The Baraboo Range Commission met in a regular session at 8:30 AM, August 31, 2005 at the Sauk County West Square Building in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Members present: Ashford, Beard, Kowalke, Persche, Steinhorst, Turnquist and Wenzel. Also present: Dave Tremble, Sauk County Planning and Zoning, and Audrey Parker.
Chairperson Ashford brought the meeting to order at 8:31 AM., and asked
members to review the meeting agenda. Motion to adopt the agenda as presented
by Hartmann, second by Persche.
Motion carried.
Ashford asked members to review minutes from the July 27, 2005 meeting.
Motion to adopt the minutes by Persche, second by Turnquist.
Motion Carried.
Tremble read from a letter from The Gathering Waters Conservancy announcing that it had selected Janet Beach Hanson as the winner of the Annual Bud Jordahl Lifetime Achievement Award. The Baraboo Range Commission and the Sauk County Natural Beauty Council had nominated Harold Kruse for this award. The letter expressed hope that Harold's name would be resubmitted for next years award.
None
Tremble reported that Jim Theil, WisDOT legal counsel, had not responded as promised with an opinion on the BRC/ Sauk County proposal to use allocated USH 12 farmland protection funds to augment the BRPP. Tremble reported that Todd Liebman, Sauk County Corporation Counsel, had assumed the lead on communications with Mr. Thiel.
Tremble reported that he had submitted four applications to WDNR for Stewardship
grants to fund the last four BRPP projects. Tremble read from a message
from Kerry Beghin, Sauk County
Controller, regarding the County's use of the Transaction Clearing
Account.
Members reviewed maps of the Towns lying within the BRNNL, which showed the existing ownership parcel lines, and which identified those parcels that lie directly adjacent to already protected land. Members discussed the advantages and disadvantages of protecting surrounded "inholdings" vs. expanding the overall breadth of the BRPP efforts to include lands lying alongside patches of already protected land, and to create connections between protect land when possible. Some members advocated either advocated for infill projects, to complete the forest canopy, while others advocated for expanding the forested areas outward. Others expressed the concern that "if there's a road and power" the property would be a prime candidate for development. Some suggested that "we need to spend the money". At the end no consensus was reached, but members elected to take the parcel maps of the Towns they are familiar with home for a closer look, and to return with some suggestions for important local protection projects.
Tremble reported that two closings are in the hopper. Brian C. Farr signed a conservation easement with Sauk County on Friday September 9th. Tremble reported that George and Kyoko Archibald would be next, probably late in August or early September.
Tremble reported that he had been in communication with several conservation easement landowners in the Freedom Road area, and planned to meet with interested neighbors to discuss what options exist for a fall event.
Beard moved to convene a closed session, pursuant to s. 19.85 (1)(e):
"Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the
investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business,
whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session." for
the purpose of discussing negotiations with private landowners. Second by
Persche. Motion carried unanimously.
The Commission convened in closed session.
The Commission returned to open session immediately following
the closed session.
The next regular session is scheduled for Wednesday September 28, 2005
at 8:30 a.m.
Motion to adjourn by Turnquist, second by Kowalke.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:50 AM.
Respectfully submitted: Dave Tremble, Sauk County Planning and Zoning