DATE: July 20, 2006
PLACE:
UW-Extension ETN West Square Building
Meeting called to order by Chair Wiese at 9:00 a.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met. Present were Lehman, Wiese, Borleske, Cassity, and Prem from the Committee; Gaalswyk-County Board; Van Berkel and Pohle-LCD. Zowin-absent. Bridgeford-News Republic.
Motion by Borleske/Cassity to adopt the agenda. Motion carried, all in favor.
Motion by Cassity/Borleske to adopt
the minutes of the regular LCC meeting on June 8.
Motion carried, all in
favor.
Presentation by Youth Conservation Camp Scholarship Recipient Amanda Halatek-She presented on her experiences at Conservation Camp and about her environmental stewardship experiences through River Crossing Environmental Charter School.
Van Berkel reviewed the latest Thursday Notes.
There were none.
The LCD monthly report was sent with the agenda for the LCC to review. Borleske commented that she likes receiving it in the mail and the report itself.
Motion by Cassity/Borleske to approve the list of training
events.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Review and Approval of Vouchers: Voucher summaries were distributed to
the Committee members. Motion by Borleske/Cassity to approve bills in the
amount of $44,554.13.
Motion carried, all in favor.
There was discussion regarding the statement that runoff “may” cause pollution. Van Berkel informed the LCC that the definition for direct runoff in the latest version of the ordinance was lifted out of State Statutes and is an improvement from the wording at the public hearing.
The proposed timeline would be to send the latest draft of the ordinance, after today’s comments and changes, to the people who appeared at the pubic hearing and invite them to submit written comments or to attend the August LCC meeting to discuss the ordinance. Responses to those comments and any needed changes will then be considered by the Committee at the September LCC meeting. The next public hearing would then be anticipated in October with submission to the County Board in October or November.
Van Berkel then asked for specific guidance from the Committee on the areas where the ordinance goes beyond minimum requirements:
Does the Committee want to go beyond the regulation of new storage construction? (pages 4 and 5 of the draft)
Are the new fees appropriate? (page 7) Van Berkel clarified that even at the levels proposed the fees do not cover the costs of the LCD staff time involved. Motion by Borleske/Cassity to increase the ownership transfer permit fee from $50 to $100. Motion carried, all in favor. LCC supported leaving all the other fees as proposed.
How much detail on safety standards do we want to specify? (page 8) It was decided to consult with Corporation Counsel to determine if the safety requirements as noted will make the county liable. Committee suggested the public may also have some suggestions for the safety concerns.
Do we want to put in the broad statement allowing the Department to impose “Additional Considerations”? (page 10) Motion by Borleske/Wiese to remove entire paragraph “Additional Considerations.” Motion carried, all in favor.
The LCC recommended to include a cover letter with the ordinance that explains that 70 percent cost sharing is necessary in order for enforcement and that the LCD will work with them to implement the ordinance. Committee discussed what would happen if a landowner was required to obtain cost sharing through Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and how the work would get done. Van Berkel explained that if the LCD was forcing someone into EQIP to address a prohibition the LCD staff would assist with design.
The LCC recommended Van Berkel attend the next Towns Association meeting to update them on progress.
The LCD has grant funding available for nutrient management
cost sharing in the Plain Honey Creek area. Letters were
sent to about 150 people in that area offering $28 per acre up front to
cover four years of nutrient management plans. The following seven landowners
replied and may be interested in this cost sharing amounting to about 600
acres: Robert Yanke, Dennis Alt, Vern Meinholtz, Joe Prem, Tim Ryan, David
Meixelsperger, Gerald Meixelsperger. Motion by Cassity/Borleske to approve
these seven applications and authorize the LCD staff to solicit additional
participants from this area for the remaining funds.
Motion carried, all
in favor.
Van Berkel discussed the state requirements that participants acknowledge this cost sharing meets cost-share requirements and that they agree to continue to implement a nutrient management plan in the future. The Committee asked for a report at a future meeting regarding acceptance of these requirements.
Van Berkel expressed his concerns on the 2007 budget due to about a $50,000 reduction in grants and salary and fringe increases amounting to about $30,000. The Department has already had a 1.7 full-time staff reduction from when the Narrows Creek watershed ended.
Van Berkel informed the LCC that he was asked to serve on the Board of
Directors for the River Alliance of Wisconsin. This is a statewide
association focused on water quality in rivers and streams. He was asked
partly because of the LCD’s involvement with water quality improvement projects
on rivers and dam removals. Van Berkel is also the Wisconsin Association
of Land Conservation Employees (WALCE) secretary which is working to be
more connected to outside organizations such as this association. It will
involve approximately four day meetings a year. Motion by Borleske/Wiese
to authorize Van Berkel to serve on the Board for the River Alliance of
Wisconsin.
Motion carried all in favor,
Van Berkel reported
that the applicants meet the conservation requirements. Motion
by Cassity/Borleske to approve agreements with David and H. Laird Trustees-Laird
Family Trust and Steven Richert.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Motion to adjourn until August 17 at 9:00 a.m. by Cassity/Borleske at
11:55 a.m.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Respectfully Submitted: Kathy Zowin, Secretary