HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water Conservation Resource & Education Committee 10-05-1999
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ST. CROIX COUNTY L
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: October 5,1999
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin
CALL TO ORDER
.ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
ACT T ON ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Reports: DNR
NRCS
FSA
RC&D
West Central Area
Education Activities
Farmland Preservation
Priority Watershed Projects
Glen Hills Watershed
- Dam #2 Alternatives
Baldwin Ag Building Update
Office Priorities
County Land and Water Resource Management Plan
- Public Opinion Survey
County held Conservation Easements
Review County Conservationist Job Description
Joint Polk/St. Croix Meeting
Conservation Practice Tour Schedule
St. Croix Riverway District
2000 .Budget
NEW BUSINESS:
Farmland Preservation Applications
Subdivision Review - 10:00 a.m.
Vouchers
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
SUBMITTED BY: Charles Christenson
DATE: September 21, 1999
COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD
COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS
* ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES
- -
UNOFFICIAL Convened: 9:00 a.m.
Adjourned: 11:20 a.m.
ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE
& EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI
October 5, 1999
Members Present: Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Art Jensen
Members Absent: Leon Berenschot, Ron Raymond (both excused)
Staff Present: County Conservationist-Charles Christenson, County Technician-Bob Heise,
County Technician-David Sander, Lakes Cluster Project Manager-Pete Kling, Secretary-Arlene Lier
Others Present: Marty Engel-DNR, Dean Steinnes-Ayres Associates, Attorney Catherine
Munkittrick, Mickey Brettingen
Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen.
Cody made motion to adopt agenda. Bethke seconded. Carried.
Bethke made motion to approve September 7, 1999 meeting minutes. Seconded by Cody. Carried.
Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 2, 1999 at 9:00 a.m.
DNR
Marty Engel (Fisheries Biologist) reported:
Fisheries: He has been working in Buffalo, Pepin and Dunn counties.
Forestry: Tree order forms are now available. They can be picked up or mailed out.
Wildlife: Habitat advisory group is being formed.
Pat Collins: Continuing to work with city of New Richmond on water problems.
Bonus tags went out late. Out of local control due to automated license system. Have paper backup in
case system crashes.
Bethke asked whether there are free hunting licenses for "Venison for Hungry" project. Answer was "no"
but bonus tags are for sale at the DNR and other sales outlets. Two bonus tags can be purchased at one
time.
WEST CENTRAL AREA
The fall meeting and speaking contest will be held on October 20 at UW-Stout Campus.
EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
Sander reported: Schedule of training activities for October was mailed out.
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FARMLAND PRESERVATION
Sander reported: Don Quam was issued a "notice of noncompliance." He has seeded down 160 acres.
He wanted to know what he must do to get back into compliance. We will have to go through process of
canceling "notice of noncompliance."
Bethke made motion to proceed with cancellation of noncompliance for Quam. Burri seconded. Carried.
PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS
Kling reported:
Lakes Cluster - Attended a Finance Committee meeting to discuss the structure south of Cedar Lake.
Corporation Counsel Timmerman will determine ownership of structure. NSP gave the county the land.
The paperwork for transfer of ownership was not filed. Sports groups may be involved in the repair
project. State engineers will help with design.
Perch Lake - Reported receiving call. How can interests be addressed?
Jensen stated that township wants road to be upgraded (widened and turning lanes). Marty Engel
mentioned funds (community assistance grants) for boat landings. Mary VanFossen has left and has been
replaced by Bruce Neeb.
Bethke reported on the Vrieze dairy tour. Told about pit cover which will collect and burn gas.
GLEN HILLS WATERSHED
Mickey Brettingen and Attorney Munkittrick were present to discuss what action might be taken to
address the house located downstream of structure #2.
Dean Steinnes-Ayres & Associates stated that study map and report on structure #2 is done. The map
outlines hydraulic shadow - higher flood elevation if dam were to fail during flood. Also shown is the
100 year regional flood.
There would be no difference in zoning, both in 100 year flood and hydraulic shadow, for the area where
house is located.
Heise commented that in 1996 there was no flood plain zoning below structure. Permit was issued for
septic system because there was nothing restricting issuance of building permit.
Installation of house initiated studies and flood plain moratorium. Final results will be flood plain zoning.
DNR, under the Dam Safety program, inspects dams every 10 years. To date, 5 Glen Hills dams have
been inspected. Owner (St. Croix County) is required to do detailed studies to determine hazard ratings.
Heise stated the report outlined 3 options to address the Brettingen home.
Repair and upgrade the dam.
Remove the dam (home would still be located within the flood plain).
Remove or flood proof the home.
