DATE: February 15, 2007
Place:
UW-Extension ETN West Square Building
Meeting called to order by Chair Wiese at 9:32 a.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met. Present were Zowin, Lehman, Wiese, Borleske, Cassity, and Prem from the Committee; Norgard-FSA; Brereton-NRCS; Van Berkel-LCD. Peterson-WDS, Woodbury, Livingston, Kloppenburg-DNR, McKenna.
Motion by Borleske/Cassity to adopt the agenda.
Motion
carried, all in favor.
Motion by Cassity/Zowin to adopt the
minutes of the regular LCC meeting on January 11.
Motion
carried, all in favor.
John McKenna-commented regarding the need for proactive management of county forest and his opposition to the proposed sand quarry and lake and its potential impact on the airport.
Discussion on ethanol production and its potential impacts on erosion rates, water quality, program participation, livestock agriculture.
None
Brereton reported the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) has 44 applications, 1 for animal waste storage and 43 in the local pool. Since the close, 4 have withdrawn their application and 39 were approved and funded. Staff are starting the planning for these practices.
Norgard reported the administration proposal for the fiscal year 2008 would provide no general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in 2007-08 but continuous CRP and CREP would continue. Milk program would also continue.
Livingston introduced the new forester Paul Kloppenburg and gave his background. The Managed Forest Law (MFL) rule changes have reduced number of applications. The Wisconsin Woodland Owners Conference will be held in Sauk County. There are approximately 127,000 trees ordered for the DNR tree sale program. The state is requiring rental agreements to deal with liability concerns for the tree planters.
Van Berkel highlighted LCD monthly report items; the significant contributions from NRCS this month including the installation of six seats of ArcGIS at a value of $50,000 and the agreement to assist with the Redstone Dam breach at a value of $15,000, the county tree sale numbers, the FPP meetings and their focus on gathering non-point rule information, the invasive cost sharing payments and the growing number of complaints regarding manure runoff and management issues.
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 Zowin/Borleske to approve
2006 and 2007 bills in the amount of $19,315.40.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Staff has had good success in meetings with representatives of Hausner Farms Inc. Stanek worked with Goldade to develop a conservation plan for the 16 farm units they manage. They have agreed to buffer all streams and drainage ditches and install 681 acres of contour strip cropping. Layout of these strips will begin this spring. Vosberg has also met regarding the livestock confinement areas, and they have agreed to address the Marklein Road site this year and others in the future. They have also restored a previously converted wetland and broken tile lines to restore FSA program eligibility.
Wildlife Damage
Services has received one hunter access complaint. The landowner
has kept good hunter logs and has met the hunting requirements. Motion
by Borleske/Lehman to determine the landowner has met the requirements,
to acknowledge receipt of complaint and deny the complaint.
Carried,
all in favor.
Two landowners did not
meet the hunting requirements. Dale Klingenmeyer had met
the goal other years, he had contacted DNR regularly regarding the problem
he was having getting hunters. Doug Faber had hunters on property but
they had a difficult time finding deer. Motion by Lehman/Cassity to approve
exemptions to the deer harvest requirements for these two landowners.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Motion by Cassity/Borleske to
approve the following claims totaling $7,141.37: Steven Emerson-$750.42,
Howard Engel-$1,040.85, Doug Faber-$2,366.16, Dale Klingenmeyer-$1,661.78,
Dan Licht-$1,322.16.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Bears have been moving down into the county but no recent reports. Wolf are showing up in Juneau County and expect there will be some future activity as they expand range. There were a large number of issues with coyotes last spring. Eagle sightings are up considerably along the Wisconsin River. Overwintering geese are becoming a big concern especially in the Ploenke Pond area. There were no expanded CWD areas reported this year.
Van Berkel provided summaries of the survey responses from landowners and the relationship to the LCC survey and the survey from 1998. He also reported on the staff and advisor meetings regarding the development of the LWRM plan and the timeline for the plan. Van Berkel will send out a proposed Citizen Advisory Committee before the next meeting for committee consideration and suggestion of possible members.
Cassity cautioned Committee members regarding proposals to use some of the landfill funds to offset construction expenses for a new Health Care Center (HCC).
Lehman requested a better budget management report for the land activities at the HCC property.
Motion to adjourn until March 8 at 9:30 a.m. by Cassity/Borleske at 11:37
a.m.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Respecfully Submitted: Kathy Zowin, Secretary