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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water Conservation-Resource & Education Committee 05-05-98ST. 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: May 5, 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 COMMITTEE REORGANIZATION: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary COMMITTEE REPS: RC&D, West Central Area, Kinnickinnic CAC, South Fork CAC, St. Croix Lakes CAC UNFINISHED BUSINESS: ReRorts: DNR NRCS FSA RC&D West Central Area Education Activities Farmland Preservation - Lenertz Farm, Inc. 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 Wildlife Damage Program Baldwin Ag Building Update EQIP Plan Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area Discuss proposed Lower St. Croix River District Zoning Amendment NEW BUSINESS: Conservation Farmer Award Farmland Preservation Applications Subdivision Review - 11:00 a.m. Vouchers ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Charles Christenson DATE: April 22, 1998 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES Convened: 9:05 a.m. Adjourned: 11:55 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI May 5, 1998 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Jim Cody, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent: (one member short) Staff Present: County Conservationist -Charles Christenson, Technician -Bob Heise, Farmland Preservation Technician -David Sander, Lakes Cluster Project Manager -Pete Kling, South Fork/Kinnickinnic Project Technician -Kyle Kulow, Secretary -Arlene Lier Others Present: Dick Gade, Mary Warner-FSA; Roger Swanson-UW-EXT Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Berenschot made motion to adopt agenda. Bethke seconded. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. COMMITTEE REORGANIZATION Chairman Jensen turned meeting over to Vice Chairman Cody who called for nominations for Chairman. Bethke nominated Jensen. Berenschot made motion to cast a unanimous ballot for Jensen. Carried. Chairman Jensen called for nominations for Vice Chairman. Berenschot nominated Raymond. Cody made motion that nominations be closed and a unanimous ballot be cast for Raymond. Carried. Chairman Jensen called for nominations for Secretary. Bethke nominated Cody. Unanimous ballot was cast for Cody. Carried. Committee representatives appointed were: RC&D - Berenschot, West Central Area Association - Raymond, Kinnickinnic CAC - Berenschot, South Fork CAC - Cody, St. Croix Lakes CAC - Bethke. DNR No report. NRCS April activity report was handed out. FSA Gade introduced Marvin Warner, FSA Credit Manager. Warner gave his background. Ag credit team serves both Pierce and St. Croix Counties. Borrows to those who cannot get credit from local banks. Program consists of 175 farm borrowers on direct loan program and an additional 90 customers with guaranteed loans. Guaranteed loans are made by conventional lenders, guaranteed up to 90% of any losses they have. Volume 28 million. 33 loans (3 million) made since October 1, 1997. Trying to promote youth loans (10-20 years of age, maximum $5,000, 6% interest). Youth need 4-H leader or FFA advisor. Loan has to be paid back under payment plan. Youth borrower has to understand how credit works and must make payments to pay back loan. There are two loan officers (Jerry Peterson, Dave Omann) and two support staff (Lisa Custer, Sandy Weber). Loans are made to family -sized farms, typically less than 300 cows. Commented that he and his staff appreciate the new building. Year-end analyses are being done on farm operating loans. Approximately 100 have been done this year. Gade commented that Washington discontinued the requirement to certify crops planted except for CRP acres, growing vegetables, on farms enrolled in the Production Flexibility Program, eligibility for commodity loans, and utilizing the Noninsured Assistance Program with a crop disaster. Possibility of another CRP sign-up this fall. RC&D Berenschot reported: Participated in conference telephone call which included most of the board of directors. Several grants in process. Land O'Lakes grant program may get involved in RC&D. Grant possibilities: Land O'Lakes $10,000; NRCS $10,000; EQIP $30,000. Annual meeting will be held at Wapogasset Bible Camp, Amery (Polk County). Will tour Balsam Branch Partnership Project (collaboration of several landowners to do environmental education and outdoor recreation). RC&D will have a booth at Farm Progress Days in Dunn County, September 22-24. WEST CENTRAL AREA Christenson attended meeting on April 28. Jim Hartung stated he will not take president of West Central Area Association. Decision was made to wait until all counties had been reorganized before conducting an election of officers. Swanson will receive officer nominations and conduct the election by mail. Conservation Observance Day will be held at Fountain City (Buffalo County) on Friday, June 26. Summer tour will be on July 15 in Chippewa County. Fall board meeting will be on August 19 in Menomonie. Speaking contest will be on October 29 at Stout. WLWCA annual conference will be held in Eau claire on December 2-4. Adam Payne-WLWCA is arranging training session for all (especially new) LWCC members. