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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 8/6/2012BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING August 6, 2012 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; Bucky Jardine, John Bennett and Harold Maki Members Absent: None Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator; and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Al House, Town of Bayview; Ron Bergin, North End Ski Club; and Ned Zuelsdorff, American Birkebeiner Foundation. 1. 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 5:30 P.M. 2. Approval of June 25, 2012 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to approve the June 25, 2012 meeting minutes. Carried. 3. Public Comment: S. Miller called for public comments. No comments made. 4. Monthly Financial Report. Forestry: Timber sale revenues received are at $1.65 million to date; approximately $400,000 over average. Parks: Revenues received are near the budgeted amount for the year and expenses are on target. MOTION: (Jardine, Bennett) to approve the July 2012 Financial Report. Carried. 5. Access Permit Request: J. Bodine received a request from the Victory Buck Camp group to rescind the access permit request agenda item at this time. No action taken. 6. Land Use Request: Ron Bergin, North End Ski Club. R. Bergin explained the current storage structure is temporary in nature, not secure, and undersized. A new, semi-permanent building is proposed. J Bodine has no issues with their request. MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to approve the Land Use Request as proposed by North End Ski Club to build a semi-permanent structure near the existing North End cabin; and the North End Ski Club is to apply for the Bayfield County Zoning permit on behalf of the Forestry and Parks Department and pay all fees required. Carried. 7. Presentation: Town of Bayview, Al House, Chairman. A. House explained that new timber sale activity and a trucking re-route have brought an increase in traffic through Bayview Township. The Township has identified that an increase in town road maintenance has impacted their budget. There was a discussion of the two Town Road Aid funds that are currently in place. A December meeting is planned between the interested parties. No action taken. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3 August 6, 2012 Meeting Minutes 8. Recreational Use Request. American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. N. Zuelsdorff presented information on a proposed Fat Tire Race to be held March 9, 2013 on a portion of the trails used for the American Birkebeiner Ski Race. MOTION: (Maki, Jardine) to approve the Recreational Use Request of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation to hold a Fat Tire Birke mountain bike event on March 9, 2013 in the Town of Cable. Carried. 9. Recreational Use Request: Trails North ATV Club. J. Bodine recommends disapproval of the request to re-route portions of Trails 24 and 31 near Ruth Lake Road, Town of Iron River. If they were to be designated as ATV trails, they could no longer be used by other motorized vehicles and this area will be open to other motorized use in the future. MOTION: (Maki, Bennett) to deny the Recreational Use Request by Trails North ATV Club to re-route portions of Trails 24 and 31 in the Town of Iron River. Carried. 10. Sand and Gravel Request: Town of Bayfield. Emergency permission to access some sand was given by J. Bodine earlier in July for repair of washed out roads due to recent flooding. Sand and gravel revenues received go to a non-lapsing reclamation account used for road restoration. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the removal of approximately 800 yards of sand and 60 yards of rock from the Sand River Pit at existing prices of sand @ $1.00/ton and rock @ $3.00/ton. Carried. 11. 2013 Budget. J. Bodine discussed some of the highlights of the draft 2013 budget. No action taken. 12. Secure Rural Schools. J. Bodine briefly described the annual fund allocation reauthorization. Each county in which a national forest is located must elect to receive a share of the state payment received from the USDA Forest Service Secure Rural Schools Act. Bayfield County has elected to allocate 85% to Title I (roads and schools projects). These funds come to the County and are then distributed to the Towns. The remaining 15% would be for Title II projects (directly or indirectly benefit federal land which are deposited into the RAC projects fund). MOTION: (Jardine, Bichanich) to approve the 85% Title I and 15% Title II fund allocation from the USDA Forest Service Secure Rural Schools Act. Carried. 13. Sustainable Forestry Grant This is an annual DNR grant available for sustainable forestry projects. Although currently there is no specific project planned, Committee approval is needed for the intent to apply. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to approve the intent to apply for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Sustainable Forestry annual grant. Carried. 14. Parks Update on ADA Access at Twin Bear Per J. Bodine, two complaints had been made; one to the Department of Interior and another to the Department of Justice. The Department of Interior has officially closed the complaint it received. However, Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3 August 6, 2012 Meeting Minutes the complaint to the Department of Justice remains open. It’s expected to be resolved by the end of August. 15. General Discussion Items. a. Access Management An inventory of all the roads and trails, their condition, location, and designation (ATV, hiking, etc) has been completed. J. Bodine is preparing to meet with interested stakeholders before September and an on-line survey is expected to provide more useful information. b. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative, Comments. Not present. Adjourned at 6:56 P.M. Next meeting: Monday, September 10, 2012 at 5:30 P.M., Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn, WI. Submitted by, Pat Bruno