LAND RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
LAND RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
County Board Room, Sauk County West Square Building

 

Conservation, Planning, and Zoning (CPZ) Committee members present:  C. Spencer, J. Dietz, G. Johnson, B. Newport, J. Berlin, M. Krueger, and R. Puttkamer.

 

Absent: C. Whitsell

 

Others present:   L. Wilson, G. Greve, B. Cunningham, B. Sadler, C. Fowler, M. Schlupp, and M. Stieve. (See registration slips for others.)

 

At 9:00 a.m. Chair Spencer, called the Land Resources and Environment Committee meeting to order and Greve certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law. 

 

Adopt agenda:   Spencer stated the need to postpone the closed session due to unavailability of the administrative coordinator and to place the item on the next LRE Committee meeting agenda.  Motion by Berlin/Newport to adopt the agenda as discussed.  Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Adopt minutes:  Motion by Newport/Puttkamer to approve the January 9, 2020 LRE minutes.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Public Comment:  D. Polivka spoke against allowing kennels for breeding dogs used for research purposes.

 

Communication:   None.

 

Review and approval of vouchers – LRE.  Motion by Johnson/Berlin to approve the vouchers as submitted: 2019 vouchers in the amount of $29,887.33 and 2020 vouchers in the amount of $7,973.69.  Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Report on the Great Sauk State Trail: Stieve gave a status report on the Great Sauk State Trail.

 

Public hearing:  To begin at approximately 9:15 a.m. (Committee to consider and take possible action at the conclusion of the respective hearing.)

 

a. Petition 01-2020: A petition from Nick Heiser to consider a conditional use permit pursuant to s. 7.027(2)(i) for an Agricultural-related business. Said Conditional use is located in the NW ¼ of the SE ¼, Section 22, T10N, R3E, Town of Bear Creek, Sauk County, and as further described in Petition 01-2020. Tax Parcel Identification number 004-0776-10000.

 

Fowler appeared and provided history and background of the request. She reviewed the staff report, conditional use permit information, and town action. She concluded with staff recommendations to be considered should the conditional use permit be approved. Danielle Heiser appeared and spoke in favor of approving the permit. Nick Heiser, applicant, registered in favor.

 

Seeing that no one else wished to speak, Spencer closed the public portion of the hearing at 9:31 a.m. and the committee began deliberation.

 

Motion by Berlin/Dietz to approve conditional use permit 01-2020, with the conditions recommended by the Land Resources and Environment Department.  Motion carried, all in favor.

b. Petition 02-2020. A petition to consider a conditional use permit pursuant to s7.038(9)(g) for a mobile tower siting.  Said conditional use is located in the NW ¼, NE ¼, Section 3, T12N, R5E, Town of Excelsior, Sauk County, and as further described Petition 02-2020. Tax parcel identification number 010-0048-00000.

 

Cunningham appeared and provided the history and background of the request. He reviewed the staff report, conditional use permit information, photos of the property and the town action.  He concluded with staff recommendations to be considered should the conditional use permit be approved. 

 

Gary Henshue, Bug Tussel, applicant, appeared and spoke about additional tower details. He passed several handouts to committee about home distances and health reports.

 

Mike Glick, representing the Jarold A. Glick Revocable Trust, appeared in opposition of the proposed tower.

 

Seeing that no one else wished to speak, Spencer closed the public portion of the hearing at 9:50 a.m. and the committee began deliberation.

 

Motion by Johnson/Dietz to approve conditional use permit 02-2020, with the conditions recommended by the Land Resources and Environment Department.  Motion carried, all in favor.

c. Petition 03-2020. A petition to consider a rezone from Single Family Residential zoning district to an Agriculture zoning district.  Said rezone is located NW ¼, NE ¼, Section 15, T11N, R7E, Town of Greenfield, and as further described in Petition 03-2020. Tax parcel identification number 018-0440-00000.

 

Cunningham appeared and provided the history and background of the request.  He reviewed the staff report, rezoning request, photos of the property and town action.  He stated the purpose of the rezoning would be to grow vegetables under protected structures, which would be allowed under the proposed rezone. Wilson clarified to the committee that this request is for rezoning, not a conditional use permit.

 

Jason Swed, applicant, appeared in favor and described the purpose of the request is to grow vegetables under protected structures (hoop houses) in order to lengthen the growing season for produce for farmers’ markets and restaurants.

 

Clifford Peterson registered in favor of the rezoning request.

 

Stephen Bruns appeared in opposition to the rezoning request.

 

Aaron Weiland registered as interest may appear.

 

Tina Anderson appeared in opposition to the rezoning request.

 

Amy Bruns appeared in opposition to the rezoning request.

 

Seeing that no one else wished to speak, Spencer closed the public portion of the hearing at 10:23 a.m. and the committee began deliberation.

Motion by Berlin/Spencer to recommend approval of the rezone petition 03-2020.  Motion failed, 4-2.

 

The committee recessed for 5 minutes.

 

Discussion on Letter from United Grading and Surveying LLC

Berlin stated she thought it was wrong not to accept the lowest bid for the additional surveying work sought for the “wye” for the Great Sauk State Trail.  Wilson clarified the county was seeking quotes, not a bid, and that financial policy was followed in approving the accepted proposal. Spencer and Krueger agreed it would have been helpful to have the letter as an introduction at the time the quote was submitted, so they would have had more information about the company.

 

Discussion on Letter from Town of Freedom re: Kennel Ordinance Amendments

Spencer stated he wants to amend the kennel ordinance to take pressure off of towns. Krueger recommended Director Wilson have the item placed on the next Towns Association meeting to gauge the sentiment of the issue at the town level.  

 

Discussion and possible action on notices of FPP Non-Compliance: Millen Liv Tr, Millen Rev Tr, Juniper LLC, Patterson, Brickl, Peetz, Wiese, Koenig, Bruckert, Grotophorst, Jaedike, Raschein Rev Tr, and Raschein.  Schlupp explained background and timeline for FPP applicants to be in compliance in order to receive FPP tax credits.

 

Jeff Neumann, speaking on behalf of Neumann Bros., said he rents land on some of the Millen, Juniper and Patterson lands and had been unaware that the nutrient management plan had expired. Landowner Matt Millen spoke about there being a communication disconnect. He is retired and doesn’t always get mail that’s sent to his office. He relies on farmers to handle the plans and requirements.

 

Motion by Johnson/Berlin to remove Millen Liv. Tr, Millen Rev. Tr., Juniper, LLC, and Patterson from receiving notices of non-compliance. Motion amended by Krueger/Spencer to include Brickl in the motion. Motion to approve the amended motion, all in favor. Amended motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion by Krueger/Puttkamer to send, via certified mail, letters to remaining FPP participants in order to be certain they are aware of potential loss of certification due to non-compliance, and to postpone further action until the February 13th committee meeting. Motion passed unanimously. 

 

Postponed to February 13 LRE Committee meeting: Possible closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility: Performance evaluation of the Land Resources & Environment Director.

Next meetings of the Land Resources and Environment Committee will be held on Thursday, February 13 and Tuesday, February 25, 2020.

Krueger would like item regarding carryforward of BOMC funds placed on Feb. 13, 2020 LRE Committee meeting agenda.

Motion Johnson/Dietz to adjourn the meeting at 11:47 a.m.  Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Glen Johnson, Secretary