HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water Conservation-Resource & Education Committee 08-04-98ST_ CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Tom Dorsey, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Art Jensen, Chairman
COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation/Rosource & Education
Committee
DATE: August 4, 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:
Rejwrts • DNR
MRCS
FSA
RC&D
West Central Area
Education Activities
Farmland Preservation
Legislation/Environmental Stewardship
Priority Watershed Projects
-Kinnickinnic
-South Fork of Hay River
-Pilot Project/Conservation Credit
-St. Croix Lakes Cluster
St. Croix -Basin Nutrient Monitoring - Resolution
Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area
Glen Hills Watershed - Flood Plain Study
-Structure #2 Pipe Separation
Baldwin Ag Building Update
EQIP Plan
Discuss proposed Lower St. Croix River District Zoning Amendment
Award Applications - Status
Job Reclassifications
Bass Lake Boat Landing
Farmland Preservation Compliance Hearing
-Notice of Noncompliance - Don Quam - 10:30 a.m.
NEW BUSINESS: Vouchers 1999 Preliminary Budget*
Closed session per WI Stat 19.85(1)c Personnel Evaluation-10:00 a.m.*
Reconvene into open session*
Riverway Task Force*
Farmland Preservation Applications
Subdivision Review - 11: o0 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
SUBMITTED BY: Charles Christenson
DATE: July 22, 1998; amended July 23, 1998
COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD 'OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD
COUNTY CLERIC COMMITTEE MEMBERS
* ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES
Convened: 9:00 a.m.
Adjourned: 11:45 a.m.
ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE
& EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI
August 4, 1998
Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, Jim
Cody, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: County Conservationist -Charles Christenson,
Technician -Bob Heise, Farmland Preservation Technician -David Sander,
Secretary -Arlene Lier
Others Present: Don Siler-NRCS, Dick Gade-FSA, Eunice Post-DNR,
Roger Swanson-UW-EXT
Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen.
Raymond made motion to adopt agenda. Berenschot seconded. Carried.
Raymond made motion to approve July 7, 1998 meeting minutes. Seconded
by Bethke. Carried.
Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, 1998 at 9:00 a.m.
DNR
Eunice Post (Water Regulations Specialist) reported:
Mike Soergel/Kris Belling - Western Prairie Restoration area project
proposal is going to Natural Resources Board in September.
Fall turkey and sharp tail (applications) APLN due August 10. Goose
hunting possibly only 40 days. Goose numbers are down.
Marty Engel - New Richmond flowage stocked with northerns, crappies,
and bluegills. Will be stocked for next 3 years as part of the rehab
process.
Lake Mallalieu to be drawn down 5-6 feet on September 1 for structure
repairs. It should kill milfoil in the lake.
Now surveying Eau Galle watershed (fish and habitat), mostly Pierce
and Dunn counties. Completed in August.
Harvey Halvorsen - Working with NRCS for prairie grass plantings this
fall and next spring 1999.
Mound Park dam was removed. Fisheries is evaluating old lake bed,
armoring new channel banks, and also doing instream habitat
enhancement.
Team established to evaluate necessity for Little Falls dredging.
Recommendations due in January. Also looking at long term lake
planning and management. Mark Kubler is part of team.
Post works with Water regulations and zoning. Lower St. Croix River
issues - discuss alternatives that task force developed. Public law
is very explicit. Citizens review board or create new board. Good
way to get citizens input for rewriting statutes.
Post works at Baldwin DNR office except Tuesdays (Eau Claire team
meetings). She handles new issues and Dan Koich will continue working
with the pending ones.
BASS LAKE BOAT LANDING
Christenson reported that Mary VanFossen-Community Services
Specialist -Eau Claire DNR has been in contact with Corp Counsel on
possibility of St. Croix County leasing the facility. DNR has title
to the land now. To be eligible to keep conservation aids received or
any added aids, St. Croix County would have to lease the facility from
DNR. Letter has been received from Van Fossen outlining landing
development stages to date. Maintenance and liability are issues to
be resolved.
NRCS
Siler handed out and discussed July activity report.
Conservation plans are being written for land that was removed from
CRP under the "early out" provision.
Prairie plantings (over 1300 acres) for the 15th CRP are complete for
this season. A "how to" meeting for those who will be doing prairies
planting this fall or next spring was held July 21. Over 2,000 acres
are yet to be planted next spring.
FSA
Gade explained the LDP (Loan Deficiency Program) which is triggered by
low commodity prices this year and applies to wheat, oats, barley, and
corn for producers enrolled in the 7-year program. Anybody who raises
soybeans, also qualifies. Informational letter will be sent out this
week. County price gets posted daily. If posted county price (PCP)
is lower than the loan rate, difference would be the payment allowed.
Producer chooses date, then files form with FSA. Farmer must have
control of crop to be eligible. Rates are announced daily on WIXK and
WEVR radio stations.
ST. CROIX BASIN NUTRIENT MONITORING
Following up on information presented by Buzz Sorge-DNR at the July
meeting, Christenson reported that Administrative Coordinator Krizek
and Corp Counsel Timmerman have indicated their support of the
project. St. Croix County would be the administrator to handle funds
for the project. Received one letter of support back and waiting for
letters of support from towns, and the Cities of Hudson and Prescott,
after they have taken to their boards.
Raymond made motion for approval of resolution, based on facts, that
county act as a conduit of money for the St. Croix Basin Nutrient
Monitoring project. Seconded by Cody. Carried.
