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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 9/2/2010BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 Members Present: Committee members present were Shawn Miller, Chairperson, Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson, Bucky Jardine, John Bennett and William Kacvinsky arrived at 6:12 P.M. Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator, Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator and Barbara Suminski, Office Manager. Others in Attendance: Steve Coffin, DNR representative and Brenda and Steve Garrett. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Shawn Miller at 6:00 P.M. Approve Minutes: On a motion by Bucky Jardine and seconded by Marco Bichanich the August 9, 2010 meeting minutes were approved and the motion carried. Monthly Financial Report: On a motion by Bucky Jardine and seconded by Marco Bichanich the August 2010 financial report were approved and the motion carried. Secure Rural Schools: The Forestry administrator included in the meeting packet a general summary of the Title I,II and III projects, a decision model and a summary of the Cy 2008 and Cy 2009 payments and a summary of how C 2009 payment was distributed to the Townships. The administrator stated that he felt that the current selection of 85% Title I and 15% Title II was the best way to allocated the funding. The Committee had discussion regarding the distribution and Marco Bichanich made a motion that followed the administrator’s recommendation of 85% Title I and 15% Title II with no distribution to Title III. John Bennett seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Parks: The administrator stated that he had put Parks on the agenda in case there was a need for additional dialog. He informed the Committee that Steve Probst had attended a meeting in Eau Claire on a campground reservation software demo. The administrator stated that the program looked promising to Steve, but that it was probably not something to jump into in the near future. Brenda and Steve Garrett were in the audience and wished to speak to the Committee, but they had not requested to be on the agenda for the evening. Bill Kacvinsky made a motion that the Garrett’s be given permission to speak to the Committee and Bucky Jardine seconded the motion and the motion carried. The Garrett’s expressed their situation at the present time of not knowing if they should be taking money from people wishing to make reservations in the park for the next calendar year. They also were questioning if the fee was going to remain the same and were interested in what other changes would take place. The administrator stated that at the present time Parks were not a part of the Department and that it was still in the discussion stage. Mr. Bodine stated that if he were to be in direct charge of the Parks programming he would need to have a clear understanding of what was presently happening and if given the charge would meet with all persons who were handling Park responsibilities at the present time to evaluate what would be recommendations for the future. The Committee recommended that deposits on seasonal sites be put on hold until further notice. They also recommended that they have this same discussion with the Tourism Committee. 2011 Forestry Department Budget: The Department administrator included in the meeting packet a print-out of comparisons of the CY 2010 and CY 2011 proposed budget for the Forestry Department. The bottom line was an increase in revenues by nearly $200K and an increase in spending by $145K, which is mainly for the increase in health insurance and one new forester. The administrator reported that the County Administrator added in revenues from the Verizon Tower lease and decreased a few expenses that the administrator had submitted. The Committee was also informed that around $ll,500.00 in the Wildlife Habitat and $30,000.00 in the Reforestation expense line will be covered from non-lapsing accounts. Bill Kacvinsky made a motion to approve the presented CY 2011 budget for referral to the Bayfield County Executive Committee and Marco Bichanich seconded the motion and the motion carried. BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 Page 2. CY 2009 Accomplishment Report: The Committee received a copy of the report in their packets and the administrator reviewed the contents of the report. Access Management Survey: The administrator shared with the Committee a copy of the access management survey that will help provide a glimpse at how people are currently using the forest and shat the future demands may be. The survey will be on the Department’s website, as well as linked to a distribution list. DNR Staffing Concerns: Steve Coffin, DNR representative gave a report on the status of the DNR at present and possibly into the future. Steve gave a rather grave picture of staffing shortages with funding issues for the DNR. Bayfield County has been without a Liaison from the DNR since June of 2009. The hiring freeze seems to indicate long term vacancies for the DNR. The Forestry administrator, Jason Bodine has concerns regarding these issues and has discussed them with Steve Coffin and Mark Abeles-Allison. The administrator feels it is time to begin addressing Bayfield County’s concerns with the DNR by sending letters and requesting that the situation be addressed. Town Road Aid: The Towns of Hughes, Bayfield and Tripp have all completed their projects. Hughes and Tripp townships have been reimbursed and Bayfield has yet to send in a billing. It has been brought to the Administrator’s attention that the Town of Highland in Douglas County feels that they should be a part of the process in the distribution of funds. It was the opinion of the Committee that the Town of Highland would not be considered for the Town Road Aid funding. Schedule Meeting: The next scheduled meeting for the Committee will be on October 6, 2010 at 6:00 P.M. On a motion by Marco Bichanich and seconded by Bucky Jardine the meeting adjourned at 8:10 P.M. Respectfully Submitted: Barbara Suminski BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING SEPTEMBER 2, 2010