DATE: February 22, 2006
The Baraboo Range Commission met in a regular session at 8:30 AM., February 22, 2006 at the Sauk County West Square Building in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Members present: Ashford, Beard, Hartmann, Kowalke, Persche, Statz, Steinhorst, Turnquist and Wenzel. Also present: Dave Tremble, Sauk County Planning and Zoning, and Audrey Parker and Linda Bormann.
Chairperson Ashford brought the meeting to order at 8:33 AM., and asked
members to review the meeting agenda. Motion to adopt the agenda as presented
by Hartmann, second by Turnquist.
Motion carried.
Ashford asked members to review minutes from the January 25, 2006 meeting.
Motion to adopt the minutes by Wenzel, second by Steinhorst.
Motion
Carried.
Tremble read a letter from John Taapken describing his intention to harvest some trees on the east end of the Taapken's protected property as part of a pine plantation thinning effort. The thinning was recommended and will be supervised by Rick Livingston, WDNR Sauk County Forester. Tremble recommended approval of the Taapken's proposal. Members approved the proposal by consensus.
Tremble reported on the announcement of the death of Ruthe Badger, longtime Wisconsin DNR employee and recent South Central Region Director.
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Tremble reported on the web cast he viewed of the Working Lands Initiative task force meeting held February 1 at the DATCP headquarters in Madison. The Task Force discussion centered on the creation of a state funded purchase of development rights program.
Tremble reported that Sauk county had received a check from the Wisconsin Dept. Of Transportation in the amount of $247,240.00 for the cost of the conservation easement purchased from John Waldinger Jr. on the bluffs portion of his land on Peske Road in the Town of Honey Creek. The easement only covered the land lying within the BRNNL. The remaining land, mainly agricultural, could be protected using a federal NRCS Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program grant, but Sauk County is not able to take any action without program approval by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors.
Tremble reported that final informational details had been forwarded to Stefanie Brouwer of the WDNR on the five projects submitted for Stewardship Fund grants. These details involved additional itemized cost summaries and supporting documentation.
Tremble reported that efforts continue to build support for a Roger Shanks National Recreational Trail on the Merrrimac Preserve Land in the Town of Merrimac. Tremble will seek letters of support from area conservation organizations and individuals, to be sent to the Riverland Conservancy.
Tremble reported that he had followed up on Jennifer Erikson's suggestion to work with Lynn Olsen from the Extension office on ideas for mapping protected properties. Lynn is currently on leave for a while. Tremble will discuss the issue with Jenny Erikson. The publication of a new map is not anticipated for about a year.
Tremble distributed drafts of the 2005 Annual Report for Commission review and discussion. Tremble led the Commission members through the accounting spreadsheets to re-familiarize them with the format and pointed out the critical summary figures, including the totsal amount reimbursed by WisDOT as of Dec. 31, 2005 ($3,375,901.88) and the Active BRNNL Fund Balance as of 12/31/05 ($999,098.12). Additional costs for the five most recent acquisitions total about $507,000, bringing the current Active Balance down to about $491,150. Tremble emphasized that he anticipates reimbursement for these five most recent acquisitions by a Stewardship fund grant, bringing the Active BRNNL Fund balance back up to the $999,000 level. Tremble asked members to offer and comments or clear up concerns as soon as possible, prior to the next level of review by the Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee.
Tremble reported that he had completed easement monitoring inspection reports on several properties, including the Ski Hi Fruit Farm (annual inspection required) and the Ed Shumacher property in the Town of Baraboo, as well as the Gerd and Ursula Muehllehner and the North Freedom Rod and Gun Club in the Town of Freedom. Inspection of the Muehllehner property revealed non-approved modifications to the driveway that encroached on the protected property, resulting in a violation of the terms of the conservation easement. Tremble presented maps of the area, and a set of photographic images that clearly showed the area adjacent to the driveway, and communications submitted by the Muehlleners that essentially accepted responsibility for the violation, and suggestions for addressing the problem. He also presented a letter from the Chair of the Town of Freedom, expressing support for the driveway modifications as a long-needed storm drainage improvement that will save the Town time and expense. Members compared the images shown with the original Baseline Report photo of the driveway from Freedom Road, and discussed remedies. The commission agreed by consensus to permit the modifications to remain in place, and accept the Muehllehner's plan to re-vegetate the site with native shrubs planted north of the driveway and the adjacent drainage swale. Tremble agreed to draft a letter describing the Commission's findings, reminding the grantors of the need to follow the process required by the conservation easement, and stipulating the requirements for rectifying the damages. The letter will be available for review and action at the next Commission meeting.
Persche moved to convene a closed session, pursuant to s. 19.85 (1)(e): Deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session." For the purpose of discussing negotiations with private landowners. Second by Kowalke. Motion Carried unanimously.
The Commission convened in closed session. Members present for the closed session: Ashford, Hartmann, Kowalke, Persche, Statz, Steinhorst and Wenzel. Also present: Dave Tremble, Sauk County Planning and Zoning.
The Commission returned to open session immediately following the closed session.
The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday March 29, 2006.
Motion to adjourn by Turnquist, second by Hartmann. Motion Carried.
Respectfully submitted: Dave Tremble, Sauk County Dept. Of Planning and Zoning