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Sander reported: - Held classes (200 students) at Somerset School. - Will teach 4th grade students at St. Croix Central School -Roberts using ground water model and lead into sewage treatment plant operation (Village of Roberts operator). - Will be counselor at conservation camp in June. - South Fork Stream Ecology - Glenwood City and Boyceville students. - Hay River cleanup (stream and road ditches). Kling reported on Lakes Association/schools partnership - taking measurements on lakes. Kling showed slides of his Southeast Asian trip (Rural Leadership program tour). Posters are ready to be judged. Cody was appointed judge from LWCC. FA 14LAND PRESERVATION Lenertz Farm, Inc. - Sander stated that he has reviewed conservation standards and will be discussing matter with Lenertz Farm, Inc. Will report at June meeting. Attended training session on May 4. There are more legislative changes coming. As of January 1999, landowners will not have to come in for zoning certificates. Can re -use certificates from past years. Contact would be necessary for zoning changes, conditional use, and purchasing/selling property. LEGISLATIONIENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Heise reported on the Joe Marter-P.E./Doug Goodrich Farms situation. It is to the point that engineer Marter must supply us with an inspection plan detailing how, what, and when inspection will be made. (Health, safety and welfare of people is in the ordinance however no written policy at this time.) Policy must be developed with committee/staff members. Area staff have drafted a guide which can be followed to set our policy. Engineer's responsibility to landowner or other engineers will be outlined. When final draft is completed, will distribute to LWCC for review. Additional funds for priority watersheds are needed. Tax relief is bigger issue, however, with the legislators. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS South Fork of Hay River - Approximately 14 landowners signed up as projects for pollution reduction incentive plan. (3,450 acres) Lakes Cluster - Kling reported cost share moratorium (5/1-7/1). Bass Lake level is down. Appears pumping helped. Kinnickinnic - No report. GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Christenson reported that during annual dam inspection, found pipe failure on structure #2. Pipe separated at first joint, into fill. Will meet with Engineer Bob Henrich and State Engineer J. R. Ramsden this afternoon (May 5) and look at problem. All NRCS and DNR money is committed for 1998. Possibility of 1999 money will be explored. Need estimate of repair cost. Spent 3 days with Boot Camp Crew -New Richmond on dam maintenance work. They did a real good job. Flood Plain Study - Gary Lepak-DNR will be present at Finance Committee to explain breach route study. Corp Counsel Greg Timmerman has questions relating to flood plain zoning. St. Croix County owns the dam and is responsible. Two issues (flood plain zoning and flood route) have become confusing. Repair needed on structure #2 will be more extensive than #1. Proposed study for all 4 dams and digitized mapping at cost of $37,400. Previous studies cost about $8,000/structure, however staff had done the ground survey before the study was done. Present estimate looks good. Heise mentioned that 3 years ago a camera was used to take pictures of the joints. Pipes move, caused by freezing and thawing, which results in separation on some dams. Routine maintenance is a department budget expense. Major expenses relating to repairs or safety are costs above routine 0 & M. WILDLIFE DAMAGE PROGRAM No report. BALDWIN AG BUILDING UPDATE Sander reported that the "open house" is planned for June 19, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Parking lot has been increased in size. Blacktop to be applied this week. Still waiting for Corporate Express items. Commented on the phone system. Stressed the need for voice mail. Gade reported that the USDA office lease is now signed by the county. A memorandum of understanding with federal and county agencies will be developed regarding telephone use billing. EOIP PLAN Paperwork has been submitted by both NRCS and LWCD watershed staff. DNR may not fund much under watershed projects next year. WESTERN PRAIRIE HABITAT RESTORATION AREA No report. DISCUSS PROPOSED LOWER ST CROIX RIVER DISTRICT ZONING AMENDMENT Final draft is coming from Task Force. More discussion coming up on amendments at county level. CONSERVATION FARMER AWARD Names of candidates should be brought to next month's meeting. Also possibilities for teacher award. FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS None. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Buck Hill (Sec. 3 - Town of St. Joseph) - Reviewed stormwater and erosion control plans. Berenschot made motion that LWCC recommends that the stormwater and erosion control plans are acceptable for the Buck Hill subdivision. Seconded by Bethke. Carried. Deer Haven (Sec. 6 - Town of St. Joseph) - Reviewed stormwater and erosion control plans. Retention area - was two different lots. Issue of driveway. Bethke made motion that LWCC recommends that the stormwater and erosion control plans are acceptable for the Deer Haven subdivision. Berenschot seconded. Carried. Wyldwood, Phase II (Sec. 24 - Town of Hudson) - Reviewed stormwater and erosion control plans. Berenschot made motion that LWCC recommends that the stormwater and erosion control plans are acceptable for the Wyldwood Phase II subdivision. Cody seconded. Carried. Richmar (Sec. 27 - Town of Hudson) - Commercial development. A lot of grading. Residential development to the north. Zoning ordinance requires vegetative screening with commercial development adjacent to residential. Retention pond designed for 100 year storm event exceeds county ordinance. Town of Hudson has its own zoning, which is better than county zoning. Heise will work with town, indicating our , concerns. Jensen made motion to postpone for one month. Berenschot seconded. Carried. Discussed demands of Heise's time on subdivision work. Christenson will study current fee structure versus costs. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Bethke questioned "Baldwin Telecom" voucher. Christenson explained it was for testing dam alarms. Berenschot made motion to approve vouchers. Seconded by Bethke. Carried. MISCELLANEOUS Christenson presented the 1998 Soil & Water Resources Management grant contract, total amount $62,522. Chairman Jensen signed contract. Also discussed need for postage machine, would make for an account separation of charges for programs. Berenschot made motion to approve lease agreement. Seconded by Cody. Carried. Berenschot made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:55 a.m. Seconded by Bethke. Narried. �i Cody, Sectary By Arlene Lier