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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water Conservation-Resource & Education Committee 09-01-98ST. 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: September I, 1998 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Reports: DNR NRCS FSA RC&D West Central Area -Award Applications Status Education Activities Farmland Preservation Legislation/Environmental Stewardship Priority Watershed Projects Kinnickinnic -South Fork of Hay River -Pilot Project/Conservation Credit -St. Croix Lakes Cluster Glen Hills Watershed -Flood Plain Study -Structure #1 Pipe Drawdown -Structure #2 Pipe Separation Baldwin Ag Building Update EQIP Plan Job Reclassifications Bass Lake Boat Landing Riverway Task Force 1999 Budget NEW BUSINESS: Vouchers Farmland Preservation Applications Subdivision Review - 11:00 a.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Charles Christenson DATE: August 17, 1998 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES Convened: 9:05 a.m. Adjourned: 11:25 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI September 1, 1998 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent: None Staff Present: County Conservationist -Charles Christenson, Farmland Preservation Technician -David Sander, Kinnickinnic Project Manager -Tim Popple, Lakes Cluster Project Manager -Pete Kling, Secretary -Arlene Lier Others Present: Pete Skorseth-DNR Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Cody made motion to adopt agenda. Bethke seconded. Carried. Cody made motion to approve August 4, 1998 meeting minutes. Seconded by Berenschot. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. DNR Pete Skorseth (Environmental Engineer -Water Supply/Waste Water): The West Central Wisconsin Biosolids Facility in Ellsworth is presently generating about 8,000 tons of N-Viro Soil. All of the municipal wastewater facilities in St. Croix County haul their sludge to this facility. The product is presently being sold for $1.00 per ton and is used primarily as a liming agent with some nutrient value. The facility also generates two bagged products - Organogrow Potting Soil and Organogrow Planting Soil. All three of these products have been approved for distribution by the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture. Angela Parkhurst has accepted the Western District storm water position. She will be responsible for Construction Site Storm Water WPDES permits. Her telephone number is 715-839-3836. The following communities are in the process of upgrading Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Deer Park, Hammond, Hudson, New Richmond, Somerset, Star Prairie, River Falls. The following communities are in the process of planning for or constructing major water supply facilities: Hammond, Hudson, New Richmond, Star Prairie, River Falls. As part of the St. Croix County Land Use Plan, the Department is in to work with the LWCC and others to produce a groundwater use/well head ordinance. Wildlife Management 1) Western Prairie HRA Feasibility Study will be presented to the Natural Resources Board on September 23. If approved there, it needs the Governor's approval and then implementation can start (though there won't be a lot of funding for the first couple of years) . 2) It sounds like WI will be proposing 4-5 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program projects around the state. We'll be proposing that this area be one of the project areas in the WI proposal. 3) Bonus deer permits will go on sale on September 14. It doesn't look like any local units other than 60M will have permits available. Forestry The Hayward Nursery is currently purchasing tree seeds for planting this fall in their nursery beds. Price per bushel of seed ranges from $10.00/bushel up to $150.00/bushel, depending upon the tree species collected.' Anyone interested in picking tree seeds should contact the Hayward State Nursery for details on picking seeds and quotas. The Department of Natural Resources and the West Central Chapter of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association will hold a Timber Marketing Workshop on September 12, 1998 at Willow River State Park. The morning session will include a discussion on sustainable forestry; how the Wisconsin forestry programs developed after the heavy cutting years in the/late 1800s and early 1900s, what items can be sustained in a forest, how the public can be involved in forestry decision and where the Wisconsin forestry program is headed in the next millenium. The afternoon session will involve marking a pine plantation for thinning. Workshop participants will mark the trees, measure tree heights and diameters, and leave the proper number of trees to keep trees actively growing and healthy. The public is welcome to attend. More information about the workshop can be obtained from Kathy Nelson at the DNR office in Baldwin. MRCS No report. FSA No report. RC &D Berenschot reported: Full council meeting was held on August 24. -NRCS is now working more closely with RC&D. -Working on strategic plan for the state of Wisconsin. Burri made motion to approve Berenschot's attendance at the State Convention at Manitowoc on September 28-29 (one night). Bethke seconded. Carried. WEST CENTRAL AREA Christenson reported that he attended the August 19th meeting. -Vern Nagel was chosen as the Wildlife Habitat Development Award winner. -Dave Vold gave a short NRCS report. -The state WLWCA meeting will be held in Eau Claire on December 2-4. Also reported that he attended the Leadership Training session held on August 24 in Eau Claire. