Date: October 14, 2004
Meeting called to order by Chair Wiese at 8:00 a.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met. Present were Zowin, Lehman, Wiese, Borleske, and Cassity from the Committee; Norgard-FSA; Brereton-NRCS; Albrecht and Pohle-LCD; Bertjens - Southwest Badger RC&D; Peterson-WDS. Craker was absent.
Adopt Agenda: Motion by Zowin/Cassity to adopt the agenda. Motion carried, all in favor.
Appearances: There were none.
Adopt Minutes of Previous Meetings: Motion by Cassity/Zowin to adopt the minutes of the joint LCC and Transportation & Parks meeting on September 8. Cassity questioned the clarity of the wording on the motion regarding the property description for the permanent easement on the second page. Motion for approval was withdrawn. Minutes will be brought back to the November LCC meeting for approval.
Motion by Cassity/Zowin to adopt the minutes of the regular LCC meeting on September 8. Motion carried, all in favor.
Training events: Motion by Zowin/Cassity to approve the list of training events. Motion carried, all in favor.
Bills: Bill summaries were distributed to the Committee members. Motion by Borleske/Zowin to approve bills in the amount of $164,353.36. Motion carried, all in favor.
Correspondence: Pohle distributed copies of the latest Thursday Notes. She encouraged LCC members to attend the Southern Area Association (SAA) fall meeting and the Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Association (WLWCA) Annual Conference. Zowin will attend the SAA meeting, and Wiese will attend the WLWCA Conference.
Reports: Brereton stated that projections are that Sauk County's funding for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) will be about one-half of the amount received last year. Sauk County's ranking sheets will have to be redone before we have an EQIP signup. The workgroup will meet November 1. Brereton will possibly present the ranking system at the December LCC meeting.
Norgard informed the LCC that no information has been received from the national office on CRP. In Sauk County there were 23 bids amounting 475 acres. Congress is working on disaster legislation. The local office is busy with direct payments, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) payments, and Loan Deficiency Payments.
Pohle reported on behalf of Van Berkel that the Plain Fire Department will do the burn at Nachreiner's house for the White Mound project after October 23. After the burn is completed, the Sauk County Highway Department will clean up whatever is left. There was nothing to report on the DNR easement or property sale.
Pohle briefed the LCC about the newly formed Youth Environmental Projects of Sauk County (YEPS) program that she is helping get established with UWEX 4-H Agent Jens. This program is for youth environmental service projects throughout the county, cooperating with various agents and organizations.
Establish 2004 Wildlife Damage Crop Assessment Values: Peterson presented the 2004 Crop Price Proposal for the crops enrolled in the Wildlife Damage Program. The prices are close to the current market price, but he stated they have fluctuated a lot this year. They could be adjusted as the Committee felt appropriate. Motion by Cassity/Lehman to adopt the prices as established by the USDA Wildlife Service District office, including the following crops pertaining to Sauk County: corn - $2.47/bushel, alfalfa - $118.95/ton, alfalfa-mix - $62.02/ton, oats - $1.47/bushel, soybeans - $7.83/bushel. Motion carried, all in favor. Peterson stated that they are still issuing deer tags.
Establish Preliminary 90% Crop Harvest Date for Wildlife Damage Program: Peterson noted he had spoken to Van Berkel about establishing this date, which is a standard procedure each fall. After this date, program participants will not be able to receive payments for further crop damage. Motion by Lehman/Cassity to set the 2004 90% crop harvest date for the Wildlife Damage Program at December 1. Motion carried, all in favor.
There was discussion regarding wild hog populations in southern Wisconsin. They are located around central Crawford County and some in Richland County. Quite a few of the recreational landowners see them as a novelty. The situation has been frustrating to Peterson. The hogs are exclusively nocturnal. They are trying now to trap them, as they do not have the time and resources to go out and shoot them. The DNR did put information in the small game and hunting regulations about feral hogs.
Resource Conservation and Development Council Report - Steve Bertjens: Bertjens, NRCS Coordinator for Southwest Badger RC&D, stated that he reports each year to the LCC on the Council's efforts. Wiese is Sauk County Board's representative, and Pam Karg is the citizen representative for Sauk County to the Council. Bertjens distributed their last newsletter. The Council has been very active. He stated that if present for plan of work. The Southwest Badger RC&D has a good grant writer available to assist in writing grants if interested. At a future LCC meeting, Bertjens will present a memorandum of understanding in support of funds for the Driftless Area Initiative.
Review and Approve Modified Soil and Water Conservation Standards for Farmland Preservation Program: Albrecht informed the LCC that Van Berkel submitted a draft of the standards on October 1 to DATCP. The State is requiring every county to update and approve their Soil and Water Conservation Standards for the Farmland Preservation Program (FPP) to reflect the state runoff rules in zoned townships. Currently there is only a small amount of state money provided to enforce the nonpoint rules. The LCC approved an earlier draft in July, but since then DATCP has recommended a number of revisions. Albrecht reviewed the changes, and he discussed enforcement of compliance with the nonpoint rules. Motion by Zowin/Borleske to approve the draft as submitted by Van Berkel and to continue the process. Motion carried, all in favor. The final version of standards will need approval at an upcoming LCC meeting.
Motion to adjourn until November 11 at 9:00 a.m. by Borleske/Cassity at 9:50 a.m. Motion carried, all in favor.
Kathy Zowin, Secretary