DATE: February 12, 2004
Present were Bernien, Cassity, Craker, Lehman, and Zowin from the Land Conservation Committee; Hartje, Meister, Schmitz, and Sprecher from the Transportation and Parks Committee; Muchow and Carignan-Highway Department; Koenig-Parks Department; VanBerkel, Vosberg, and Pohle-LCD; Holcomb-Accounting Department; Norgard-FSA; Brereton-NRCS; Peterson-WDS; Kerr-DNR; Wayne Bindl and Edward Prem-Town of Franklin; Edwin Bodendein and Dennis Plantenberg-Town of Lavalle; Wiese and Stevens were absent.
The joint meeting of the Land Conservation Committee and Transportation and Parks Committee was called to order by Land Conservation Committee Vice Chairman Bernien at 9:00 a.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met.
Motion by Hartje/Lehman to adopt the agenda. Motion carried, all in favor.
Motion by Zowin/Cassity to approve the minutes of the January 8 joint committee meeting. Motion carried, all in favor.
There were none.
Van Berkel explained the handout provided regarding bids received on the various buildings and components related to the White Mound project. As a part of the bid process, there was an offer of $200 on the barn and $3,500 on the shop. Committee postponed any decision on the shed and the pump house until a further date. There was discussion regarding the sale of the barn for $200 to B&L Antiques who could possibly strip off all the good parts and leave the rest for demolition and disposal in the landfill. The awarding of the bid for the barn was tabled until decisions on future use of the parcel are made. Van Berkel recommended not selling the stairs in the Nachreiner house. The bid was for only $3, and they may be needed for accessibility. Van Berkel stated that there were a few late bids that were not included for approval because they arrived beyond the deadline. People will be required to sign a waiver to cover liability concerns when they do the removal. Motion by Hartje/Cassity to approve the following bids: Highway 23 House (Nachreiner) - cupboards/shelves (Higbee) $75, doors/storm doors (Higbee) $50, trim moldings (Fowell) $3, boiler (Lehman) $451.10; Other Outbuildings - corn cribs (Diske) $100, truck box (Higbee) $25, white shed (D&L Antiques) $25, red shed (D&L Antiques) $25, 2-car garage (D&L Antiques) $50; Barn - pulleys (Stieve) $5; GG House (Ellefson) - trim (Fowell) $3, doors (Fowell) $3, storm windows (Fowell) $2, furnace vent covers (Fowell) $1. Motion carried, all in favor.
Van Berkel reported that the north bay excavation is complete. The estimates developed by our engineer vary by about 10 percent from the Phenco consulting engineer's numbers. At a meeting earlier this week, the contractor representative agreed that our numbers may be more accurate. They did say they still felt that there should be a 2-3 percent increase over our estimates. We have not had time to do a thorough re-evaluation of where the difference occurs. Phenco did indicate their intent to file a Notice of Claim, which they are required to do under the contract language if they are challenging any determinations. The original plan clearly states that quantity numbers are estimates based on probing sediment depths. Engineering staff feel the range in quantity is reasonable given the estimating methods. The total cost of sediment removal is getting near our contracted amount, and it may be need to be adjusted. The present contract is for $892,842 but the added sediment quantity coming from the West Bay may require that we increase this contract amount up to $900,000. This would be an increase above the amount previously authorized for staff to approve. Van Berkel asked for authorization to approve an amendment up to this amount. This will be important because the final number will not be known until the end of February and it would allow the contractor to continue work without having to call a special Committee meeting. Motion by Meister/Sprecher to authorize the increase up to a maximum of $900,000. Motion carried, all in favor. VanBerkel pointed out that even with a spending authorization of $900,000, we are still $20,000 below the next lowest bid for the basic dredging job and will have the added advantage of locating all of the removed sediment where it is easily accessed.
Phenco has requested a change order to allow them an extension beyond the required March 1 completion date in order to come back for finish grading and to get the roads repaired to their original condition. This will allow them to do a better job because of anticipated drier conditions. The final payment to Phenco will not be made until the project is complete. Motion by Hartje/Cassity to extend the deadline for Phenco to complete the White Mound project until May 1. Motion carried, all in favor.
