Meeting called to order by Chair Wiese at 9:03 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; Peterson-WDS; Norgard-FSA; Brereton-NRCS; Pohle, Albrecht, Stanek-LCD. Craker was absent.
Public Hearing: Wiese explained the procedures for the public meeting and stated that the revisions to the Farmland Preservation Standards will not be acted on until the February Land Conservation Committee meeting. Registration forms were available at the front table.
Albrecht distributed the proposed soil and water standards and the old standards that are currently in effect. Albrecht discussed the reasons for updating the Farmland Preservation Standards which incorporate the new state nonpoint rules. Sauk County added the requirement to address gully erosion to address the important relationship between gully erosion and water quality. Albrecht explained the revisions.
Wiese asked if anyone wished to speak for or against the revisions. There were no appearances.
Wiese asked the Land Conservation Committee if they had any questions or comments regarding the revisions. Discussion followed.
Wiese closed the public hearing and moved into the regular meeting for the Land Conservation Committee.
Adopt Agenda: Motion by Cassity/Borleske to adopt the agenda. Motion carried, all in favor.
Appearances: There were none.
Adopt Minutes of Previous Meeting: Motion by Zowin/Cassity to adopt the minutes of the regular LCC meeting on December 9. Motion carried, all in favor. Cassity questioned the status of the Pheasants Forever nomination for the Conservation Leadership Award. Staff will report back at the next LCC meeting.
Training events: Motion by Cassity/Borleske to approve the list of training events. Motion carried, all in favor.
Bills: Bill summaries were distributed to the Committee members. Motion by Zowin/Borleske to approve bills in the amount of $239,585.91. Motion carried, all in favor.
Correspondence: Pohle distributed copies of the latest Thursday Notes.
Reports: Livingston reported that the wood markets are excellent right now in this part of the state. Pulp wood markets are starting to gain in this area, which were traditionally more north. The DNR held a marking camp in the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. Invasive species are becoming more of a problem statewide. Governor Doyle has appointed a committee to study invasives as part of the Governor's Council on Forestry. In 2004 the gypsy moth defoliation dropped from 65,000 acres statewide to 20 acres, but this is probably just a temporary reduction due to last year's weather conditions. Livingston gave the LCC a heads up that the Emerald Ash Borer has been discovered in southeast Michigan, and it is also in Ohio and Indiana and that Wisconsin is at risk. The Borer's larva kills Ash trees, and there is no treatment. Livingston reviewed the revisions to the Managed Forest Law (MFL). About 30,000 acres are currently enrolled in MFL in Sauk County.
Brereton informed the Committee that NRCS currently has the following signups going on: Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), Farmland Ranch and Protection Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and EQIP Animal Waste Storage. Signup for the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) will start February 14. Brereton gave an update on the potential concern of a conflict of interest between NRCS and Land Conservation Departments statewide who are participating as Technical Service Providers (TSP's). NRCS has concerns that LCD's could have an unfair advantage of soliciting landowners. In order to try and avoid problems in Sauk County, NRCS is keeping contracts separate and the LCD and LCC are not serving on the local work group. There was discussion regarding nutrient management.
Norgard informed the Committee that FSA is having a big push for E-gov - electronic 24-hour access to FSA programs that landowners could do through the internet rather than in person at FSA. The majority of the CRP signups from last fall will become effective this fall. The 24"x24" photos are being digitized, eventually they will be available to everyone, and they will be more accurate than the paper maps.
The Committee signed the County Board resolution for the sale of an easement along Honey Creek which they had approved at the December LCC meeting.
Zowin will have her first LWCB meeting on Tuesday, February 1.
Discussion Regarding Comments Received at Public Hearing: Albrecht and Stanek briefed the Committee on the discussions they have had with landowners at the FPP annual meetings. Currently there are 561 FPP participants in Sauk County, which is 43 percent of the eligible farms. Approximately $518,000 in credit was provided to Sauk County landowners in 2003, which is an average credit of $924 per landowner.
Review and Approval of 2004 Wildlife Damage Claims: Peterson informed the LCC that all the participants had met their harvest quota requirements, and he had received no complaints of denied access. Motion by Cassity/Borleske to approve the following claims: Steven Emerson-$923.49, Howard Engel-$1,965.32, William Fargen-$2,079.51, Bernard Hirst-$325.01, Dale Klingenmeyer-$1,292.27, Daniel Lichet-$811.36, Duane Lins-$1,976.84, Edward Reimer-$633.30, Kenneth Schutz-$1,242.23. Motion carried, all in favor.
Motion to adjourn until February 10 at 9:00 a.m. by Cassity/Borleske at 10:30 a.m. Motion carried, all in favor.
Kathy Zowin, Secretary