HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board of Supervisors - Minutes - 5/11/1971May 11, 1971
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 A.M. by Walter C. Barningham, County
Board Board Chairman.
The following members answered roll call: No. 1
Raymond J. Mammoser, Joseph Berweger, Arthur Hanson, George Moniza, Marvin
Olson, Sanfred Anderson, Elmer L. Suomala, Wallace Johnson, Kenneth C. Howell,
Bertyl Nels-on, William Celinsky, Arthur Meierotto, Edwin Erickson, Walter Wasmuth,
Alvin E. Bratley, Peter Hanson, Bennie Rude, Walter Barningham - total 18 present,
3 members absent, Ray C. Kyle, Thomas Rondeau and Ernest Heglund.
No. 2
Mr. William Hepner, County Forest Administrator, was present and was called
upon at this time. Mr. Hepner outlined on a map the route of the tour of the area
which Port Industries, Inc. has requested be withdrawn from County Forest Lands for
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their proposed development. He stated that the County Board could/one of three
decisions:
1. Approve the request of Port Industries Inc. for withdrawal.
2. Wait for additional information.
3. Reject the application for withdrawal
He further stated that he would like the Forestry Committee to take a stand,
either for or against the proposal.
Moved by Moniza and seconded by Berweger that the Board adjourn to go on the
tour and to reconvene at 1:30 P.M. Motion carried.
The Board made the tour as planned by Mr. Hepner, first approaching the site
from the South and traveling to the top of the hill. The group then traveled on
to Mt. Ashwabay and continued on to the top of the ski hill where Mr. Hepner point-
ed out the -approximate boundary lines and made additional comments.regarding the
area.
The meeting was called to order at 1:30 P.M. by Walter C. Barningham, County
Board Chairman.
The following members answered roll call: No. 3
Mammoser, Berweger, A.. Hanson, Moniza, Olson, Anderson, Suomala,
Johnson, Howell, Nelson, Celinsky, Meierotto, Erickson, Wasmuth, Bratley, P. Hanson,
Rude, Barningham - total 19 members present, 2 absent, Ray C. Kyle and Thomas Rondeau.
NO. 4
Mr. Hepner was again called upon and he again reviewed the status of the
request which was made by Port Industries, Inc.,
Mr. Moniza asked if the land request for withdrawal by Ashwabay was the same
as some of the land --requested by Port Industries, Inc., for withdrawal, to which
Mr. Hepner replied that it was.
Mr. Moniza asked if'once we'specify lands for withdrawal; what happens if an-
other party bids. Mr. Hepner replied that the Committee'would'have to determine
what would be to the best interest of the County and which bid is most advantageous:
Mr. Moniza further asked if withdrawal were made and the land let out for bids,
could Ashwabay then bid on the four forties they are interested in, to which Mr.
Hepner replied they could. Mr. Hepner also stated that if the four forties which
Ashwabay desires to acquire were not withdrawn, Mt. Ashwabay could operate those
four forties on a permit system.
Mr. Moniza asked if the reason fbr the request for withdrawal was for develop-
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merit by Port Industries, Inc., to which Mr./replied that was correct.
Mr. Hepner. stated that the Bureau.of Local Affairs and Development, Madison,
was to run a study on the background of Port Industries, Inc.; no report has been
received from the bureau to date:
Wallace Johnson asked if a timetable had been established to which Mr. Hepner
replied that one of the conditions is that it would be on a five year schedule.
Marvin Olson asked about requiring a performance bond. He felt that a thorough in-
vestigation must be made and that the board really was not too well informed. Mr.
Hepner stated that the District Attorney felt that a performance bond was of quest-
ionable value.. He suggested that a better plan would be to issue the deeds in
several stages. Stage one could be five forties and they would have to be developed
to the satisfaction of the County before additional lands would be released.
Mr. Hepner stated that he has in his file the current financial statement of
Port Industries, Inc.. from 1970.
Mr. Moniza asked if the tax base was the only thing to consider as.far as
plus features for the County. Mr. Hepner answered that he cannot help but see it
as an advantage for added employment. He -felt that there would be some full time
employment, however, he felt that an overall tax reduction was questionable. It
is the understanding that roads inside the development would be private roads of
the developer and that furnishing of the water and sewer would also be a problem of
the developer.