VanBerkel outlined discussions to this point. Joint Committee has identified that they would like to keep the former shop for storage, understanding no one could work in it. They would also like to sell the balance of the property to DNR and allow them to sell or trade the cropland for further fishery easements. They showed no interest in reuse of the barn. They would want to keep the heater in the shop. The rest of the buildings could be removed. The County may want to build a parking area and wayside. Final approval of any plan would need to go to the County Board. Roger Kerr from DNR had the land appraised about six months ago for $44,000 with no buildings. Bernien read a letter from the Town of Franklin requesting us not to make any permanent decisions on the buildings until the Town Planning Commission reviews any proposal on February 12. The Town of Franklin's Smart Growth Plan corresponds well to the Committee's ideas for the properties. It emphasizes cooperating with both the County and DNR to improve the fishery and protect stream habitat in Honey Creek. Clarification was made that the parcel would need to be rezoned if there was to be a split ownership of the property. The parcel presently has two zonings designations, with the upper portion zoned commercial and the lower zoned exclusive agriculture. The most restrictive zoning, which would be the exclusive agriculture, takes precedence. Motion by Hartje/Zowin that Sauk County work to keep the building for storage along with a minimal acreage and sell the rest to the DNR and to let them do the habitat work in the stream. Motion carried, all in favor.
The other one-acre parcel purchased on GG has a building that will be coming down soon. The house has to be taken down, and the floodway zoning will prevent anything from being built there. Motion by Zowin/Craker to sell this parcel. Motion carried, all in favor.
Van Berkel asked for a representative to go with him to the Town of Franklin Planning Commission meeting on February 12 at 7:00 p.m. in Plain to discuss the proposal for the properties. John Schmitz volunteered to go.
Motion to adjourn by Craker/Cassity at 10:05 a.m. Motion carried, all in favor.
Respectfully Submitted: Kathy Zowin, LCC Secretary
Present were Bernien, Cassity, Craker, Lehman, and Zowin from the Land Conservation Committee; Brereton-NRCS; Norgard-FSA; Van Berkel and Pohle-LCD. Peterson-WDS. Wiese was absent.
Meeting called to order by Vice Chairman Bernien at 10:10 a.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met.
Motion by Craker/Lehman to adopt the agenda. Motion carried, all in favor.
Motion by Cassity/Craker to adopt the minutes from the regular meeting on January 8. Motion carried, all in favor.
There were none.
Motion by Zowin/Craker to approve the list of training events. Motion carried, all in favor.
Bill summaries were distributed to the Committee members. Motion by Craker/Zowin to approve bills in the amount of $455,040.74. Motion carried, all in favor.
Van Berkel distributed copies of the two latest Thursday Notes. Van Berkel reported he has applied for funds from WLWCA as requested in the Thursday Notes for conservation assistants. Sauk County will receive $2,000 for one of our summer interns. We are also on a list for additional funds if they become available for our second summer intern.
Brereton reported that the Sauk County local work group has been meeting to set the rankings for the 2004 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Rankings should be available by the next LCC meeting. The Washington office is pushing to make cost sharing at 50 percent. We submitted our list of cost-share rates because some are more than 50 percent and waiting for approval. Signups can be taken anytime, and we have about six applications so far. Once we receive funding, an application deadline will be set.
Alliant Energy contacted Brereton about funding a demonstration on manure digesters with EQIP.
Brereton informed the LCC that the USDA budget was passed.
Brereton stated that the Grassland Reserve Program received an allocation for a little over $1 million. There is a new ranking system, and the signup period is March 22-April 2.
Norgard stated that a general Conservation Reserve Program signup is being discussed for late spring or early summer. No word yet on fiscal year funding or new programs. The County has applied for disaster status, but no answer has been received.
Van Berkel stated that the 2003 staffing grant report is ready to be submitted. There was $245,963.21 eligible for reimbursement under the formula in statutes, but $149,715.96 is the most we can receive due to funding shortfalls at the state. Motion by Zowin/Craker to approve the reimbursement request. Motion carried all in favor.
The amendment to the CREP Agreement with USDA-FSA would allow landowners to not plant trees along the streams in marginal pasture areas they are enrolling. Motion by Cassity/Craker to approve this amendment. Motion carried, ayes-Bernien, Cassity, Craker, and Zowin; nay-Lehman.
Peterson informed the LCC that the all participants had met their harvest quota requirements, and he had received no complaints of denied access. Motion by Cassity/Lehman to approve the following claims: Scott Crawford $845.68, Howard Engel-$2,447.47, Bernard Hirst-$952.88, Dale Klingenmeyer-$792.21, Durlin Knuth-$821.92, Duane Lins-$1,245.98, Oak Hill Farm-$556.46, Edward Reimer-$731.81, Kenneth Schutz-$1,870.48, Jeffrey Sprecher-$859.40. Motion carried, all in favor
Motion to adjourn until March 11 at 9:00 a.m. by Craker/Cassity at 10:50 a.m. Motion carried, all in favor.
Kathy Zowin, LCC Secretary