DATE: May 17, 2007
PLACE:
UW-Extension ETN West Square Building
Meeting called to order by Chair Wiese at 9:37 a.m. It was certified that the requirements of the open meeting law have been met. Present were Zowin, Lehman, Wiese, Borleske, and Cassity from the Committee; Brereton-NRCS; Van Berkel and Pohle-LCD. Prem was absent.
Motion by Borleske/Cassity to adopt the agenda.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Motion by Zowin/Cassity to adopt the minutes of the April 17 LCC meeting with the addition "all payments have been paid up to date at Health Care Center farm properties for pasture rental, building rental, and cropland." Motion carried, all in favor. It was noted that gravel is needed on the driveway that comes in by the cemetery in the back side of the buildings and some fence could use repair. Van Berkel said he would have Albrecht look into these issues.
None.
Thursday Notes-Van Berkel noted that Executive Director Julian Zelazny is doing a good job, and it is showing through the return of some counties as members of WLWCA. Pohle is serving on the WLWCA Conference Planning Committee and noted that the conference theme will focus on energy issues.
The Southern Area Association Tour will be on June 27 in Dodge County. Wiese, Borleske, and Lehman expressed an interest in attending and carpooling to the event. The registration deadline is June 15.
In answer to a question by Committee, it was noted that practice maintenance on the former Holmblad property, sold to Kozlowski, did not meet some Narrows contract requirements and that Kozlowski had agreed to pay back the contract amount on that portion.
Joint Finance has moved the conservation portion of the budget forward
with reductions in some of the TRM grant funding but still containing other
increased amounts. Still a long way from passage however.
Brereton reported that one applicant received funding for waste storage from the state-wide Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). One Sauk County applicant received funding from the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. The person hired to help NRCS with administrative duties last fall resigned. A new person is working 20 hours a week between NRCS and FSA through the Experienced Works Program.
There was discussion about doing a presentation for a future Towns Association meeting relating to conservation issues and county funding needs from the state.
Van Berkel noted that April was a very busy month and that many new efforts are included on the LCD Monthly Report along with the normal projects.
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/Zowin to approve bills in the amount of $8,309.57. Motion carried, all in favor.
The individuals contacted to date are not interested in serving on the RC&D Council. There are quarterly meetings and per diem would need to be approved by the County Board. Borleske and Zowin may attend the next Southwest Badger RC&D meeting. It was suggested to have Southwest Badger RC&D Director Steve Bertjens attend a future LCC meeting.
Motion by Zowin/Borleske to approve the 2008 LCD Mission, Vision, and
Goals with the addition of a short-term goal to be a resource information
center for recycling and disposal options.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Van Berkel informed the LCC that Hakanson did not accept the offer to do this inventory as previously approved. He also reported that a MALWEG grant has been received to complete a nonpoint rule education project. The grant was received after budget was approved but needs to be used by the end of the year. Rather than adding two more summer interns he proposed combining these two initiatives and hiring someone more long-term in July for the rest of 2007 at $10.50/hour to interview farmers to complete both projects. This would require a contribution to the Wisconsin Retirement System but otherwise would still be limited term with no benefits. Motion by Zowin/Cassity to attempt to hire a LTE using no additional county funds but with the MALWEG grant and some of the remaining Narrows cost-sharing funds. Motion carried, all in favor.
Cassity suggested Van Berkel contact the professional engineer from GeoTrans, Inc. and ask him do a presentation for the Town of Excelsior about the groundwater sampling results from the past and the future.
On June 5 there will the LWCB tour in the county to view preservation
efforts. There may be some guests invited by the county that would need
to have their lunch costs covered. DATCP had requested the county pay for
those meals. Motion by Zowin/Borleske to authorize up to $100 for meals
for the LWCB tour.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Borleske and Zowin led a discussion regarding the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and concerns about the future of agricultural lands and forest lands. They are interested in investigating the program further based upon things they learned at a recent "Working Lands Symposium." Several Sauk County towns have encouraged the county to develop a PDR program in their Smart Growth Plans. The state is also investigating the creation of a PDR program and the federal government has a program that can be used to supplement local efforts. Committee agreed to first determine if there is support of the program in principle, without getting into funding, and then try to determine what the objections are to PDRs and the Baraboo Range Program. They agreed there are many issues to research and address first. Eventually it may be an issue that would require a separate County Board meeting focused on PDRs to present and discuss the idea.
Motion to adjourn until June 14 at 9:00 a.m. by Borleske/Cassity at 11:58 a.m. Motion carried, all in favor.
Repectfully Submitted: Kathy Zowin, Secretary