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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 11-06-01 ST. 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: November 6, 2001 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: December 4, 2001 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES NEW BUSINESS: *2001 Supplemental Soil & Water Resource Management Grant Contract Federal Cost Sharing - Tree shelters Subdivision Review - 10:00 a.m. Vouchers UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Staff Reports: Education Activity - Tree Program - Venison Program - Speaking Contest - I & E Coordinator Priority Watershed Projects Glen Hills Watershed - Relocation update - Structure #8 - Pipe separations Ag Issues - Ordinance update Homestead Park 2002 Budget CREP(Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) Contract 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: October 24,2001; amended October 30, 2001 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 November 6, 2001 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Lois Burn, Jim Cody, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent: None Staff Present: County Conservationist-Bob Heise; Land Specialists-Pete Kling, David Sander; I & E Coordinator-Ruth Stern; Program Assistant-Jonna Fedie; Secretary-Arlene Lier Others Present: Steve Pemsteiner-NRCS; Bob Hendrickson-FSA; Dave Hausman-DNR; Jack Colvard- Emergency Government; Tom Rose-County Board Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Cody made motion to adopt agenda. Burn seconded. Carried. Berenschot made motion to approve October 2, 2001 meeting minutes. Seconded by Burri. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. 2001 SUPPLEMENTAL SOIL & WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GRANT CONTRACT Heise presented 2001 supplemental grant for $22,500 for the South Fork of the Hay River Watershed. This grant represents the second half of the South Fork Watershed staff and support allocation for 2001. Motion by Bethke and seconded by Berenschot to approve the 2001 supplemental grant and have Chairman Jensen sign the contract. EDUCATION ACTIVITY Jonna Fedie reported: • Tree Program - The 2002 tree sale program concluded on November 2°d. We sold 34,800 trees, exceeding last year's total of 32,000. • Venison Program - The gun season will kick-off on November 17th. We are looking forward to a good season and helping many people. Discussion followed on fund-raising efforts. I & E Coordinator - Ruth Stern reported on information and education activities within the department. Several conservation field days, stream ecology workshops, and classroom presentations were held during the month of October. The St. Croix County Conservation Speaking Contest was held on October 9th with the elementary division speaker going on to win third place at the district level competition in Eau Claire. Ruth will be attending a grant writing workshop in late November in Eagle River. A $5,000 grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency will be completed by mid-November with a second grant being submitted to the Pioneer Seed Company in December. If grants are secured, the funds will be used towards the overall St. Croix County Information & Education Program. CREP (CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM) Heise presented short overview of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Governor signed the CREP into law the later part of October. This program is offered to the county as a surface water quality initiative, but comes with "no administrative funding" to the department. The CREP objectives meet 3 of the 4 goals of the department's Natural Resource Management Plan. Greg Timmerman had an opportunity to review CREP contract and has suggested changes to the contract. Discussion. Heise handed out letter from Wisconsin Counties Association. Committee supports the overall concept and objective of CREP and how the program compliments the Resource Management plan of the department. Since no state money is offered to the department for administrative costs, Heise presented the option to charge fees at a flat rate per application, contract, easement. Discussion. Committee recommends that Heise, with assistance from Corporation Counsel, amend the CREP contract. Committee will discuss contract at the December meeting. LESA (LAND EVALUATION AND SITE ASSESSMENT) Heise reported that the work group met for the first meeting on November 1, 2001. The meeting was a general overview of the LESA system. The next meeting for the workgroup is scheduled for November 15, 2001. Heise commented that two meetings are scheduled before the end of the year with the goal to complete the Land Evaluation portion of the system. 2002 BUDGET Heise thanked the committee for their support on the Land and Water Conservation budget. Discussion on the Information and Education position for the Land and Water Conservation Department. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Kling presented: English Estates - (In part of the NW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 18, T28N-R19W, Town of Troy, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) - 28 acre development, 9 lots total. Substandard information had been received. It was conditionally approved by the Planning & Development Committee on October 24 subject to LWCC approval on November 6, 2001. 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. Bethke seconded. Carried. Star View Acres (In part of the SW 1/4 of the SE '/4, and in part of the S '/z of the fractional SW '/4 of Section 19, T28-R16W, Town of Eau Galle, St.Croix County, Wisconsin) - 36 acre development, 9 lots total. Recommended for approval. Bethke 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. Glover Glen (In part of the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 and the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 9, and the NW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 16, all in T28N-Rl9W, Town of Troy, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) - 33 acre development, 10 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. Burri seconded. Carried. the Pioneer Seed Company in December. If grants are secured, the funds will be used towards the overall St. Croix County Information & Education Program. CREP (CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM) Heise presented short overview of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Governor signed the CREP into law the later part of October. This program is offered to the county as a surface water quality initiative, but comes with "no administrative funding" to the department. The CREP objectives meet 3 of the 4 goals of the department's Natural Resource Management Plan. Greg Timmerman had an opportunity to review CREP contract and has suggested changes to the contract. Discussion. Heise handed out letter from Wisconsin Counties Association. Committee supports the overall concept and objective of CREP and how the program compliments the Resource Management plan of the department. Since no state money is offered to the department for administrative costs, Heise presented the option to charge fees at a flat rate per application, contract, easement. Discussion. Committee recommends that Heise, with assistance from Corporation Counsel, amend the CREP contract. Committee will discuss contract at the December meeting. LESA (LAND EVALUATION AND SITE ASSESSMENT) Heise reported that the work group met for the first meeting on November 1, 2001. The meeting was a general overview of the LESA system. The next meeting for the workgroup is scheduled for November 15, 2001. Heise commented that two meetings are scheduled before the end of the year with the goal to complete the Land Evaluation portion of the system. 