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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 1/11/2012BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING January 11, 2012 Cable Community Centre, Cable, Wisconsin Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; John Bennett; Bill Kacvinsky, and Bucky Jardine Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Asst. Administrator; and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR; George Lurvey, Pitlik and Wick; and other citizens (see list filed with official minutes). 1. Call to Order of Public Hearing: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson S. Miller at 6:06 P.M. 2. Roll Call: 4-Yes, 0-No. 3. Review of Meeting Format: S. Miller requested those speaking to sign-in, state their name and address. Time to speak is limited to three minutes. 4. Public Hearing: American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation’s proposal to develop a new Birkebeiner trail head, to construct new Birkebeiner ski trail connectors, and to potentially re-route the American Birkebeiner cross country ski race in the Town of Cable. Twenty (20) individuals spoke to the proposal. Of the twenty(20), eight(8) were in support, twelve(12) were opposed and one(1) was neutral. 5. Adjournment of Public Hearing: MOTION: (Kacvinsky, Jardine) to close the Public Hearing at 7:13 P.M. Carried. Recess meeting at 7:13 P.M. 6. Call To Order of Forestry and Parks Committee Meeting: The Meeting of the Forestry and Parks Committee was called to order by S. Miller at 7:27 P.M. 7. Roll Call: 4-Yes, 0-No. 8. Approval of December 14, 2011 Meeting Minutes: MOTION: (Bennett, Kacvinsky) to approve the December 14, 2011 meeting minutes. Carried. 9. Recreational Use Request: Ned Zuelsdorff, American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. Discussion and possible action regarding new ski trail construction in the Town of Cable. Indications were heard that access negotiations had begun to take place between the American Birkebeiner Ski Association and the owners of Telemark Lodge. Overall, the committee felt that if a vote were to be taken now, it would be to deny the request. However, since there are talks of negotiations, the Committee members were in consensus for the parties involved come to an agreement/resolution. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 4 January 12, 2012 Meeting Minutes MOTION: (Kacvinsky, Jardine) to postpone a decision on the Recreational Use Request of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation until the March 2012 Forestry and Parks Committee meeting. Carried. 10. Monthly Financial Report: Forestry: J. Bodine reported that overall timber sale revenues are about $2.4 million for 2011 with the average net revenue in stumpage over the past 5 years as $2.17 million. Expenses are on track. The checks to the Towns for the 10% Township Road Aid Fund will be mailed at the end of the week. Parks: No changes from the November revenue report. MOTION: (Kacvinsky, Jardine) to approve the December 2011 Financial Report. Carried. 11. Annual Jolly/Ashwabay Outdoor Education Foundation Work Plan: Pete Kulenkamp. Discussion and possible action regarding the 2012 Work Plan for the Mt. Ashwabay and Jolly/Pike’s Creek trail network. J. Bodine is proposing that Ashwabay Outdoor Education Foundation (AEOF) begin to collect the revenues in 2012 at the Jerry Jolly Trailhead and report the summary/revenues to the Department at year’s end annually. Also, the router would be located at Mt. Ashwabay for sign making for the trail network with the Forestry and Parks Department providing the blanks. Corporation Counsel is working on liability language to be included in an agreement that would be signed by AEOF and the Forestry and Parks Department. MOTION: (Kacvinsky, Bennett) to approve the proposed AEOF Work Plan of Jerry Jolly Trailhead revenues to be collected by AEOF and reported to the Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Department annually. Carried. 12. Awarding of the Re-Offered Fall Timber Sales: Discussion and action regarding the awarding of contracts from the fall re-offered timber sale. J. Bodine reported that three(3) bids were received and opened at 3:00 P.M. on January 11, 2012. Both tracts, 56-11 and 02-11, were sold. MOTION: (Bichanich, Kacvinsky) to approve the awarding of the two re-offered timber sales. Carried. 13. Sand River Pit Use Request: Pitlik and Wick, Inc.: Discussion and possible action regarding the following items pertaining to the State Highway 13 Paving Project: a. Purchase of approximately 11,000 tons of sand and set up of a crushing operation to produce shoulder gravel. MOTION: (Kacvinsky, Jardine) to suspend the rules and allow the speaker to speak before the Committee. Carried. b. Development of a staging area for a hot mix plant. George Lurvey, of Pitlik and Wick, explained that a typical royalty paid is $.75 - $1.00/ ton and $3,000 - $4,000 for each staging area. There is no waste after the sand is screened through the crushing operation. The pit would be sloped for reclamation and the royalties earmarked for reclamation. Kacvinsky said that the product is to be used for municipality projects and not private use. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 4 January 12, 2012 Meeting Minutes MOTION: (Kacvinsky, Bichanich) to take royalties of $1.00/ton for sand and $7,500 to set asphalt plant and crushing plant for the duration of the State Highway 13 Paving Project, which includes clean up. Carried. 14. Recreational Use Request: Iron River Snowmobilers: Discussion and possible action regarding a proposed re-route of Trail 31 near Ruth Lake Road. S. Probst explained that some trails need to be created and existing trails and logging roads may be incorporated into the existing trail. MOTION: (Kacvinsky, Bichanich) to approve the Recreational Use Request of the Iron River Snow- mobilers for a re-route of Trail 31 near Ruth Lake Road. Carried. 15. Parks. Discussion and possible action regarding the following topics: Twin Bear Projects a. Electrical Update The project is 99% complete with the remaining pedestal work and electrical work in the store yet to be completed. J. Bodine reported the project has progressed better than expected. b. Shoreline Grant Update The County Administrator’s office is in communication with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) organization and the WI Department of Natural Resources. A letter was sent from the ADA to the WI DNR but no response has been received to date. 16. General Discussion Items. Action as needed: a. Plum Creek Easements. J. Bodine said the County is waiting for Plum Creek to respond with a value of the acreage. No action taken. b. Red Cliff Tribe Land Purchase/Trade Discussion Red Cliff has approached Bayfield County requesting to purchase approximately 409 acres of County Forest Land near the newly established Frog Bay Park. J. Bodine indicated that although a land trade is preferred, land may be sold outright if the money is earmarked for future land purchase. c. Forester Position Update J. Bodine reported that 65 applications were received. Interviews approximately ten are expected to take place on 1/18 or 1/19. d. General Department Updates Bayfield County has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Arbor Day organization for jack pine reforestation in the Barnes Barrens project. e. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representatives, Comments The DNR office is back up to full complement in Barnes with Ms. Bietka as the main forester contact there. 17. Executive Session: MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) at 8:08 P.M. to move into Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(e)(g) for the purpose of considering legal advice regarding strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved. Carried. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 4 of 4 January 12, 2012 Meeting Minutes Adjourned in Executive Session at 8:19 P.M. Next meeting: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 5:00 P.M., Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn, WI. Submitted by, Pat Bruno