LAND RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

Minutes (130 KB)

SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
LAND RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Room 213, Sauk County West Square Building

 

Land Resources and Environment Committee members present:  J. Berlin C. Spencer, M. Krueger, B. Newport, and J. Dietz, C. Whitsell, R. Puttkamer, G. Johnson.

Absent:  None.
 

Others present:   L. Wilson, G. Templin, J. Alt, B. Simmert, B. Bailey.    See registration slips for public comment.

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

Adopt agenda:   Motion by C. Whitsell/R. Puttkamer to adopt as presented.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Adopt minutes: Motion by G. Johnson/C. Whitsell to approve the August 27, 2019 minutes LRE Committee meeting minutes.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Public Comment:

Heidi Geilz, representing the Town of LaValle requesting that Hemlock Dam be repaired/replaced.  She stated that at Monday night’s board meeting they recommended that the dam be put back in.

Richard Sharrata, speaking in favor of Hemlock Dam and asking that the committee repair/replace the dam.

Teddy Nobs, speaking in favor of the Hemlock Dam and spoke of the comments made about the restoration of a wetland and bird sanctuary made by the Chair of the committee.

Paul Bodendein, speaking in favor of the Hemlock Dam and requested that the dam be repaired/replaced and asked that the committee make a recommendation to the county board at the next committee meeting.

Communications:

Wilson spoke of an email provided by Bev Vaillancourt regarding the Baraboo River.  She also provided an update regarding continued conversations to deal with the log jams near Giese Park and the proposed emergency access point.

Land Resources and Environment
a.         Discussion and possible action on outside agency request for Lake Redstone Protection District.  Mike Mittelstadt appeared and explained that after the last meeting they made a few modifications to their request.  Mittelstadt indicated that $200,000 would go towards dredging and $50,000 would go towards sediment mitigation.  Spencer asked for the financial plans to pay for the additional projects with or without the funding from the county.  Mittelstadt stated they are looking at FEMA funding otherwise they will have to look at grant funding or using their own funding, but is not positive.  Johnson asked about the last fishing event.  Dick Fish responded.   Dietz explained his involvement with the group, supports the work they do, but would be hesitant to vote on anything.  Motion by M. Krueger/C. Whitsell to approve the request for $250,000 coming from fund balance to be divided as $200,000 as a one-time contribution for the dredging effort, as Sauk County is a property owner, and $50,000 to be put in a fund for the department to hire a consultant to work with them to address special needs in all lake management districts in Sauk County.  Motion carried, with Berlin in opposition.

b.         Hemlock Dam Update/Discussion  Wilson provided an update on the bathymetric study and reviewed the letter from the Town of LaValle.  Committee asked questions about the SCORP and the bathymetric study, as well as the type of repair/replacement they would prefer.   Johnson stated he feels the committee has enough information to make a decision on the dam through the Ayres report already provided and what has been provided by the community.  Johnson noted the dam should be replaced.  Berlin agreed.   Newport asked about the funding that is currently in the budget.  Wilson provided explanation.

c.         Discussion and possible action on a resolution authorizing the Purchase and Installation of a Snowmobile Bridge  Alt spoke of the replacement of the snowmobile bridge and the funding associated with the replacement.  Motion by C. Whitsell/R. Puttkamer to approve the Purchase and Installation of a Snowmobile Bridge.  Motion carried, all in favor.
d.         Discussion and possible action on a resolution authorizing participation in the County Conservation Aids Grant Program  Alt spoke of the County Conservation Aids Grant program and the funding associated with the program. Motion by J. Berlin/B. Newport to approve the participation in the County Conservation Aids Grant Program.  Motion carried, all in favor.
e.         Discussion and possible action on waiving the entrance fees during the Indigenous People’s Day event at White Mound County Park  Motion by M. Krueger/C. Whitsell.  Motion carried, all in favor.
f.          Discussion and possible action on a resolution authorizing the Director of Land Resources and Environment to submit grant applications for DATCP Clean Sweep Grant Program and signed letter of Committee support. Motion by G. Johnson/C. Whitsell to approve the resolution authorize the Director to submit the grant for Clean Sweep and the signed letter of Committee support.  Motion carried, all in favor.
g.         Discussion and possible action on the Final LRE 2020 Budget  Wilson discussed the changes to the budget since the last meeting.  Krueger asked about the two vehicles to the Parks services and also spoke about the Prius replacement.  Motion by M. Krueger/G. Johnson to adopt the budget with the removal of the Prius.  Motion carried, all in favor.
h.         Discussion on tiny homes.  Wilson talked about the tiny home discussion from the Economic Development committee and the memo she prepared for the committee.  Krueger stated he would like the staff to go to the next Towns Association meeting and see where the Town’s stand on this issue as there is no reason for the committee to decide on this issue today.  The committee discussed the zoning issues that would accompany tiny homes.

i.          Department report  Wilson reviewed the department report.
j.          Review and approval of vouchers  Templin reviewed the vouchers in the amount of $37,514.28 and $57,155.93.  Motion by C. Whitsell/B. Newport to approve the vouchers as submitted.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Land Records

Department report.  Templin reviewed the department report in Felton’s absence.
Review and approval of vouchers.  Templin reviewed vouchers in the amount of $3,466.05 and $3,836.72.  Motion by C. Whitsell/B. Newport to approve vouchers as submitted.  Motion carried, all in favor.
 

Register of Deeds
a.  Department report.  Bailey reviewed the ROD department report.
b. Review and approval of vouchers.  Bailey reviewed the vouchers in the amount of $11,674.72.   Motion by J. Berlin/C. Whitsell to approve vouchers as submitted.  Motion carried, all in favor.
 

Surveyor
a.  Review and possible action on 2020 Surveyor budget.  Templin informed the Committee that the Survey could not be present and the item will be placed on the September 24th meeting agenda.
b.  Review and approval of department report and vouchers.  Templin informed the Committee that the Survey could not attend and this also would be placed on the September 24th meeting agenda.

Reports           
a.  Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  No report.
b.  Farm Service Agency (FSA). No report.
c.  Foresters. No report.
d.  Economic Development Committee.  Krueger reviewed the last two meetings.  He concluded with the transition event for the Great Sauk State Trail on Saturday , October 19th. 
e.  Mirror Lake District.  He presented the DNR summary and engineer’s report of the truck crash/clean up and the  efforts to require the insurance company to clean up what was left.  He also spoke of their programs, budgeting and a committee field trip to view the lake and its resources and issues.  Possible date, Wednesday, Sept 18th in the afternoon.
f.  Lake Virginia Management District.  Johnson stated their annual meeting is on Saturday, September 14th and will he have more to report after that.
g.  Lake Redstone Management District. Dietz referred to the previous conversation.

Next meetings of the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Committee will be held on Tuesday, September 24th and Thursday, October 10th, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. Motion by C. Whitsell/G. Johnson to adjourn the meeting at 11:30 a.m.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Glen Johnson, Secretary