Badger Interim Oversight Management Commission


DATE: January 31, 2007

The Badger Interim Oversight Management Commission (IOMC) convened at The Badger Army Ammunition Plant for its ninth regular meeting on Wednesday, January 31, 2007. 

Dave Tremble, interim Chair pro-tem, called the meeting to order at 6:43 pm. 

Commissioners present: Rich Evans, WDNR; Bill Wenzel, Sauk County.

Liaison representatives present: Joan Kenney, U.S. Army.

Stakeholder representatives present:  Laura Olah, Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger; Eugene Robkin, City of Baraboo; Bill Stehling, Village of Sauk City; Verlyn Mueller, Badger History Group; Karl Hakanson, The Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance, Tom Pleger, U.W.- Baraboo, and Don Hammes, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.

Others present: Dave Tremble, Sauk County Dept. of Planning and Zoning; Craig Karr, Wisconsin DNR.

Tremble asked members to review the agenda.  The agenda was approved by consensus.

Public Comment

Alison Duff announced the resumption of prairie restoration work, and mentioned that the Sauk Prairie conservation Alliance had lined up volunteers.  She said the Kindschi Prairie east of USH 12 would be burned, along with two other sites.  She also mentioned that the Alliance had helped to organize tours of Badger for U.W.–Madison faculty.

Commissioner’s Reports

WDNR – no report

Badger History Group – no report

Village of Sauk City - Bill Stehling reported that the Village of Sauk City would discuss Rail to Trail resolutions, and would ask for similar resolutions from the Village of Prairie du Sac, the Towns of Prairie du Sac, Sumpter, Mazomanie and Roxbury.   The resolutions will be forwarded to the Wisconsin River Rail Transit Authority.

City of Baraboo - Gene Robkin said that the city of Baraboo is interested in Badger as a means of enhancing local economic vitality and stability.

U.W. – Baraboo - Tom Pleger reported that the fall showing of the Badger Village film was attended by a large audience.

U.S. Army - Joan Fordham reported that the WDNR appears satisfied with the boundaries of land proposed by GSA for conveyance to the State of Wisconsin.  Joan said the Army can issue the finding of suitability to Transfer (FOST) as soon as the boundary decisions are completed.  Joan mentioned an overarching Memorandum of Agreement that will authorize the land conveyance.  The Section 106 MOA is currently under review for a thirty day period, which began in December.  Joan agreed to obtain a copy of the Section 106 MOA and provide Sauk County with a copy.

Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger - Laura Olah mentioned that Plan Element 2.33 of the Badger Reuse Plan calls for treatment of groundwater to the Preventative Action Limit (PAL).  She provided handouts of a 2006 SpecPro map showing well tests done in June 2006, showing those wells where levels exceeded the PAL.  Laura said that the WDNR’s statewide policy has been to not enforce the PAL.  She reported that the Army has voluntarily agreed to test additional private wells in the area. 

Wisconsin Wildlife Federation - Don Hammes asked if any wildlife had been tested for elevated levels of contaminants.  Joan Kenney responded that deer had been tested in the past, and that earthworms are currently undergoing tests, as is the grass.  There are no CWD infected deer reported. 

Old Business

There was a brief discussion of the final version of the Resolution Requesting funding and Completion of the Comprehensive Groundwater Analysis In and Around the Badger Army Ammunition Plant.  Given the absence of so many Commissioners and Stakeholder representatives, no action was taken.

Joan asked if the Army could present information to the Sauk County Planning Zoning and Land Records Committee.  Potential dates were discussed.

Pine Glen and other potential areas of public access interest were briefly discussed.  Robkin commented that an agreement with the HCN is needed to assure public access to Pine Glen.

Craig Karr suggested that the topic offers a good example of one that should be addressed during the Joint Management Planning process.

Tremble agreed to contact Samantha Greendeer, Alvin Cloud and Randy Poelma by email or letter to bring the issue to their collective attention.

New Business

Craig Karr reported that the WDNR has submitted a request for federal funding appropriations.  The request included a list of priorities prepared with OMC input.  It was forwarded to the Governor’s office.  The main focus remains on State Road 78 reconstruction, emphasizing the concrete recycling project and a pedestrian underpass to connect DNR land lying on both sides of the new road.  WDNR is proposing to continue to contract with Spec Pro for ongoing removals, given their current presence and familiarity with the situation.

The next OMC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday March 28th.

Public Comment

Bill Stehling asked about rail service to the Agrilliance facility.  He mentioned that Agrilliance had sold the facility to a larger coop.  He asked for feedback from WDNR / WisDOT on the rail corridor easement.

The meeting adjourned by consensus at 8:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted by: Dave Tremble, Sauk County Dept. of Planning and Zoning