Grant program - dam safety - Cost share 50% county, 50% state - if dam does not meet safety standards.
Has to meet high hazard standards for design, as long as the house is there.
Option #3 - Steinnes -Ayres said that there may be funding under state grant program. County would
have to apply for grant. Attorney Munkittrick commented that option #3 seems to be the most cost
effective and best for Mickey Brettingen. The problem with this option is the timeframe, which would
delay any solution until June 2000 for grant approval.
If a warning system were required, county would have 2 years to install warning system. If dams were
upgraded, county would have 10 years to complete.
Mickey Brettingen stated that in April of 1999 an offer of $92,500 was made on her property (house and 8
acres). The sale did not close due to the pending study.
LWCC discussed recommending option #3. Jensen made motion to recommend to Finance that option
#3 be investigated. Bethke seconded. Carried.
Steinnes said analysis to date did not include flood plain maps for structures 7 and 8. Christenson had
asked him to put together a proposal to study flood plain for Sandy Creek for 100 year flood. Ayres
Associates proposed a $13,500 fee. Options: Dunn County may share part of fee.
NR-116 DNR code could be used for flood plain zoning and establishing flood elevations. Zoning office
however wants zoning based on some kind of study. If challenged, good to have data to back them up. A
gap in the map between when the breach route study ends and Sandy Creek meets the county line, makes
it necessary to do additional studies. Ayres proposal was not accepted.
AG BUILDING UPDATE
Christenson reported:
. Test was done on generator (gas engine). Have not heard about results.
. Voice mail training has been delayed due to lack of coordination with contractors.
. Cupola has been built on west side of building over the door.
. Cement product used along driveway to keep from washing out driveway edge.
OFFICE PRIORITIES
No report.
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COUNTY LAND AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Sander reported: Held first set of meetings. Last meeting held jointly with Citizens Advisory
Committee. Resource concerns were prioritized.
Cheryl Bursik will compile all county concerns as a result of brainstorming. She will inform us of what
process will be from now on. What concerns should be expressed in the plan? What are concerns about
natural resources? Limits (time) on what department can do. Will take concerns and develop goal
statements. Technical work group meetings scheduled over next month to work on goals and how to meet
goals (by topic). Citizens group meeting on November 3 will provide guidance for department in the
future. Working plan - work with staff on developing plan to accomplish goals.
COUNTY HELD CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
Kling reported that Russell Strohbeen has already signed an easement agreement and working on two
other agreements (Gene Nelson and Vern Teske). Another landowner does not want compensation, only
an agreement (20 year) with the county. Allows him to slow things down.
REVIEW COUNTY CONSERVATIONIST JOB DESCRIPTION
No report.
JOINT POLKIST. CROIX MEETING
Meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 11. Tour will include Strohbeen property, Horse Creek
area.
2000 BUDGET
Christenson reported meeting with Finance. Position for secretary was included in the proposed budget.
A check with personnel found that once watershed was approved, was to go back and get a position
approved, which was not done. Troy Dankemeyer was hired effective July 1. Sonja Gunderson retired in
June. Added secretary was unapproved, resulting in an error, thus requested $33,000 be removed from the
budget. Additional 500 hours temporary help money approved. Rent line item for watershed staff
removed. Accepted a one-year block grant.
SUBDIVISION REVIEW
Bass Ridge Pines - 31.08 acres (Sec. 25 Town of St. Joseph) - Heise presented Bass Ridge Pines.
subdivision. Each homesite will be required to have construction site plans. Cody made motion to
recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable and a letter be sent to Planning
& Development Committee. Bethke seconded. Carried.
Huntington Meadows - 15.0 acres (Sec. 11 Town of Star Prairie) - Heise presented Huntington Meadows
subdivision. Cody made motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are
acceptable and a letter be sent to Planning & Development Committee. Burri seconded. Carried.
Hopkins Prairie - 21.0 acres (Sec. 10 Town of Hudson) - Heise presented Hopkins Prairie subdivision
Bethke made motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable and a
letter be sent to Planning & Development Committee. Cody seconded. Carried.
River Park Meadows -76.19 acres (Town of Hudson) - Heise presented River Park Meadows
subdivision. Burn made motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are
acceptable and a letter be sent to Planning & Development Committee. Bethke seconded. Carried.
VOUCHERS
Reviewed vouchers. Jensen made motion to approve the vouchers. Seconded by Cody. Carried.
MISCELLANEOUS
Bike Trail - Heise reported that two more areas (dips) are being fixed. Then it will be resurfaced.
Bethke made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:20 a.m. Seconded by Cody. Carried.
Jim Cody
Secretary
By Arlene Lier