DATE: September 15, 2006
PLACE:
Room 213 West Square Building
Meeting called to order by Secretary Zowin at 9:00 a.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met. Present were Zowin, Lehman, Borleske, and Cassity from the Committee; Brereton-NRCS; Van Berkel and Pohle-LCD; Marten-landowner/renter. Wiese and Prem absent.
Motion by Borleske/Cassity to adopt the agenda.
Motion
carried, all in favor.
Motion by Borleske/Cassity to adopt
the minutes of the regular LCC meeting on August 17.
Motion
carried, all in favor.
LaVerne Marten informed the LCC that he was in default
on his September 1 rental payment for 257 cropland acres
of the Health Care Center property. He requested that he be allowed to
delay the payment until December 1. He was the previous renter of this
property and has never been in default with payments in the past three
years. Van Berkel informed the Committee that in the past the Health Care
Center Committee handled the rental payments, but this responsibility has
been transferred to the LCC. Van Berkel informed the LCC that the Corporation
Counsel recommended that a letter be written stating that Marten is in
default and that a lien be placed on the crop to protect the county. The
Committee felt that this action was not necessary at this time. Motion
by Borleske/Zowin to defer the rental payment for HCC cropland from LaVerne
Marten until December 1.
Motion carried, all in favor.
The LCC discussed the possibility of future rental payments being made quarterly or deferring the second installment until after the crop is taken off in the fall. Also, there was discussion regarding bidding out the property as four separate parcels. The next bid cycle is two years away so there will be time to investigate these options.
There were no Thursday Notes this month.
Van Berkel distributed the Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Association Strategic Plan which their board has sent out for LCC comments. He asked the Committee to review the plan for discussion at the October LCC meeting.
The Southern Area Association’s fall meeting will be Friday, October 27. Wiese usually attends. There is no agenda at this time. More information will be provided when available.
The Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Association’s annual conference will be held December 6-8 in Appleton.
None
Brereton gave an overview of the Conservation Security Program. This program rewards farmers for practicing good conservation. Applicants must be producing crops or livestock. The average payment varies with the level of conservation on the land. Average payment was $6,492 in 2006. The number of applicants getting contracts depend on how much funding is available. In 2006 there was less funding than in previous years. The Lower Wisconsin Watershed was submitted for a potential project last year. If the Conservation Security Program is available in the 2007 Farm Bill, there may be a chance that the Lower Wisconsin Watershed could be selected and funded.
The LCC monthly report was sent out with the agenda. Members commented that they appreciated this report. Lehman questioned why projects are being bid this late in the year. Van Berkel explained that bidding is later this year due to landowners delaying their decisions to participate until now. The amount of work available is also down because there is a lower amount of cost sharing available in the Dell Creek Watershed than there was in the Narrows Creek Watershed.
Motion by Zowin/Borleske to approve the list of training
events.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Voucher summaries were distributed to
the Committee members. Motion by Borleske/Cassity to approve
bills in the amount of $14,357.62.
Motion carried, all in favor.
The request was addressed under public comment.
Van Berkel distributed and reviewed public comments from the August LCC meeting. Because of the missing LCC members, the Committee suggested Van Berkel prepare the next draft for decisions at the next meeting. Van Berkel explained the benefit of local authority for the enforcement of the prohibitions. He also presented information on the previous department experience regarding runoff complaints. Members present felt it was still appropriate to include transfer permits and local enforcement of the prohibitions. The Committee suggested that more education regarding the Ordinance is necessary and that the public should be invited again for comments to a LCC meeting prior to holding a public hearing. Discussion will continue next month.
Van Berkel distributed copies of the following budget materials: Labor Allocation Worksheet, Program Cost Schedule, detailed budget, capital outlay plan, and the 2007 budget highlights. These materials were reviewed at Finance earlier. The Finance Committee may delay the copier purchase for a year to address a county wide funding shortfall. Van Berkel handed out a staffing summary sheet identifying staff levels and responsibilities through the Department history. The number of LCD staff is down 2.5 FTE from 2002 due to completion of watershed projects. Motion by Zowin/Borleske to approve the budget. Motion carried, all in favor.
Will discuss more at the next LCC meeting.
Motion by Zowin/Cassity to approve Weidner’s agreement.
Motion carried,
all in favor.
Motion to adjourn until October 18 at 9:00 a.m. by Zowin/Borleske at 11:30
a.m.
Motion carried, all in favor.