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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 2/3/2010BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Members Present: David Good, Chairman; William Kacvinsky, Kenneth Jardine and Shawn Miller. Marco Bichanich was 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; Karen and Richard Stormoen and Eric Maki of Midwest Forest Products. The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Good at 6:03 P.M. Approve Minutes: On a motion by Bill Kacvinsky and seconded by Shawn Miller the meeting minutes for January 6, 2010 were approved and the motion carried. Monthly Financial Report: On a motion by Bill Kacvinsky and seconded by Shawn Miller monthly financial report was approved. Funding Town Road Improvement: The Committee was informed that based on the CY 2009 Gross Timber Sales that the amount to move into the Town Road Maintenance account would be $23,053.00. Chairman Good stated that a letter written to the township should be completed with some caution on the requirements for road projects. On a motion by Bill Kacvinsky to move the dollars and seconded by Bucky Jardine the motion passed unanimously. Richard and Karen Stormoen: The Stormoen’s were in attendance to make a presentation regarding their proposed re-route of Trail 13 in the Town of Tripp through County Forest land. The Stormoen’s explained their request to the Committee. The Committee had received a copy of the letter the Stormoen’s had sent to the Department Administrator with an outline of their request. The Stormoen’s have discussed this proposal with the Town of Tripp and the Administrator has been told that the Town would like to see the ATV trail off of the Town road. The Administrator explained that this concept would apply to the Access Management Plan and that it would also mean working with the Town. The Administrator stated that it would not be until Spring that the area would even be accessible to take under advisement. Bill Kacvinsky made a motion to postpone any decision on the request and to refer the request to the Forestry Department to take the request under consideration in the development of the Access Management Plan. This would include working with the Town of Tripp and the persons within the township that would be involved in the decision. Shawn Miller seconded the motion and the motion carried. Eric Maki, President of Midwest Forest Products: Eric Maki was present to make an appeal to the Committee regarding their decision to ban Midwest from bidding on County timber sales for a period of two years due to a breach of contract. Jason Bodine stated that the Midwest breach did experience a large decline in value, however, nearly all contractors that did win contracts during the “high stumpage period”, fulfilled their obligations. After discussion the Committee stated that they would stand on their decision to ban Midwest for the two year period on bidding. BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Page 2. Land Survey Project: The Administrator informed the Committee that there are numerous areas within the County Forest that are poorly monumented. These areas could be a potential liability and the Department often spends a great deal of time recreating unofficial working boundaries. Currently there is a project in the Town of Cable that the Administrator feels would be a good start to benefit from a professional survey. The County has a budget line item for the Bayfield County Surveyor, Bob Mick; but the Department has not made use of this budget in the past. The Administrator explained that this is new ground for the Department in that this had not been done in the past. During discussion the Administrator explained that the Department did not have the expertise or the time to monument, but it was the Department’s obligation to officially monument. The Committee requested that the Administrator approach Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator and Scott Fibert, County Clerk to discuss folding the Forestry Department needs into the current survey budget. Executive Session: Bill Kacvinsky made a motion to convene into Executive Session and seconded by Shown Miller. David Good, Chairman; called on role call vote for the Committee to enter into Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1) (e) for the purpose of deliberating and negotiating the purchase of forest land. Reconvene into Open Session: On a motion by Shawn Miller and seconded by Bill Kacvinsky on a role call vote the Committee reconvened into open session. General Discussion Items: Access Management Plan: The Administrator stated that the Department has started the groundwork on the plan and that the goal is to finish the rest of the forest rather than approach the remaining blocks one at a time. He informed the Committee that Cable and South Barnes have been completed. The Administrator hopes to have something to share at the April Committee meeting. Jolly Trail: Counters are in place, collections are being collected from the donation tube and that the Administrator is receiving good reviews and that the trails are well maintained. Klemik Gate: The Administrator met with the person who caused damage to the gate and has given the person the opportunity to repair the gate. If the repair is not acceptable, the person will pay for the cost of replacement. Snowmobile: The 2009 Artic Cat snowmobile has been transferred to the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Department. Forest Needs/Department Needs: The Administrator stated that he would like to address the current and future needs of the County forest. The presentation would include past and current accomplishments, current and future goals and the ability to meet these goals with current staffing levels. Also, he would like to address the current structure of the Department. The presentation would include current departmental structure, roles and responsibilities and the future demands of the staff. Also he would compare the structure of the forestry Department to other departments within the courthouse, as well as, other comparable county forests, the DNR and the forest service. The Administrator was requesting a special meeting to discuss these two issues. The Committee made the decision that they would prefer to have these issues brought to the monthly scheduled meeting in March 2010. BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Page 3. Long Lake Area Timber Sale: The Administrator explained that although this sale has not yet been completed it has generated much interest from the local residents. The primary issue is aesthetics and the residents want the sale stopped. The Administrator informed the Committee that the sale follows all necessary guidelines and already has a considerable amount of “aesthetics” naturally incorporated in it. Fish Sticks Habitat Improvement: The Eau Claire Chain Conservation Club is requesting that Bayfield County donate roughly forty, six to eight inch in diameter whole trees to be placed in a local lake to create/improve fish habitat. Futurewood, Inc. has agreed to harvest all of the trees and the Club will have them transported to the lake. This work has been done on numerous lakes across the region. The donation would amount to roughly four cords of timber. Bill Kacvinsky made a motion to donate the timber to the Fish Stick Habitat Improvement and Shawn Miller seconded the motion and the motion carried. Steve Coffin, DNR Representative: Steve informed the Committee that the DNR basically still had a hiring freeze, although they were allowing some in-house transferring into positions. At the present time there was a fire duty assessment being completed. On a motion by Bill Kacvinsky and seconded by Bucky Jardine and unanimously carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:28 P.M. Respectfully Submitted: Barbara Suminski Office Manager