Baraboo Range Commission Meeting Minutes

The Baraboo Range Commission met in a regular session at 8:30 AM, September 28, 2005 at the Sauk County West Square Building in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Members present: Ashford, Kowalke, Persche, Statz, Steinhorst, Turnquist and Wenzel.

Also present: Dave Tremble, Sauk County Planning and Zoning, Audrey Parker, and Tony Grabs.

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 Steinhorst, second by Persche.
Motion carried.

Ashford asked members to review minutes from the August 31, 2005 meeting. Tremble requested a change under Staff Report to correct a typographical error, and under New Business to reflect that the discussion pertained to a fall event. Motion to adopt the minutes as corrected, by Wenzel, second by Turnquist.
Motion Carried.

Communications

None

Public Comment

None

Staff Report

• Tremble introduced Tony Grabs, who was visiting from the UW Extension natural resource education facility at Upham Woods, to observe a Sauk County public meeting.
• Tremble reported that Jim Theil, WisDOT legal counsel, had yet to respond to whatever inquiries Sauk County's Corporation Counsel has made regarding the proposed amendment to the Baraboo Range Protection Plan.
• Tremble reported that monitoring site visits had been concluded and inspection reports recently completed for the Pitmann, Lehman and Holmes properties. He predicted that the Muehllehner site visit would be next.
• Tremble reported that the Archibald conservation easement closing is scheudled for October 10. Tremble reminded members that the Land Trust Alliance Rally 2005 is scheduled for the weekend of Octiober 14 - 17, at the Monona Terrace in Madison, and that he would be participating, along with the Baraboo Range Preservation Association and the Nature Conservancy in a Baraboo Range field trip on Friday for Rally visitors, which will include a lunch stopover at the Ski Hi Fruit Farm, with pie being provided by Betty Thiessen.
• Tremble reported that the Finance Committee of the Sauk County Board has approved the budget carryover of the $199,000 allocated in 1999 by the Board for the purchase of development rights outside of the Baraboo Range. He explained that the Working Lands Initiative under discussion at the state level might create opportunities for farmland conservation easements in the future, and that the Sauk County allocation could be paired with state funding for protection of agricultural lands. Unfinished Business Members resumed discussion of the issue of project and funding prioritization, and agreed to pursue making contact with the names of landowners identified through previous discussion and map analysis. Some names have already been forwarded to staff by Commission members. Members agreed that the next step would follow attempts to contact these landowners. Tremble reported on the progress of organizing a fall event. In recent discussions with a few landowners in the Freedom Road "cluster" the idea of a hike was preferred, but more likely in the spring before full "leaf-on" conditions dominate the views. Tremble will work with the owners to determine an appropriate route for a walk. Members also discussed the option of a "self-guided" tour, either in spring or fall, when good visibility prevails. Temporary signs could be mounted along roadsides to identify protected lands. Tremble agreed to present a draft sign design at the next meeting. New Business Persche 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.

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 October 26, 2005 at 8:30 a.m.

Motion to adjourn by Persche, second by Steinhorst.
Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 10:10 AM.

Respectfully submitted: Dave Tremble, Sauk County Planning and Zoning