Mr. Barningham stated that the Forestry(Committee felt that the decision re-
garding the -request for withdrawal ;:wds� too big a problem for their Committee
alone.
Mr. Heglund entered the meeting at -this time.
Mr. Mammoser asked about the.procedure for an appraisal by the Department of
Natural Resources to which Mr. Robert Becker replied that the County must submit
a formal application for withdrawal before an appraisal is made. Some points re-
lating to the appraisal of property were outlined by Mr. Becker of .the Department
of Natural Resources. He added that the cost to the County has been established as
May _11, 1971
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previbu"sl.y quoted by Mr. Hepner. Mr. Becker stated that the appraisal would take
a minimum,of two or three weeks.
Mr. Hepner stated that some of this land has been in County Forest Crop for
thirty-nine years.
Mr. Holmgren asked what the procedure would be if the County approves the
withdrawal.: Mr. Becker replied that the application then would go to the Department
of Natura-lResources and they could approve it subject to the conditions set forth
by the County. If the order for withdrawal is issued by the state, it is then up
to the County to dispose of the property according to Statute.
Mr. Mammoser asked what would happen if Nekoosa Edwards doesn't sell the ad-
joining. -property to which Mr. Hepner replied that he had had a phone conversation
with Mr. Petri and that no formal decisions have been reached at this time.Mr.
Holmgren.added that he felt that a satisfactory agreement could be reached with
the Nekoosa Edwards Co.
Robe;rt_Anderson, representing Mt. Ashwabay, stated that they are negotiating
with Dr.. Telford for sale of a controling interest in the ski hill. Mr. Holmgren
felt_that the ski hill is the key draw for the whole development. Port Industries
prefer.s.-to own the ski hill, but would not impair the operation of it if they did
not own it. The same applies to the golf course.
-Mr. Mammoser stated that no decision has been made as to the request at this
time by the committee as a whole.
-Mr. Johnson asked about the financial capabilities of Port Industries. Mr.
Holmgren replied that'Mr. Hepner has information on their ability to perform. He
further stated that his corporation has the capability to raise money as it is
needed. '
Mr.- Holmgren stated that the title on either a cond-bminium unit or a home in
the development is vested in the individual and is assessed to him.
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Dr...Telford stated that at the present time he did.own some shares in Mt.
Ashwabay and that he is negotiating for a controling interest in the ski hill.
Mr..Johnson asked what type of clientele are generally dealt with in the dis-
posal of units ts in such a development as this, to which Mr. Holmgren replied that
it -is unlikely that the average investor would have children in schools in this
area, -.-not usually permanent residents.
Harold Schultz, Cable, added that in the Cable development, there is not one
qualified,Town of Cable elector.
recess was called by the Chairman and during the recess the Forestry Comm-
ittep met briefly to further consider the matter.
- - - May- 11-,- _1971
After -the meeting was reconvened, Mr® Mammoser was called upon and he reported
that the concensus of opinion of the committee was definitely for withdrawal. Mr.
Hepner also reported that the committee had decided in favor of withdrawal of 760
acres of .land from -county forest and that conditions are to -be attached to the
resolution to be -brought -up to the County Board at the next meeting. 'Mr. Hepner
further stated that he felt that a request to the Department of Natural Resources
for a public hearing'should be made a part of the'resolution.
Mr. Becker was asked how long it'would'take to'process the application, he
answered that it -would probably take several months following the public hearing.
Mr. Becker was further asked to comment on the appraisal and he stated that the
appraised value seat by the DNR would be the -minimum price that the land could be
sold for.
MOTION NO. 5
Moved by Celinsky and seconded by Rude that a resolution be drawn up providing
for withdrawal of 760 acres with use conditions attached and that it be presented
to the County Board at the next meeting, said resolution to include a request to
the Department of Natural Resources for a public hearing.
MOTION NO. 6
Moved by Suomala that` the motion be amended to read that the Forestry Committee
prepare their report and the resolution and submit it to the County Board at the
next meeting,.motion seconded,by Olson.
The oral vote being close, a roll call vote was asked'for, the results of
which were as follows: No® 6a
Ayes Ols.on,, Suomala: -
Mayes-, Mammoser,. Berweger, A Hanson, Heglund, Anderson, Johnson, Howell,
Nelson, Celinsky, Meie.rotto, Erickson, Wasmuth, Bratley, P. Hanson, Rude, Barningham
Ayes - 2
Nayes - 16
Total- 18, 3 members absent
The motion to amend,the motion was declared lost by the Chairman..
