HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 02-05-02ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Tom Dorsey, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Art Jensen, Chairman
COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation /Resource & Education
Committee
DATE: February 5, 2002
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: March 5, 2002
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
NEW BUSINESS:
Personnel Study
Subdivision Review - 10:00 a.m.
Vouchers
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Staff Reports:
2001 Conservation Awards Dinner
CREP(Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program)
* - Fee Structure
Education Activity
* Wildlife Damage Program
Priority Watershed Projects
Glen Hills Watershed
- Relocation update
* - Pipe separation
Ag Issues
- Ordinance update
Homestead Park
- Update
LESA(Land Evaluation and Site Assessment)
- Work group update
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: January 23, 2002; amended January 29, 2002
COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD
COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS
* ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES
A
UNOFFICIAL
Convened: 9:00 a.m.
Adjourned: 12:00 noon
ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE
& EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI
February 5, 2002
Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond
Members Absent Chris Bethke (excused)
Staff Present: County Conservationist -Bob Heise; Land Specialists -Pete Kling, Tim Popple;
County Technician -Kyle Kulow; Ruth Stern-I & E Activities Specialist;
Secretary - Arlene Lier
Others Present: Bob Hendrickson -FSA; Steve Pernsteiner -NRCS; Pete Skorseth -DNR; Gary
Kollman, Casey Swetlik - Emergency Communications
Meeting called to order by Chair Art Jensen.
Berenschot made motion to adopt agenda. Cody seconded. Carried.
Berenschot made motion to approve January 2, 2002 meeting minutes. Seconded by Burri. Carried.
Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, 2002 at 9:00 a.m.
DNR
Pete Skorseth (Environmental Engineer) handed out information and reported on the Central St. Croix
County Wastewater Alternatives (surface water, groundwater, and other).
The study being done includes 4 communities along I -94.
Reported on the seepage cell proposal on the 800 -acre Gillis farm for the Villages of Hammond and
Roberts. Rapidly permeable soils in proposed location of seepage cells. Facility planning process
includes a March hearing. Facility would be a 20 -25 year design, and could be operational in 2004.
Proposal is acceptable under current DNR codes.
PERSONNEL STUDY
Heise informed committee of the Personnel Study. Land and Water Conservation Department will be
attending a working session with other departments on February 13, 2002 from 1:00 -3:00 p.m. Heise
invited committee to attend.
VOUCHERS
Reviewed vouchers. Motion by Raymond, seconded by Burri, to approve vouchers. Carried.
2001 CONSERVATION AWARDS DINNER
Arlene Lier reported that the 2001 Conservation Awards dinner has been scheduled for March 26 at the
American Legion in Baldwin.
CREP (CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM)
Heise handed out a copy of the fee schedule proposed to implement the CREP. The State Land and
Water Board is meeting today and will decide on the fate of our request to waive the Farmland
Preservation compliance.
Informed committee that the department has received a letter from the County Highway commissioner
on some issues on the CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement program). Committee suggests that
we follow the DATCP guidelines of CREP.
EDUCATION ACTIVITY
Ruth Stern reported:
The LWCC members reviewed packets of conservation education information that were recently
distributed to the 35 public and private schools in St. Croix County. The packets included information
on the Conservation Speaking and Poster Contests, conservation field days, classroom presentations,
Teacher Scholarship Program and the Wisconsin Conservation Camp. The St. Croix County
Conservation Speaking Contest will be held on Thursday evening, February 28 in Baldwin.
Conservation Poster Contest entries will be judged at 8:00 A.M. on Tuesday, March 5 Lois Burn and
Jim Cody agreed to assist with the judging. Grant applications have been submitted to the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Wisconsin Environmental Education Grants Board, and the St.
Croix County United Way for funds to be used towards the overall St. Croix County Conservation
Education Program.
WILDLIFE DAMAGE PROGRAM
Kyle Kulow reported:
There are two claims for 2001: (1) Harold Frye — Sec. 29 Cady and Sec. 32 Springfield. Total claim
$854.74, deduct $250.00, equals $604.74 claim. (2) Robert Keatley — Sec. 23 Kinnickinnic, 190
bushels of organic soybeans lost @$9.00 per bushel, $1,710.00 total, deduct $250.00, $360.00 hunt
lease payment, equals $1,100.00 claim.
Wildlife Damage program has new claim forms which will be used this year. Chair Jensen will need to
sign each claim before the March 1 st t deadline.
Burri made motion to approve payment of the two wildlife damage claims. Jensen seconded. Carried.
PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS
Tim Popple reported:
Three large issues concerning the Kinnickinnic watershed were discussed. A large scale wetland
project on the UW -RF campus, the restructuring of Lake George for stormwater management, and two
large subdivisions on the north side of River Falls. The priority watershed project is playing an
advisory role in each of these three projects. As for the Lake Cluster and the South Fork of the Hay,
design of projects for spring implementation is under way.
GLEN HILLS WATERSHED
Heise informed the committee that a letter was sent to Mickey Brettingen providing her a 30 -day notice
to vacate the property. She has been given a date of February 15, 2002 to vacate the premises.
A timetable has been developed and discussed with property owners.
Tom Krapf, NRCS, will be meeting with the department on February 7 th to review the relocation
project be given a tour of the Glen Hills Dams.
