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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 1/6/2010BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, January 6, 2010 Members Present: David Good, Chairman; Marco Bichanich, Vice Chairman and William Kacvinsky. Kenneth Jardine and Shawn Miller were excused for the evening meeting. Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator, Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator and Barbara Suminski, Office Manager. Others in Attendance: Steve Coffin, DNR Liaison. The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Good at 6:00 P.M. Approve Minutes: On a motion by Marco Bichanich and seconded by Bill Kacvinsky the meeting minutes for December 2, 2009 were approved and the motion carried. Monthly Financial Report: On a motion by Marco Bichanich and seconded by Bill Kacvinsky the monthly financial report was approved. Sand River Pit: Jason updated the Committee that the projected site is located on three forty acre parcels per the Bayfield County Zoning Department. There may possibly be three permits involved and the same reclamation Plan may be used for all of the parcels. Jason reported that there is some residual timber on the site to be removed and that it could be made available with the Spring Timber sale. The Administrator was directed by the Committee that he could move forward with the permit for the larger central site. The Committee also stated that at the present time there was not an immediate need for the gravel due to the time of year and that the townships interested have purchased gravel. Jolly Trail/AOEF 2010 Work Plan: The Jolly Trail work plan was accepted by AOEF and has been signed. As directed by the Committee at the December meeting, the Alpine snowmobile and all other trail grooming equipment listed on the work plan were donated to AOEF. A donation tube has been placed adjacent to the kiosk and a trail counter was placed near the trailhead on December 23, 2009. Additional trail counters will also be placed on the Jolly/Ashwabay boundary and in the Birch Hill loop. There have been approximately 350 users of the trail and we are being informed that the trail is in excellent groomed condition. The donation tube had $63.00 the first week it was installed. There was discussion regarding the snowmobile that was still inventory for the Forestry Department and after discussion the Committee requested that the Administrator look into selling through a bid process or see if there was another Department within the County that could have use for the snowmobile. Timber Sale Rejection Policy: The Administrator explained to the Committee the rejection of a high bid from the Fall Timber Sale due to an error on the bid sheet. There was discussion on what the bid sheet contained and the importance of the Department having a policy that would provide a course of action to follow when a high bid has been rejected. There was a good deal of discussion regarding this issue. A motion was made by William Kacvinsky that, “In the event a high bid had been rejected by the Forestry Department, the timber sale will be offered to the next highest bidder. However, if the difference between the corrected rejected bid and the next highest bid greater than $2,500.00, then the sale will be re-sold at the next timber sale offering and not BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, January 6, 2010 awarded to the next highest bidder in the best interest of the County.” The motion was seconded by Marco Bichanich and the motion carried. Apostle Islands Sled Dog Race: Bayfield Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau request to hold this annual event on February 6th and 7th, 2010 on County Forest . A motion was made by Marco Bichanich to approve the request with the stipulation that insurance be required with a copy to accompany their use agreement. The motion was seconded by William Kacvinsky and the motion carried. Executive Session: On a role call vote the Committee entered into Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85 (1)(e) for the purpose of deliberating or negotiating the purchase of the Porter property consisting of 120 acres of forest land. On a motion and role call vote the Committee reconvened into open session at 7:06 P.M. Annual Work Plan with DNR: The Administrator discussed information regarding the establishment of the CY 2010 Annual Work Plan with the DNR. Included in the plan for the CY are goals for Timber Sale establishment and reconnaissance. A hand-out of the goals was shared with the Committee. A motion was made by Marco Bichanich to approve the 2010 Annual Work Plan with the DNR and the motion was seconded by William Kacvinsky and the motion carried. The Administrator also discussed the reserve tree and biomass guidelines in the DNR handbook that have generated some unrest with Forest Administrators in regards to the ambiguous nature of the guidelines. Training in regard to the guidelines is to be held in February. The Committee was informed of two gates that were damaged over a week period of time in the process of snowmobile grooming and the process in getting them repaired. Arbor Day Grant: Kirby Dernovsek, Forester with the Department applied for an Arbor Day Grant in September and the Department has been notified that we are going to receive in the area of $20,500.00, which will cover the cost of roughly 170,000 red pine trees for the Reforestation Program. The Department thanks Kirby for the extra effort in this application process. The Administrator informed the Committee of community concerns regarding a west long lake road project and the use of a closed town road for ATV use in the Town of Tripp, in which the Administrator has advised the persons involved to work with the Township. The Committee was informed of the staffing update and changes with the arrival of Andrew O’Krueg to begin work on January 11, 2010. Steve Coffin, DNR Liaison, shared with the Committee information in regard to the Annual Work Plan and the future staffing for the DNR. The meeting adjourned at 7:52 P.M. on a motion by Marco Bichanich and seconded by Bill Kacvinsky and the motion carried BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, January 6, 2010