 for corn that is under loan. (Loan rate is $1.86) • DCP (Direct and Counter Cyclical Program) - Notice was received this past week that there would be no Counter- Cyclical Payments for Wheat, Barley or Oats. • The MILC (Milk Income Loss Contract) program is going well. We are now making monthly payments to the Dairy producers. The June rate was $1.7775. The July rate is $1.764. • The Interest rates for our facility loans are 3.125 %, which is up a small amount. This again is a seven - year program and is for most grain facilities. • We have started a Crop Disaster program (CDP) for the years 2001 or 2002 for any producers who may have had a 35% loss or more in their grain. No word yet on when program will end. • Budgets for the rest of the year are shaky and for 2004 projections are not much better. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Bob Baczynski reported that the NR -118 hearing was held on July 31 Comment period deadline is August 29. Partnership meeting is scheduled for August 13. The DNR has moved into the new service center in Baldwin. The front conference room will be available for meeting groups of approximately 30 people. Berenschot questioned the compost area located in Cady Township (near Highway 128). Grading had begun before the hearing. Questioned whether the stream was navigable. Call Greg Breese, DNR -Eau Claire if anyone has questions to be answered. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE Steve reported that the four students, working this summer in the office, will return to school mid August. They were big help in doing status reviews and gathering NRI data. EQ1P - 34 applications received requesting $227,000. Should be able to fund 20 requests for $150,000. State has requested additional funding and may receive slippage from other counties. Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a new program offered to landowners with over 40 acres in hay or pasture. Sign up ends August 8. To date we have received two applications. CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) letters were mailed to over 100 potential landowners. American Farmland Trust provided letters and postage. Office has received several responses. Will need to hold monthly Local Work Group meetings. Since the next LWCC agenda is full, Steve will schedule a separate meeting the end of August or early September. RC &D Berenschot reported: • The "Land Stewardship and Opportunities for Rural Landowners" conference, sponsored by River Country RC &D and UW- Extension, will be held Saturday, September 6, 2003 at the Plaza Hotel & Suites, Eau Claire. • Full council meeting is scheduled for August 27 at the Ag center. Plan to arrange tour of the bison ranch. Mary Anderson has signed the owners (Smeesters) up for the rotational grazing program. • Prairie seed is now available. • Value Added Conference is planned for early in 2004. • The state meeting will be held at Siren, WI on October 15 -17. • He attended the National RC &D convention held at San Antonio, TX the end of July. 1,550 people were in attendance, including people from Alaska, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. There were 375 councils represented throughout the United States. He attended all of the breakout sessions, one being "Rural Tourism" for small towns. • The state of Wisconsin is now 100% RC &D funded. The 7 th council includes the south east portion, Milwaukee and Racine area. WEST CENTRAL AREA Raymond reported that the 2003 West Central Area Fall Meeting and Area Speaking Contest is planned for Wednesday, October 22, at the Plaza Hotel & Suites in Eau Claire. MISCELLANEOUS Kling announced: Dedication of the park (handicapped - accessible for fishing the Apple River) at Star Prairie will be held on Tuesday, August 12. The program begins at 4:00 p.m. and the dedication at 7:00 p.m. State Senator Sheila Harsdorf plans to attend the event. The annual golf outing will be held Friday, August 15, 1:00 p.m. at the Hammond Golf Course. Cody made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:55 a.m., seconded by Bethke, carried. Jim Cody Secretary Arlene Lier Recording Secretary