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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 10/6/2010BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 6, 2010 Members Present: Committee members present were Shawn Miller, Chairperson, Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson, Bucky Jardine, John Bennett and William Kacvinsky. Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator, Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator and Barbara Suminski, Office Manager. Others in Attendance: Steve Coffin, DNR representative, Todd Naas, DNR Wildlife Biologist, Laurie Groskopf, who requested to present to the Committee a gray wolf control advisory resolution, Jerry Merryfield and Randy and Susie Erickson of C&W Trucking. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Shawn Miller at 6:00 P.M. Approve Minutes: On a motion by Bill Kacvinsky and seconded by Marco Bichanich the September 2, 2010 meeting minutes were approved and the motion carried. Monthly Financial Report: On a motion by Bill Kacvinsky and seconded by Bucky Jardine the September 2010 financial report was approved and the motion carried. Gray Wolf Control Advisory Resolution: The Federal government is soliciting comments through November 15th, 2010 regarding the latest gray wolf delisting attempt. Laurie Groskopf who resides in Lincoln County requested permission to speak to the Committee regarding this solicitation. As part of her presentation, Ms. Groskopf provided the Committee with an informational sheet regarding wolves and a proposed resolution incorporating DNR regulation mandates in addition to federal delisting. She was requesting that Bayfield County approve the resolution for submission to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, to be recorded as part of the public comment period. Ms. Groskopf also stated that eleven counties have approved a similar resolution and Jackson and Rusk Counties would be reviewing a similar resolution at their October Committee meetings. Ms. Groskopf does not represent an official group. Laurie presented her views to the Committee. Todd Naas, Wisconsin DNR Wildlife Biologist was asked to provide comments. After some discussion, Bill Kavinsky made a motion to approve the resolution as presented and Bucky Jardine seconded the motion. After the motion, there was continued discussion. Bill Kacvinsky withdrew his motion. After further discussion, Shawn Miller, the Committee Chairperson, instructed the Administrator to look into the facts within the resolution to be sure that they were sound and gave the Administrator the authority to make revisions to the resolution where he deemed necessary. A motion to accept the resolution, as submitted by Ms. Groskopf, with verification and potential edits by the Administrator, was made by Bill Kacvinsky and seconded by Bucky Jardine, the motion carried. Easement Request: Dahlberg Light and Power Company and the Chequamegon Telephone Company were presenting an easement request to install underground power and telephone lines to the Verizon telecommunications tower in the Town of Barnes. The Committee was informed that Dahlberg Light and Power Company were covering all of the permits for the request. Bill Kacvinsky made a motion to approve the request and Marco Bichanich seconded the motion and the motion carried. As part of the motion, the Committee gave the Administrator the authority to negotiate compensation for the easement. Access Permit Renewal Request: Joseph Bainbridge was requesting another ten year permit renewal for access in the Town of Port Wing. A motion was made by Bill Kacvinsky to approve the request and seconded by Marco Bichanich and the motion carried. Fall Timber Sales: The Fall Timber sales packet was shared with the Committee. Included in the packet was a summary of the twenty-two sales, a sale location map and instructions for filling out the Timber Sale Bid sheet. The minimum bid value of the Timber Sales is $861,544.93. The sales were written to be advertised in tonnage and the Committee Chairperson felt strongly that the local loggers have not worked with sales in tonnage in the past and felt that the sales BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 6, 2010 Page 2. should be changed to cords as done previously. The Administrator discussed with the Committee that the change was made with regard to previous meeting discussions regarding this type of change in the addressing of sales. After discussion, the administration was directed to change the Timber Sale Bid sheet and sales packets to cords before distribution. A motion was made by Marco Bichanich to have the Bid sheets in cords and Bill Kacvinsky seconded the motion and the motion carried. Parks: The Administrator, Jason Bodine informed the Committee that since the transfer of Parks has been made official he added this area to the agenda. The Committee was informed that Jason and Steve Probst, Asst. Adm., met with Mary and Sue of the Tourism Department this past week. Jason informed the Committee that he planned on meeting with the individuals who work at the Parks in the next week to discuss campground issues and future direction. A survey will be sent to other counties that manage campgrounds to receive some input, as well as to local Towns, Cities and Villages. The Administrator stated that he would be keeping Parks on the agenda for an ongoing period of time. General Discussion Items: Survey Summary: The Administrator stated that the survey has had a phenomenal response with five hundred twenty- seven people. The survey has a wide range of user groups/individuals responding. DNR Partnership Meeting: The annual partnership meeting took place on September 20, 2010. The annual work planning meeting will take place in November to set goals for CY 2011. Title II Project: The Department is looking at submitting a project that would widen an access road located between County and USFS ownerships. The result would be a 100’ wide road, stumped and grated that would provide an effective access for fire suppression activities in an area of extremely hazardous fuels, as well as provide a good access road into 400 plus acres of County timber. The Highway Department is also looking into submitting a project. 2011 Budget: The administrator had no further information to share other than the Forestry garage improvement has been shelved for the present time. Gravel Pits: Randy and Susie Erickson were present at the meeting to request the removal of rock from the Sand River Pit. There has been some rock screened and Mr. Erickson would like to move the rock, but it is not part of the agreement that the Department has with him. The Administrator was recommending that C&W Trucking permit be amended to include rock. There was discussion regarding the pit and what is being done at the present time. Bucky Jardine made a motion that screened rock be sold at the rate of $2.00 per yard and the motion was seconded by Marco Bichanich, the motion carried with Bill Kacvinsky abstaining. The amendment would be written from the present date through December 31, 2010. The Committee would revisit the topic at the beginning of next year, at which time a new price may be considered. Steve Coffin, DNR Representative: Steve informed the Committee that the County Liaison position was opened up to laterals. He also informed the Committee that there was soon to be another retirement within his department. The Administrator informed the Committee that the County would be advertising for the new Forestry position in the very near future. The next meeting is scheduled for November 15, 2010 at 6:00 P.M., which will also be the bid opening for Timber Sales.