HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 11/6/2012BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING
November 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; Andrew O’Krueg,
Forester; and Pat Bruno, Office Manager
Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, DNR Liaison; Robert Becker and L. Coenn, Victory Buck Camp;
Mike Blomquist; Ben and Stan Hershey; Doyle Blakeman; and Robert Huray.
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 October 9, 2012 Meeting Minutes.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the October 9, 2012 meeting minutes. Carried.
3. Public Comment.
S. Miller called for public comments. No comments were received.
4. Monthly Financial Report.
Forestry: Timber sale revenues received are at $2.49 million to date. Expenses are on budget which will
include an expected $280,000 to be paid to the towns from the timber sale revenue (10% fund) for the year.
Parks: Revenues received to date are near $93,500 and expenses are as expected.
MOTION: (Jardine, Bichanich) to approve and place on file the October 2012 Financial Report. Carried.
5. Fall Timber Sale Offering.
The fall bids received were opened and read. The unofficial total of winning bids was $2,128,460.52.
MOTION: (Maki, Jardine) to accept the Fall 2012 Timber Sale bids. Carried.
6. Access Permit Request. Paul Becker, Victory Buck Camp.
An access re-route was requested from the Victory Buck Camp group located in the Town of Barnes. The
request is a re-route of an access permit issued in March of 2012. Access denials from neighboring property
owners prompted the re-route request. The WI DNR has visited the proposed route and has no issues as
long as existing ironwood is used to corduroy wetland crossing areas. One wetland crossing will require a
permit, which will be the responsibility of the Camp.
MOTION: (Jardine, Maki) to approve the re-route access request in the Town of Barnes. Carried.
Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 2
November 6, 2012 Meeting Minutes
7. County Conservation Aid Grant.
Approximately $3,993 of state funds has been made available to Bayfield County for fish and wildlife
enhancement projects (50/50 match fund).
MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to approve the application for the Conservation Aid Grant from the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Carried.
8. County Recreational Trails Program.
New considerations to move the trails program from the Tourism Department to the Forestry and Parks
Department have come before this Committee for discussion. Considerations were given to potential
revenue loss (not promoted)/gain (access fees); current staff status; and the ATV clubs’ involvement.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to be willing to accept the County Recreational Trails Program to the
Forestry and Parks Department providing proper resources (to include a full-time staff person and
equipment) are provided to adequately operate the program. 4-Yes; 1-No. Carried.
9. General Discussion Items.
a) FEMA Projects
J. Bodine reported that the $14,000 FEMA funds were approved with the permanent repairs expected to
be completed in the spring of 2013. J. Mesko has temporarily repaired the damages.
b) Loggers Meeting
J. Bodine has received enough interest to schedule a meeting and will begin preparations for a meeting
in early 2013.
c) Annosum Root Rot Guidelines
The WI DNR is preparing guidelines to prevent this fungal disease from spreading to red pine per J.
Bodine.
d) Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative, Comments.
-The time standards (number of DNR staff hours dedicated to county forest programs) are currently
under review; which occurs on a five year cycle.
-Joanna Delagan (was Bietka), Forester, is in the Barnes office.
-The team leader position is now being advertised.
10. Executive Session. The Committee may enter in and out of Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin
Statutes 19.85(1)(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:
a) Approval of April 9, 2012 Executive Session Minutes
b) Jackman Lake Road Access Issues
Adjourned in executive session at 7:10 P.M.
Next meeting: Monday, December 10, 2012 at 5:30 P.M., Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn, WI.
Submitted by,
Pat Bruno