DATE: March 8, 2005
Committee Members Present: Wiese, Gaalswyk, Sprecher, Ashford, Lehman.
Others Present: Lance Gurney, Mary White, Ted Brenson, Lowell Haugen, Kelly Felton, Sally Cobb and Dave Tremble.
Chairman Wiese called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. and staff certified the meeting had been properly posted.
Motion by Ashford, seconded by Gaalswyck to adopt the amended agenda as presented. Motion carried 3-0, Lehman and Sprecher were not in attendance.
Motion by Gaalswyck, seconded Ashford to approve the minutes of the January 22, 2005 Committee meeting. Motion carried 4-0, Sprecher not in attendance.
Communications: Several committee members stated they had received communications and/or e-mails concerning the Geffert proposal. Mr. Gurney requested that they bring copies of these communications to the next meeting.
Business items: The Committee signed ordinances for rezoning approvals for Bluegreen Corporation and Lawrence Mundth. These two rezonings had been approved at the February 22, 2005 Committee meeting.
Mr. Ted Brenson, County Cartographer, then appeared. Mr. Brenson presented a revised resolution that was approved at the last meeting which appointed Kelly Felton as the Land Information Office contact person. The only change in the resolution was the State Statutes section number. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Lehman to approve the revised resolution as presented. Motion carried 4-0, Sprecher not in attendance.
Mr. Gurney then gave his monthly update. He stated that the comprehensive planning procedure was going well. He stated that there had been some indecision on the part of the Town of Freedom. There had been some talk of the town opting out of the program. Mr. Gurney stated that the town was financially obligated to pay for services received. Last Tuesday the Town called a meeting to determine whether or not to postpone the March meeting. The Board decided to continue the process with additional discussion scheduled to take place at tonight's regular Town Board meeting.
Mr. Gurney stated that two years of time and money had been spent on the Highway 12 Management Plan. The City of Baraboo now seemed to want to completely disregard the original planning. Discussion followed on a possible lack of communication and cooperation between the City and the County.
The proposed Town of Freedom campground was briefly discussed.
The Committee then reviewed a resolution authorizing the reorganization of the Mapping Department and reassigning certain management and administrative functions from the Mapping Department to the MIS Department. Four committees would need to approve this reorganization. The two remaining Mapping Department positions would be in the same pay grade. This move would save the County approximately $64,000. Discussion followed regarding whether a position was being eliminated or not. Ms. Ashford stated that she had reservations in making this move. Mr. Brenson stated that the Mapping Department would continue the mapping process and that this would allow for access to information that the department currently did not have.
Motion by Gaalswyck, seconded by Lehman to approve the resolution reorganizing the Mapping Department and reassigning some functions to the MIS Department. The MIS Department would handle the budget and the Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee would still be the oversight committee. Motion carried 5-0.
Mr. Brenson then stated that he appreciated the Committee's support over the past years.
Mr. Dave Tremble, Land Preservation Specialist with Planning and Zoning, then appeared. The purchase of development rights for the Donald N. Adams property in the Town of Westfield was reviewed. Mr. Tremble stated that this property had been for sale. The Nature Conservancy was planning to purchase the remaining property. Mr. Adams would be required to develop and follow a contract for a nutrient management plan with the Land Conservation Department.
The Committee discussed putting specific restrictions on the purchase approval. Discussion followed on enforcement of those restrictions. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Sprecher to approve the purchase. It was noted that purchase by the Nature Conservancy was contingent on the County approving the purchase of development rights. Motion carried 3-2, with Lehman and Wiese in opposition.
The Committee then reviewed a resolution for the purchase of development rights from Carl and Patricia Barrett in the Town of Honey Creek. This purchase would prevent the owner from adding more land to this parcel and then dividing it into two parcels creating another building site. The entire acreage is primarily wooded. Motion by Gaalsywck, seconded by Ashford to approve this purchase. Motion carried, 4-1, with Lehman in opposition.
The next item for review was the attendance of two staff members to the Wisconsin County Code Administrators Spring Conference to be held in Wausau on April 7th and 8th. Mr. Gurney stated that floodplain rules and changes to the POWTS rules would be discussed. Motion by Lehman, seconded by Gaalswyck to approve this attendance. Motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Ashford, seconded by Lehman to adjourn. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Ashford, Secretary