NO. 7
A roll call vote was asked for on the adoption of Motion No. 5, the re-
sults of the vote were as follows:
Ayes - Mammoser, Berweger, A. Hanson, Heglund, Olson, Anderson, Suomala, John-
son, Howell, Nelson, Celinsky, Meierotto, Erickson, Wasmuth, Bratley,.P® Hanson.,
Rude, Barningham
Nayes none
Aye s - 18
Nayes •-
Total - 18 Motion carried.
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The following resolution was read: No. 8
WHEREAS., The Department of Natural Resources has, in recent years, acquired
two properties in the Town of Delta, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, known as the
Delta...Brook Trout Company property and the Sajdak Springs property for the purpose
of establishing and operating trout hatcheries on said properties, and
WHEREAS, No substantial improvement has been made in the Delta Brook Trout
property.too this date:. -and information has been circulating to the effect that said
Department -has abandoned its plans to construct and operate a hatchery on the
Sajdak Springs property, and
.:WHEREAS, It is in the public interest and the interest of Bayfield County
.._thatt_. the_s_e-properties be developed as planned by said Department of Natural Resources,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of Supervisors of Bayfield County
go on record urging the said Department of Natural Resources to proceed with their
plans t.o construct and operate a trout hatchery as originally planned in the said
Town of Delta and, more particularly, on the Sajdak Springs property.
(signed): Thomas E. Rondeau
George Moniza
Raymond J. Mammoser Walter Wasmuth
Bennie R. Rude
Moved by A. Hanson and seconded by Mammoser that the foregoing resolution be
adopted..
Mr.. Becker, Department of Natural Resources, was present and was asked by
Chairman Barningham to comment on the foregoing resolution. Mr. Becker stated
that he.was not very familiar with the proposed fish hatchery project, but he
understood that pollution was going to be a large factor in determining where the
hatchery would be built. He stated that he understood that at the new proposed
site for the new hatchery, an underground source of water would be used and the
water pumped back into filter beds. Several board members expressed their disappoint-
ment in the proposed plan to relocate the hatchery site.
Motion carried to adopt resolution No. 8
The following communication was read: No. 9
Walworth County
April 14, 1971
Dear Sir:
You.have in the past few days received a letter from Bob Mortenson of the
Wisconsin Boards Association regarding the special souvenir issue of Wisconsin
Counties magazine scheduled for July.
This special issue of Wisconsin Counties magazine promises to be a really sig-
nificant contribution to the success of the up -coming convention of the National
Association of Counties which will be in Milwaukee, July 18-21, 1971.
This July magazine will include many articles about meaningful progress in
Wisconsin. Subjects like the advent of the County Executive concept, tax sharing,
and welfare will be written about by expert observers of the County scene according
- - - - -May 11, 1971-.
to Mortenson, editor of the magazine.
But, ins.order to have a large number of interesting features in this special
issue, it is necessary to have more advertising.
Mr. Mortenson.-has urged you, who have not as yet responded positively to the
proposal of taking a full page ad in the July issue (at $175 per page), to please
reconsider --the prospects. "The more ads, the more information about Wisconsin can
be included in the magaz.ine11, he has pointed out.
And so as we -go into the final weeks of preparation for this special July
issue, will you help us tell the Wisconsin story to the over 3000 national delegates
who will come to Wisconsin in July?
"We Like It Here" and so we should tell visitors, "WE LIKE YOU HERE, too."
Yours, truly
Eugene A. Hollister
Walworth County
PS-- Will you confirm your decision with the Production Coordinator of the Special
Souvenir,Convention-Issue of Wisconsin Counties Magazine, Bruce Kanitz, in Mil-
waukee? He is the information Officer of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
and will work with -Bob Mortenson on the feature stories as well as the advertising.
Thank you!
Moved by Erickson and seconded by Howell to receive the foregoing communication
and place it on file. Motion carried.
Moved by Mammoser and seconded by Erickson that the meeting be adjourned.
Motion carried.
Walter C. Barninghamy,
County Board Chairman
Edward A. Pajala
County Clerk