Heise reported that St. Croix County would receive some remedial money from NRCS to repair the
pipe separations on the Glen Hills Dams. Teleconference is to take place with NRCS on February 11,
2002 to discuss this issue in greater detail.
Heise and Kulow have been working on receiving bids and pricing for the Structure #7 alarm system
AGRICULTURAL ISSUES —UPDATE
Heise reported that the animal waste ordinance amendments are on hold until the department receives a
copy of the state model ordinance.
HOMESTEAD PARK
Heise reported that the county had received very competitive bids for the Homestead Park, Phase Il
project. Parks Department will present bids with staffs recommendations to the Planning, Zoning and
Parks Committee on Tuesday, February 12, 2002
Jensen presented to the committee the concept of merging the Parks Department into the Land & Water
Conservation Department. Discussed office space, computers, and workload issues. All committee
members agreed favorably with the concept of merging departments.
LESA (LAND EVALUATION AND SITE ASSESSMENT)
Heise handed to the committee a "DRAFT" of the LE portion of the LESA system for constructive
criticism and feedback.
SUBDIVISION REVIEW
Pete Kling presented:
Emerald Acres (In part of the SW %4 of the NW %a, part of the SE %4 of the NW 1 /4, part of the NW 1 /4 of
the SW 1 /4, part of the NE' /4 of the SW %4 of Section 30, T29N -R17W, Town of Hammond, St. Croix
County, Wisconsin) —151 acre development, 68 lots total. Recommended for approval. Cody made
motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable and a letter be sent
to the Planning & Development Committee. Burri seconded. Carried.
Roy Ridge Estates (In part of the NW 1 /4 of the NE 1 /4 of Section 9, T30N -R19W, Town of Somerset,
St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 29 acre development, 8 lots total. Recommended for approval.
Berenschot made motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable
and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Cody seconded. Carried.
Pheasant Run First Addition (In part of the NW 1 /4 of the SE 1 /4 of Section 22, T29N, RI 9W, Town of
Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 36 acre development, 13 lots total. Recommended for
approval. Cody made motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are
acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Berenschot seconded.
Carried.
Reported that the Subdivision Approval Process workshop held on January 30 was well attended.
Heise recognized Pete as doing a commendable job on the subdivision workshop. Heise has received
many favorable comments.
FARM SERVICE AGENCY
Bob Hendrickson reported:
• There will not be a CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) sign up for 2002. However, those
contracts that are due to expire September 30, 2002 can be extended for one more year. FSA
currently has 124 contracts (approximately 4,800 acres) that could be extended.
• At this point there are 16 producers that are ready to sign up for CREP (Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program) with another 12 producers interested in signing up.
• This is the last year for the AMTA (Agricultural Marketing Transition Act) program. Payments for
the PFC (Production Flexibility Contracts) are complete.
• FSA made 70 commodity loans and 969 LDP's (Loan Deficiency Payments). The interest rate for
commodity loans is at 3.125% for February. Farm Storage Facility Loan interest rate is 4.875 %.
• FSA is going to the GPS /GIS mapping system. St. Croix should be up and running in
approximately six months.
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
Steve Pernsteiner reported that Jerry Thompson is the new Assistant for Field Operations for northwest
Wisconsin. He will be located in the Eau Claire Technical Center. This is a reorganization similar to
the old Area Offices structure. Jerry will supervise the DC's and area staff. Jerry has worked for
NRCS in Wisconsin, Hawaii, and New Mexico.
High interest still evident for the installation of riparian buffers. New computer sharing system set up
for forms between NRCS and FSA looks promising.
RC &D
Berenschot reported:
• Attended Board meeting on January 17 at Altoona - Went over 2002 workload plans.
• Attended State meeting on January 24 at Stevens Point - Discussed 2002 goals and activities.
• Attended North Central RC &D meeting at Springfield, IL on January 27 -30 — Networked with
other states RC &D members and discussed other projects and programs. Ideas will be brought back
to Wisconsin.
• Attended the Value Added conference on February 1 in Eau Claire. This conference was well
attended. Ag Secretary Harsdorf was present. Heard many different ways to make money in
farming.
• He and Pam Herdrich (Coordinator) will be attending the RC &D conference in Washington D.C.
• Need to select new "member at large" from St. Croix County.
• The prairie seed program will be reduced this year due to a lower number of requests. Lower
demand was a direct result of no CRP signup.
WEST CENTRAL AREA
Business meeting along with the poster and speaking contests will be held on March 13, 2002 at the
Ramada Inn, Eau Claire.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE
Heise reported that he has received an inquiry from a business interested in the lot next to the
agricultural center. Ag Star, formerly known as Farm Credit, is merging offices and is interested in
locating in the Baldwin area.
Gary Kollman, St. Croix County Emergency Communications Director, was directed by his committee
to research the option of occupying space in the Agricultural Center as an alternate location for
Emergency Communications Station. Gary explained the reasons and purpose of the space. Since this
was not an agenda item, no motion was made but the committee was favorable to the concept.
Heise reported to the committee that he received a correspondence informing him that there is a
proposal on the table from the Governor to cut soil and water conservation programs by 3.5% in 2002
and 5% for 2003. Heise informed the committee that the department has made fiscal decisions and
spending constraints to prepare for the shortfall, should that occur.
Berenschot made motion to adjourn meeting at 12:00 noon. Seconded by Raymond. Carried.
Jim Cody
Secretary