DATE: December 14, 2006
PLACE:
UW-Extension ETN
West Square Building
Meeting called to order by Chair Wiese at 9:43 a.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met. Present were Wiese, Cassity, and Prem from the Committee; Norgard-FSA; Schauf-Administrative Coordinator; Van Berkel and Pohle-LCD. Zowin, Lehman, and Borleske were absent.
Motion by Cassity/Prem to adopt the agenda with an amendment
to move the closed session to the end of the meeting.
Motion
carried, all in favor.
Motion by Cassity/Wiese to adopt the
minutes of the regular LCC meeting on November 16.
Motion
carried, all in favor.
No comments.
Pohle distributed the latest YEPS newsletter and discussed the program with the LCC.
Nothing to report, not in session at the present time.
Norgard informed the LCC that Brad Schyvinck replaced Robin Craker on the FSA Committee. The department is working on eligibility reviews, signature authority, and issuing milk extension payments to the dairy farmers. There will not be a deficiency loan payment this year, but there are direct payments for Direct Countercyclical Payments.
Wiese and Van Berkel briefed the LCC on the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association Conference they attended recently. Van Berkel provided a handout showing the change in housing density in the region from 1940 to 2000 and discussed the resultant impact on agricultural lands.
Motion by Cassity/Prem to approve the list of training
events.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Voucher summaries were distributed to
the Committee members. Motion by Cassity/Prem to approve
the 2006 and 2007 bills in the amount of $49,332.03.
Motion carried,
all in favor.
Van Berkel
reported that as directed at the last LCC meeting, pricing
was obtained for two laser levels. The best price was received from Miller
Bradford. This equipment will allow staff to perform many of our field
surveys alone without the need for an assistant. Combined with the availability
and accuracy of the LIDAR data, the staff time spent doing survey work
should be considerably reduced. Motion by Wiese/Cassity to approve the
purchase of two laser levels, lenker rods, extensions, and brackets at
a total cost of $4,145 from Miller Bradford.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Van Berkel informed
the LCC that $10,000 was proposed in the budget for 2007 for
a replacement copier, but it was removed. In 2006 there was $10,000 originally
budgeted for the total station survey system. That need has now been
met through the combined resources of the LIDAR data and the new laser
levels. Using the $5,800 remaining from that outlay account could allow
us to replace the copier this year and avoid having to request the money
again in 2008. Pohle priced equipment and found the most advantageous
approach would be to purchase a demo copier from the Gordon Flesch Co.
It is almost half the cost of a new copier. The copier will be networked
which will allow it to be used as a printer. This will save on toner
costs for the department’s
printer. Gordon Flesch did not offer any trade-in value for the current
copier, so it was offered to other county departments. The Clerk of Courts
has asked for it to be transferred to their department. Motion by Cassity/Prem
to approve the purchase of a replacement copier from Gordon Flesch at a
total cost of $4,600 and to transfer the current copier to the Clerk of
Courts.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Van Berkel distributed printouts that were distributed with the 2007 budget for review. The Labor Allocation Worksheet is based upon previous history from the staff’s timesheets and estimates the breakdown of staff hours to the various projects. The Program Cost Schedule shows the total cost of programs in salary, fringe and operational expenses. He then reported on grants that have been awarded to the LCD since the budget was adopted. The new grants will bring in approximately $40,000 in additional staffing money in 2007, however this also means more duties need to be done to meet the grant obligations. Some other projects will not receive the effort identified in the original budget plan. He recommended we do not commit to the NRCS Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning Cooperative Agreement. It only pays for 50 percent of the staff time needed and there just is not available staff time to take on another obligation.
Van Berkel notified the LCC that the plan will need to be done in 2007, and we will need to establish an advisory committee at some point. A natural resource concern survey is being sent out with the December Conservation Chronicle and is also available through the county website.
Clark’s Creek flows down the bluffs east of Highway 113. There have been numerous flooding problems since 1993, and the highway department has been assisting with the repairs. The LCD is attempting to work with the Devil’s Lake State Park staff to restore some upstream wetlands, forest and prairies to try to reduce some of the runoff. We are applying for a number of grants, and the park will also provide some funding. Van Berkel requested the Committee go on record in support of this effort to reduce runoff for use in various grant applications. Motion by Wiese/Cassity that the LCC support the department’s efforts to restore habitat and reduce runoff from the uplands along Clark’s Creek. Motion carried.
Motion by Cassity/Prem to approve a ten-year contract with Dorothy
Ennis.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Move by Cassity/Prem
to go into closed session. Roll was called.
Motion carried.
Motion by Prem/Cassity to reconvene in open
session. Roll call vote.
Motion carried.
Motion to adjourn until January 11 at 9:00 a.m. by Cassity/Prem at 11:40
a.m.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Respectfully Submitted: Kathy Zowin, Secretary