2002 BUDGET Heise thanked the committee for their support on the Land and Water Conservation budget. Discussion on the Information and Education position for the Land and Water Conservation Department. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Kling presented: English Estates - (In part of the NW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 18, T28N-R19W, Town of Troy, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) - 28 acre development, 9 lots total. Substandard information had been received. It was conditionally approved by the Planning & Development Committee on October 24 subject to LWCC approval on November 6, 2001. 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. Bethke seconded. Carried. Star View Acres (In part of the SW 1/4 of the SE '/4, and in part of the S '/z of the fractional SW '/4 of Section 19, T28-R16W, Town of Eau Galle, St.Croix County, Wisconsin) - 36 acre development, 9 lots total. Recommended for approval. Bethke 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. Glover Glen (In part of the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 and the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 9, and the NW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 16, all in T28N-Rl9W, Town of Troy, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) - 33 acre development, 10 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. Burri seconded. Carried. Johnson Meadows (In part of the NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 and part of the NW V4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 16, T30N- R19W, Town of Somerset, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) - 36 acre development, 9 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. Bethke seconded. Carried. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Motion by Berenschot, seconded by Bethke, to approve vouchers. Carried. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS No report. GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Heise reported that one bid was received by the county clerk on the sale of the mobile home below Glen Hills Structure #2. Finance Committee is to open bid on November 9. Heise reported that the repair of the emergency spillway on Glen Hill structure #8 is to begin on November 7, 2001. Weather cooperating, the repair shall be completed by November 10th. LWCD staff will complete the erosion control practices on site. Heise commented that former NRCS engineer and Heise inspected the 5 dams that had been identified with pipe separations. Cody asked about the ramifications if the county does not receive money from NRCS next year to repair these structures. Heise informed committee that internal metal bands might have to be installed as a temporary fix until money is received. AGRICULTURAL ISSUES -UPDATE Sander gave an up date on the progress of construction projects for Jon-De Farms, Emerald Dairy, Lofty Acres, and Baldwin Dairy. Discussion followed. An update of the progress of the animal waste ordinance was reported. Discussion of the attorney general's opinion of whether or not counties can be more restrictive in an ordinance than the State when dealing with livestock operations. According to the attorney general's opinion, the county may be more restrictive but the ordinance needs to meet the approval of DNR and DATCP which may be difficult to obtain. A meeting has been set up with Greg Timmerman, Ellen Denzer, Rod Eslinger, Bob Heise, Jonna Fedie, and David Sander to determine what the next step should be for the ordinance. HOMESTEAD PARK Heise presented a County Aids grant application for a project in the Homestead Park, phase H construction. Sportsmen's Alliance has agreed to support a 2002 project for Homestead Park. Marty Engel, DNR fish manager, is also supportive of the project. Committee supported the grant proposal and concurred to have Chairman Jensen sign the grant application. The grant application will be presented to the Sportsmen's Alliance committee on November 6, 2001. FARM SERVICE AGENCY Bob Hendrickson reported for FSA: - Waiting for CREP to get into full swing. Hopefully the new farm bill will extend it beyond 12/31/2002. - Compliance is over 99.9% complete. - Sending out information on the 2002 Production Flexibility Contracts (PFC). Information will contain a series of questions and answers. - 10 commodity loans were disbursed for $783,250.00 with 2 pending. Interest rate is 3.375% for the month. - We have paid out 108 LDP(Loan Deficiency Payments) for $164,185.30 mostly on soft red winter wheat and corn. We also have around another 200 LDP applications waiting for payment. - Farm Storage Facility Loan interest rate is 4.375%. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE Steve Pernsteiner reviewed letter regarding NRCS providing a computer to the Land and Water Conservation Department, which will be directly connected to the NRCS server. The computer will be maintained by NRCS. This computer would allow LWCD to directly access GIS and toolkit information. Committee made and approved a motion to approve letter of agreement with NRCS. DNR Dave Hausman (Lower St. Croix Warden Team Supervisor) reported: • Forestry (Kathy Nelson) - Trees and shrubs are selling out from the DNR tree nurseries. Trees are sold on a first come, first served basis until they are sold out. • Private Lands Wildlife Biologist (Harvey Halvorsen) - Activities on fall prairie plantings. • Fisheries(Marty Engel) - Hatfield Lake is being aerated, similar to Baldwin Pine. Red Wing dam area - Reported on patrol of illegal activities by fishermen where possession limits of 12 fish(sauger and walleye)were exceeded. Deadline for bidding on confiscated boat is November 26, minimum bid $6,000. RC&D Berenschot reported: • He attended board meeting in Clark County. Many items were discussed. • RC&D received $173,000 in grants. Financially RC&D is in good shape to do many projects. • Bulk orders for prairie seeds are being received. • RC&D plans to be involved with the "Plants out of Place" conference which was held in Eau Claire last year, where approximately 600 people attended. WEST CENTRAL AREA Raymond reported on the "Fall Business Meeting & Speaking Contest" which was held at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in Eau Claire on October 23. All LWCC members attended. Commented that the new director, Rebecca Bauman, is a good leader. The 2002 area speech contest will be held in spring, rather than fall. MISCELLANEOUS Jack Colvard(Emergency Management Director) attended meeting. He explained a proposed volunteer program for identification signs to be installed on farm buildings which have hazardous materials in them. He has met with Precision Ag Services, New Richmond. Asked for support on program from LWCDlLWCC. Information could be included in our county newsletters. Chair Jensen indicated that LWCC would support the program. WLWCA - Heise had raffle tickets for the conference. Raymond made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:55 a.m. Seconded by Bethke. Carved.