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Sander reported: School field day graders (9/11 - Glen Hills County scheduled for Baldwin -Woodville 6th Park) . Kling has been training students from St. Mary's School -New Richmond at Bass Lake Landing. Had volunteers for 2 hours of work from freshman class at UW-River Falls. FARMLAND PRESERVATION Sander reported: No progress with Don Quam. He will continue to rent to John Michaelson for canning crops. Cover crop is not feasible. Hearing was held last month and 30 day notice was given. Motion by Raymond to authorize Chairman Jensen to sign "Notice of Noncompliance". Berenschot seconded. Carried. When contract expires, Quam will have to pay back credits. He did not attend the scheduled noncompliance hearing on August 4. LEGISLATION/ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Christenson stated that things are calm due to this being an election year. Raymond reported that bridge meeting will be held on September 9 at the Government Center -Hudson. Alternate route will be discussed. If successful, final meeting date is September 28. Discussion on county rezonement issues. Exclusive ag areas would require 35 acres. New plan - not set minimum parcel size. Concept started with density areas. Not clusters, but now conservancy districts. There will be new septic system rules. Towns handle zoning proper. Sanitary permits are issued by county zoning. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Kinnickinnic - Popple reported that watershed plan draft is soon ready for review. Plan approval should go well. Berenschot will present plan to county board. Have committed $60,000 for 1998 EQIP funding. South Fork of Hay River - Conservation plans and nutrient management plans are being completed for pilot project. No news on Dunn County staff (County Conservationist -Forester, Project Manager -Kinney). Christenson stated that if Kinney leaves, position will be filled. Lakes Cluster - Kling reported working with Russ Strohbeen to establish boundaries (235 acres) for Fish & Wildlife appraiser. Also being considered is 40 acres owned by Vern Teske. Pine Lake - Interested in improving wildlife habitat (east side of lake). Will need to determine County's position on easements. Landowner would get payment and agree not to farm on stream corridor, and agreement not to develop land. Jensen requested that information be brought back to LWCC. Kling will show a video on town board/development rights at October 6 LWCC meeting. GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Flood Plain Study - Christenson reported that contract with Ayres now amounts to $64,200 ($36,500 + $27,700). Amendment covering dams 7 and 8 will go to Government Center for signatures. Have specs for placing survey monuments on all 5 structures being studied for breach routing. Correction crew from New Richmond may help. Structure #1 Pipe Drawdown - Nechville will be doing the work. It is budgeted. Structure #2 Pipe Separation - Have plans from NRCS. Talked with contractors who are interested in bidding. Project has to be done by freeze-up time. Bids due in by September 9. AG BUILDING UPDATE Sander reported that sidewalks do not meet state handicap specs. Derrick Construction will make the repair. JOB RECLASSIFICATION Christenson reported that revised job description for Heise restates lines of authority. Review of position classification will be presented at Personnel meeting on September 10. BASS LAKE BOAT LANDING Christenson reported that boat landing is proceeding. New docks are in. Issue of ownership/leasing not settled yet. Will update members of Sportsmen's Alliance at this evening's meeting. FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS None. RIVERWAY TASK FORCE Raymond commented that letter was submitted. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Troy Glen Subdivision (Sec. 30 - Town of Troy) - Reviewed storm water and erosion control plans. Bethke made motion that LWCC recommends approval of Troy Glen subdivision and a letter be forwarded to the Planing, Zoning & Parks Committee. Berenschot seconded. Carried. POLICY REVIEW FOR ANIMAL WASTE ORDINANCE Presented draft of "St. Croix County Land & Water Department Professional Engineering Policy and Standards". Purpose is to insure protection of the environment, and the health, welfare, and safety of St. Croix County residents. After discussion, Raymond made motion for conditional approval contingent on review and approval by Corporation Counsel. Berenschot seconded. Carried. Directed to prepare specs for proper maintenance of manure pits/large dairies. Ideas can be formulated this winter. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Bethke made motion to approve vouchers. Seconded by Raymond. Carried. 1999 BUDGET Christenson reported that liability insurance changed from 1.5% to 1%, resulted in a reduction of $1,487.00. MISCELLANEOUS Jensen reminded staff that county vehicles should be kept in the Ag Center garage every night. Popple and Berenschot will be attending the Buffer Conference at Plover on September 16.. Bethke made m tion to adjourn meeting at 11:25 a.m. Seconded by Cody. Car led. A 't Ji ody, Secretary By\Arlene Lier