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Meeting called to order by Chair Wiese at 9:02 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; Van Berkel and Pohle-LCD; Craker was absent.
Adopt Agenda: Motion by Borleske/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. Motion carried, all in favor.
Motion by Borleske/Zowin to adopt the minutes of the regular LCC meeting on October 14. Motion carried, all in favor.
Training events: Motion by Lehman/Borleske 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 $176,550.10. Motion carried, all in favor.
Correspondence: Van Berkel distributed copies of the latest Thursday Notes.
Van Berkel presented the Soil & Water Resource Management Grant reimbursement
request for staff for the first five months of 2004 amounting to $191,000.
The remaining seven months will be submitted after the first of the year
and will result in a total reimbursement of $315,044. There will be a considerable
drop in this amount in 2005 because the Narrows Creek-Little Baraboo River
Watershed project will end in 2004. Wiese signed the reimbursement request.
Reports: Van Berkel reported that an individual is purchasing the barn (timber farming and siding) for $200 at White Mound and will have it taken down by the end of November. Van Berkel had taken the request to the Property Committee, and they approved it. The house ahs been burned by the fire department.
Van Berkel updated the LCC on the following additional grants awarded since preparation of the budget:
One other potential grant for Invasive Species education and control efforts amounting to about $9,500 is still pending. These new grants, without the pending request, total an added $39,915 of revenue that was not included in the 2005 budget. This is almost enough to cover a .75 FTE position. Some of the grants are reimbursable, so final revenue would depend on the amount of work we do based upon landowner requests, so the amount is not guaranteed. Van Berkel reported that one watershed technician, Carlton Peterson, has resigned due to his position being cut at year end. He was offered a job as a NRCS conservation technician in Mauston. An additional watershed technician, Serge Koenig, will be reduced to half time in 2005 because of previous budget shortfalls. These amount to 1.5 FTE positions cut for 2005. Van Berkel suggested no action at present but stated that there may be a need to restore some staff time to meet our obligations to various grants and to address landowner requests for assistance.
Lehman suggested that maybe some of the extra grant money could be used for the purchase of a sprayer. He noted that Crawford and Richland Counties bought a sprayer to rent to assist in the control of multiflora rose. Van Berkel will check into how they are using it and other details and report back at a future meeting. The LCD could possibly rent the sprayer out and receive some income. The Committee also discussed hosting a workshop on combating multiflora rose. Richland County has provided a similar workshop.
Van Berkel reported on some preliminary cost-share numbers from the 2004 year. The LCD also completed the White Mound Project, sponsored the tree and prairie seed sale, completed the transect survey, worked toward invasives control, organized youth days, published three newsletters, assisted with the establishment of the Youth Environmental Projects of Sauk County program, issued a high number of animal waste storage facility permits this year, worked with Planning & Zoning to review their subdivision plans, and maintained the regular workload. Van Berkel suggested the Committee look at how the staff could be recognized for their significant accomplishment this year. There was discussion on possible rewards. Committee suggested Van Berkel contact Wiegand and Personnel to see if something can be done.
Review and Approval of Adoption Procedures and Implementation Workplan for Revised Farmland Preservation Standards: Van Berkel reported that the proposed Farmland Preservation Standards have been reviewed and approved at previous LCC meetings. However, as part of these standards, a procedure for adopting the FPP Standards and an implementation workplan also need to be approved. Van Berkel reviewed the proposed adoption procedures. Motion by Zowin/Borleske to approve the adoption procedures as presented.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Van Berkel presented the implementation workplan which addresses how the LCD is going to work with the FPP participants to make them aware of the new requirements and assist them in achieving compliance. Motion by Borleske/Cassity to approve the implementation workplan as presented.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Review and Approval of Cooperative Working Agreement with State and Federal Agencies: Van Berkel distributed the Cooperative Working Agreement. The Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Association (WLWCA) is asking counties to sign on to this agreement. Van Berkel expressed his concern that if we do sign on, it might threaten our eligibility for Technical Service Provider (TSP) payments. However, NRCS indicates it will not affect TSP eligibility. There is an option to withdraw from the agreement if that interpretation should change. One advantage in the agreement would be to help promote data sharing with NRCS. Motion by Zowin/Borleske to approve the agreement.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Discussion of Proposed Changes to WLWCA Bylaws: Van Berkel stated that there are two resolutions being submitted regarding the WLWCA Bylaws at the December conference. Wiese will cast the vote for Sauk County in consultation with the other LCC members attending. The Western Area Association's resolution completely replaces the existing bylaws and makes major changes to the association structure including the addition of county conservationists to the Association and the WLWCA Board. Currently the Association is made up only of LCC members. The proposal would add a stronger alliance with staff, who are more aware of the issues, to strengthen the Association's position on legislative issues.
The second bylaw change is being presented by current WLWCA Board. The proposal would revise the existing bylaws to require dues be paid to allow voting, require a formal proxy if the LCC Chair wants to delegate the county vote, and would set term limits for Board members.
Review of Resolutions and LWCB Candidate Information for December WLWCA Annual Meeting: Van Berkel briefly reviewed the candidates running for the Land and Water Conservation Board. Van Berkel informed the LCC that Southern Association Chair Dale Hood solicited candidates at their fall meeting, and Kathy Zowin agreed to run. The Board deals with the nonpoint rules for urban and rural areas, town zoning ordinances, funding decisions, farmland preservation plans, land and water resource management plans, etc. Zowin could bring our land conservation committee perspective and represent the area well because of her varied experience.
Committee gave authority to the members in attendance to vote on the resolutions after hearing the presentations and discussion.
Review and Approval of Farmland Preservation Agreement-Gerald and Donna Luther, Shawn Luther and Carmen Mihlbauer Luther: Van Berkel reported both farms are in Excelsior Township. Much of the land is in CREP, and they are comfortable with the farm planning requirements. They are very interested in preserving the land from development. Motion by Cassity/Zowin to approve Gerald and Donna Luther and Shawn Luther and Carmen Mihlbauer Luther for 25-year agreements.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Motion to adjourn until December 9 at 9:00 a.m. by Cassity/Zowin at 11:37 a.m.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Respectfully Submitted: Kathy Zowin, Secretary