RC &D
Berenschot reported on meeting held at Stevens Point. Need support
and recognition from NRCS. Indicated that there is a lack of
cooperation between NRCS and RC&D. Want more involvement with NRCS to
coordinate planning. Concern expressed by all (7) presidents of the
RC&D`s.
RC&D people are getting more involved with grants where farming is
slow.
WEST CENTRAL AREA
Swanson announced that the Fall Board of Directors meeting will be
held on August 19. West Central Area Award winners for 1998 will be
selected and posters will be judged.
Both Raymond and Bethke commented on the summer tour hosted by
Chippewa County. It included a dairy expansion in progress. Also
toured NSP dam built in 1917 near Chippewa Falls.
EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
Sander reported: Had a booth at County Fair. Will have 2 booths(one
watershed) at Farm -City Day (August 8).
All agreed that watershed signs create public awareness.
FARMLAND PRESERVATION
Don Quam did not attend the scheduled 10:30 a.m. noncompliance
hearing.
Sander stated that Quam rented his land a couple of years ago to John
Michaelson for planting canning crops, which did not meet the
Farmland Preservation program requirements. He has considered
planting winter wheat and seeding down this fall (all but 55 acres)
and seeding down rest of land next fall. Will try to rent out,
following a farm plan. Contract expires in year 2001. No pay back if
he is in compliance. If not, has to pay back credits going back 10
years. LWCC decided to give him one month to get on track.
LEGISLATION/ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
No report.
PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS
Kinnickinnic - No report.
South Fork of Hay River - No report.
Lakes Cluster - No report.
GLEN HILLS WATERSHED
Flood Plain Study - Berenschot commented that Micky Teigen (now name
is Brettingen) recently called him regarding structure #2.
Structure #2 Pipe Separation - Christenson reported that plans are at
NRCS-Madison. State Engineer Ramsden has sent report to Washington
requesting funding. DNR has no funding for emergency repairs at this
time. If plans are approved, will bring to September LWCC meeting.
CLOSED SESSION: Motion by Raymond, seconded by Bethke to go into
closed session per WI Statute 19.85 (1) (c) Personnel Evaluation at
10:00 a.m. Roll call vote: All in favor.
Motion by Raymond, seconded by Berenschot to come out of closed
session at 10:31 a.m. Carried.
EQIP PLAN
No report.
WESTERN PRAIRIE HABITAT RESTORATION AREA
No report.
DISCUSS PROPOSED LOWER ST. CROIX RIVER DISTRICT ZONING AMENDMENT
Letter reviewed concerning Management Plan. It recommends keeping the
St. Croix management plan the way it is - same slope - instead of
steeper. Support minimum lot size of 2.5 acres with 1-2 plus acres
buildable - 200 feet setback. Garages could be improved but not
expanded. Structure - leave height of 35 feet. Shoreline - wake size
increase to 300 feet.
Cody made motion that LWCC approves Chairman Jensen's signature on
letter with joint recommendations from Planning & Zoning and Land &
Water Conservation. Bethke seconded. Carried.
AWARD APPLICATIONS - STATUS
Vern Nagel, Wildlife Habitat Development Award winner, has indicated
that he is not sure he wants to accept the award. This is the result
of some misunderstandings with FSA regulations.
JOB RECLASSIFICATION
Christenson reported that newly drafted job description for Heise is
being reworded.
FARbbAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS
None.
SUBDIVISION REVIEW
None.
VOUCHERS
Reviewed vouchers. Bethke questioned U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
voucher ($3,000) for Truax no -till seed drill. Christenson stated
that money comes from conservation aids (license fees) fund, no county
dollars involved. Bethke made motion to approve vouchers. Seconded
by Berenschot. Carried.
1999 PRELIMINARY BUDGET
Scheduled budget development and approval meeting for Monday, August
17, 9:00 AM. Watershed project reports and other unfinished business
to be done at this meeting.
MISCELLANEOUS
Ag Center - Heise presented 4 proposed floor plans with justifications
for committee consideration. After discussion, Chairman Jensen stated
that the cubicles are to be used by staff the way they are set up.
Staff can present other proposals at future meetings if need develops
to change.
Committee agreed that the one conference room could be used to expand
engineering room since the present engineering area is not adequate to
hold drafting tables, wetland maps, and other resources. The other
two conference rooms will stay as they are. Need for chairs and
phones will be considered for each room.
Phone system is a separate issue and moving people will not solve the
problem. The lighting over some work areas is a problem and should be
evaluated.
Christenson asked for consideration to expand the reception area
cubicles for Extension and Land & Water Conservation. Committee
agreed to this work order.
Christenson presented financial assistance agreement from the
Recreational Boating Facilities Program for the Squaw Lake Boat
Landing project ($1,757). Motion made by Bethke for Chairman Jensen
to sign agreement. Seconded by Cody. Carried.
Announced that a Leadership Training session for committee members
will be held August 24 at Ramada Inn & Conference Center in Eau
Claire. Berenschot plans to attend.
Lier presented the LWCD/NRCS meeting -training schedule for August.
Raymond announced that Zoning Director Cindy Sherman has resigned
effective end of August.
Berenschot made motion
Raymond. Carried.
.Arm
J' Cody, Se retary
By Arlene Lier
to adjourn meeting at 11:45 a.m. Seconded by