DATE: November 27, 2007
Committee Members Present: Gaalswyk, Lehman, Ashford, and Wiese.
Committee Member Absent: Sprecher.
Others Present: Mark Steward, Mary White, Brent Bailey, Pat Dederich, Steve Sorenson, Dave Tremble, Virgil Hartje, Don Stevens, Marty Krueger, Bob Cassity and others.
Chairman Wiese called the meeting to order at approximately 9:00 a.m. and compliance with the open meetings law was noted.
Motion by Ashford, seconded by Gaalswyk to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried, 3-0.
Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Ashford to approve the minutes from the November 13, 2007 meeting. Motion carried 3-0.
Public Comment: None
Communications: None
Business items: None
Mapping Departmental report - none.
Mr. Brent Bailey, Register of Deeds, appeared. Increase in recording fees for births, deaths and marriage certificates to $20.00 was discussed. Any additional copies would be $3.00 which the County keeps.
The Register of Deeds' year to date budget report was reviewed. Bailey stated that the Sauk County office records the most documents in the state per staff person.
Register of Deeds' vouchers were reviewed. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Ashford to approve the bills in the amount of $4,121.20. Motion carried, 3-0.
Mr. Pat Dederich, County Surveyor, appeared with his list of vouchers in the amount of $6,350.00 for Azmark Surveys and the Excelsior Group. Azmark Surveys is Mr. Dederich's company and he stated that the Land Records Officer had reviewed his portion of the billing. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Gaalswyk, to approve payment of the vouchers. Motion carried, 3-0.
Lehman joined the Committee at this time.
Mr. Mark Steward, Planning and Zoning Director, then appeared. He reported that with the adoption of the State budget, Wisconsin Fund payments had been approved. The amount approved for the County is $149,016.
There is a plan commission training session scheduled for 7:00 P.M. November 28th. Training to cover comprehensive plans, what to do with them, how to adopt one and use it.
Discussion followed on using the existing wastewater treatment system at the Sauk County Health Care Center by the County septic pumpers. Steward will check to see if it is functional and can be used. Discussion on staffing continued. They would only be used for maintenance and upkeep. This could be a revenue generator. Holding tanks and winter pumping was discussed. Environmentally friendly energy systems for the new center were discussed.
Mr. Dave Tremble gave a presentation on a project called "Inside the Fence" sponsored by the Badger Interim Oversite and Management Commission. Reinstating tours of Badger was discussed along with project goals, format and the budget. The Oversite Commission doesn't have cash available but could provide in-kind assistance. The project will take place on March 22nd and 29th and would be done in conjunction with a Smithsonian exhibition entitled "Between Fences".
Planning and Zoning Department vouchers were reviewed. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Lehman to approve vouchers in the amount of $34,300.00. Motion carried, 4-0.
Discussion followed regarding the application for a conditional use permit by David and Laura Delp in the Town of Westfield. Steward updated the Committee on farm consolidations. Exclusive ag. zoning and tax credits were discussed. Steward stated that they met the description of a farm consolidation and the Town approved it. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Gaalswyk to approve the conditional use permit for a farm consolidation. Motion carried, 4-0.
Next discussion was on Sauk County Code regarding permanent farm buildings being exempt from permits. Mr. Steve Sorenson, Assistant Zoning Administrator, appeared and explained a problem with permanent farm buildings being built without permits, in wetlands, floodplains and rights of way. The department is responsible for enforcement even though a county permit was never issued. Road setbacks were discussed. Meetings are held every year with local officials. He explained that towns can still issue their local permits. Several town officials and County Board Supervisors were in attendance and contributed their ideas. It was the general consensus that the rules should be given to the towns and let them handle it. The department needed to reinforce the rules with the towns but keep control local. The local officials know the town better. If the towns know the setback distances and something needs to be moved it is their problem. A hand-out with a check-off list was suggested. The Department should get new mapping next year. Floodplain and floodway was discussed. Use of town patrolmen was discussed as well as a meeting specifically for the town officials that write the permits.
The Town of Spring Green rezoning was next for discussion. This would be going to the County Board in December. The verbiage "1st Addition" to Monument Plantation was added. The area effected was not changed, just the description. Animals were discussed. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Ashford to add "1st Addition" to Monument Plantation to the map, which is not increasing the land to be effected. Motion carried, 4-0.
Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Ashford to approve the attendance of Matt Bremer to the Land Use and Zoning Leadership Seminar. $300.00 covers all three sessions. Motion carried, 4-0.
Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Lehman to adjourn. Motion carried, 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Ashford, Secretary