Land Resources and Environment Committee Meeting

SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
LAND RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Thursday, December 10, 2020
County Board Room 326A & B
Sauk County West Square Building

 

Land Resources and Environment (LRE) Committee members present:  M. Krueger, D. Polivka, R. Nelson, R. Curry, P. Kinsman, B. Lohr, V. McAuliffe, R. Puttkamer

 

Others present:  L. Wilson, G. Greve, M. Stieve, M. Blakeslee, R. Fish, B. Miller, J. Curtis (Zoom), H. Geils, R. Demaskie, G. Templin-Steward, B. Simmert (See reg. slips)

 

Absent:  None

 

At 9:02 a.m. Chair Krueger called the Land Resources and Environment Committee meeting to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law. 

 

Adopt agenda:  Motion by Polivka/Curry to adopt the agenda and to move Item 9, discussion of Hemlock Park and Dam, to follow communications and to later allow M. Blakeslee to provide the Mirror Lake report. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Adopt minutes of previous meetings – November 24 and December 2:  Motion by McAuliffe/Curry to approve the November 24 and December 2, 2020 LRE Committee meeting minutes.  Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Public Comment:

Geils appeared and stated “water is the draw” that brings residents and tourists to Hemlock Park and Dam and there is a need to maintain a water body there. 

 

Fish appeared and thanked the LRE committee for having the December 2 meeting in LaValle. He commented on the tree removal estimated cost being more than $200,000 and the fiber optic relocation cost estimate of almost $50,000.  He feels the cost of the fiber optic relocation should be borne by the company that owns the line (Sprint/T-Mobile).

 

Ray Demaskie appeared and thanked committee for the December 2 meeting. He stated concerns about the short timeline and would like to see the DNR deadline for the land use agreement (LUA) extended by several months. He expressed confidence that the LRE committee will continue to make progress toward park and dam improvements.

 

Public comment ended at 9:16 a.m.

 

Communications: 

Krueger reviewed Supervisor Czuprynko’s letter regarding Timme’s Mill and the Mirror Lake Dam. 

Wilson reviewed the letters received from La Valle Town Chair Demaskie, Bodendein and Ohler regarding Hemlock Dam.  Wilson also noted that the Clean Sweep grant has been awarded and is somewhat higher than expected.  Wilson mentioned the grant that the department intends to apply for a Lake Wisconsin Habitat Improvement Grant of around $30,000.  Wilson stated that Braun Intertec has done some borings in the Wisconsin River for the GSST, however, there are several more to do and those should be completed by June 2021.  Wilson stated that Gail Greve will be retiring January 4, 2021.

 

Register of Deeds:

Krueger reviewed the department report and vouchers.

Motion by Kinsman/Polivka to approve vouchers in the amount of $11,999.16.  Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Land Resources and Environment Department:

Department reports and updates:  Wilson reviewed the department report and provided updates to the committee.

Review and approval of vouchers:  Wilson presented vouchers.  Motion by McAuliffe/Kinsman to approve invoices in the amount of $33,638.62.  Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Discussion and possible action on a Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with Juneau County Land and Water Resources Department and Authorizing the Land Resources and Environment Director to Execute the Agreement

Wilson provided the background of the resolution and clarified Sauk and Juneau contribution amounts.  Motion by Polivka/McAuliffe to approve the resolution as presented and forward it to the County Board.  Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Update on the discussion with the DNR for alternatives at Hemlock Park and Dam

Chair Krueger commented on the December 2 LaValle meeting.

 

Administrator Miller said a request for a 60-day extension to the current LUA deadline of December 31 has been asked of the DNR. He believes there’s a workable option on the LUA.

 

J. Curtis, attorney from Von Briesen & Roper and representing Sauk County, spoke about having a series of discussions with the DNR.

 

Stieve noted that he requested of the DNR an extension to Feb. 12 and explained the results of the bathymetric survey.  He described the three options outlined in the cost comparison document: Option 1 – Repair the dam and sign the LUA with the DNR; Option 2 – Remove the dam; Option 3 – Build a small dam and revise the LUA.  Stieve indicated that if a smaller dam is installed and smaller water body filled, there would be less liability to the county because the 400 Trail would not serve as the dam and future maintenance would be less onerous. Stieve stated that the land use agreement could be amended to be more equitable between the DNR and Sauk County, but no amendments or variances would be required for the grant. Stieve stated that if the dam were removed, a variance would be required. Stieve verified that the fiber optic line will likely have to be moved, regardless. Stieve stated that with the third option suggested the County would send a letter to the DNR requesting a smaller dam and amending the LUA.

 

Curtis spoke of his meeting with Miller, Stieve, and Krueger.  Curtis reiterated there would be much less liability to the county if there’s a good compromise between the county and the DNR. Curtis noted that as it stands now, the county would have far more liability if it were to rebuild the current dam. Curtis recommended Option 3 and a revised LUA as the next steps, in order to see a more equitable allocation of liability.

 

Nelson asked about a timeline for the next steps. Curtis provided a tentative timeline.

McAuliffe would like to have Town of LaValle included in some discussions.  Stieve noted that the Town would not be included in the LUA discussions, as that is an agreement between Sauk County and the DNR, however, they should be involved in future discussions of Hemlock Park.

 

Krueger said to only do work on the dam would be doing a disservice to the park.  Krueger noted that the county should demonstrate commitment to the LaValle community by helping to improve Hemlock Park as a whole.

 

Discussion and possible action on amendments to the code enforcement policy

Lisa described the problem of trying to gain compliance from landowners who are in violation of the county codes, e.g. junkyards and failing septic systems. Templin-Steward further commented on problems with the ongoing cycle of issuing citations that are ignored and unpaid and the violations continue. Wilson stated that staff would like direction on whether committee wants to pursue changes to the code enforcement policies in order to get property owners to comply and resolve violations.

 

Motion by Polivka/Nelson to ask the County Administrator, LRE Director, Simmert and Templin-Steward to look into possible amendments or improvements to the code enforcement policy and return those findings to the LRE Committee. Motion carried, all in favor.

 

Reports                                                          

a.  Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – None

b.  Farm Service Agency (FSA) -- None

c.  Foresters – None

d.  Economic Development Committee – Chair Krueger reported that the EDC’s consideration of an employee appreciation incentive failed at finance committee.

e.  Mirror Lake Management District – Mark Blakeslee, MLMD Chair, introduced himself and gave reports on how the association members care for Mirror Lake including operating a weed harvester, conducting visitor education, and area clean-up.  Blakeslee stated future projects include dredging the deltas and sediment trap repair/replacement. Chair Krueger stated $48,000 is the total amount MLMD receives through 60+ resident tax bills to do so much work on the lake. Curry & McAuliffe commended them on their community involvement.

f.  Lake Virginia Management District – Upcoming meeting Saturday morning

g. Lake Redstone Management District --  Kinsman reported there were updates to bylaws at the meeting held Tuesday. 

 

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

 

Motion by Kinsman/McAuliffe to go into closed session.  Roll call, Ayes – Krueger, Kinsman, Polivka, Lohr, Curry, McAuliffe, Nelson, Puttkamer

Nays – None.   Session closed at 10:51 a.m.

 

Reconvene in open session immediately following closed session

Motion by Lohr/Kinsman to reconvene in open session immediately following closed session.  Roll call vote – Ayes: Unanimous. Session reopened, 11:15 a.m.                         

 

Next meetings of the Land Resources and Environment Committee will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 and Thursday, January 14, 2021.

 

Motion by Curry/Nelson to adjourn. Motion carried, all in favor.  Meeting adjourned, 11:16 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Ross Curry, Secretary