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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 4/2/2013BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING April 2, 2013 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller; Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; Bucky Jardine, and John Bennett Members Absent: Harold Maki Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator; and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison; Todd Naas, DNR Representative and Todd Norwood, Red Cliff Tribe 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 5:28 P.M. 2. Approval of March 18, 2013 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Jardine, Bichanich) to receive and place on file the March 18, 2013 meeting minutes. Carried. 3. Public Comment. S. Miller called for public comments. No comments were received. 4. Logger Comments. S. Miller called for logger comments. No comments were received. 5. Monthly Financial Report. A. Forestry: Revenues were up in March; returning to a normal pace. Expenses are on track. B. Parks: Summer reservations are being accepted. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the March 2013 financial report. Carried. 6. Wildlife Opening Maintenance Request: Todd Naas, WDNR Wildlife Biologist. T. Naas reviewed the 2012 season wildlife openings maintenance accomplishments. The 2013 plan is to mow 63 acres and hand cut and herbicide treat 51 acres on Bayfield County Forest land. MOTION: (Jardine, Bichanich) to approve the proposed 2013 Wildlife Opening Maintenance Plan as presented by Todd Naas, WDNR Wildlife Biologist. Carried. 7. Spring Timber Sale Offering. The spring timber sale offering includes 28 sales totaling over 2,000 acres. MOTION: (Jardine, Bennett) to approve the proposed 2013 Spring Timber Sale Offering. Carried. 8. 2013 Town Road Aids. A. Approval of a resolution to the County Board authorizing the transfer of funds to the 2013 Town Road Aid expense account. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3 April 2, 2013 Meeting Minutes Due to the increased timber sale revenues in 2012, the expense line item for 2013 requires adjustment to match 10% of actual revenues received from CY 2012. MOTION: (Bennett, Jardine) to approve the resolution authorizing the transfer of funds to the 2013 Town Road Aid expense account and send to the full County Board for consideration and action. Carried. B. Selection of 2013 projects. J. Bodine reviewed the various proposed repair project funding requests from the Towns. The total funds requested are $116,718.94. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve $26,967.56 to be made available for disbursement. The disbursement plan, as recommended by the Forestry and Parks Administrator, will be followed and the Towns will be reimbursed once the projects are completed. Carried. 9. Access Management. J. Bodine focused on the fees portion of the draft Access Management Plan. After discussion, it was recommended by the Committee to remove the event fees section of the Plan and potentially transfer a portion of the annual timber sale revenues to offset trails maintenance expenses. The proposed Access Management document and maps are being prepared to be made available for the stakeholders’ review in late April or early May and also on the Forestry and Parks website for approximately 30 days. Comments will be accepted and reviewed. No action taken. 10. Land Acquisition. Because the land appraisal had not been received, no action was taken at this time. 11. Secure Rural Schools Payment Amendment. The recent Federal budget cuts (sequestration) impacted a number of Federal programs, including Secure Rural Schools. In essence, about 5.1% has been cut from program funding for fiscal year 2013. Title I and Title III payments have already been sent. These are payments distributed to the Towns. Title II projects (RAC) have been awarded, but many have not yet been funded. Options are to have the Towns return their prorated share of payments or reduce Title II projects. Title I projects are needed to run core Town programs. Wisconsin County Forests Association (WCFA) has recommended that the counties consider waiting to respond until clear direction on how to proceed is provided. No action taken. 12. General Discussion Items. A. Forestry Garage RFP. J. Bodine presented the draft Request for Proposal for the new Forestry garage and repair to the existing garage. The Committee discussed the viability of the current slab for the new building. M. Bichanich offered to visit the site to recommend how to proceed. The Committee recommended changing the proposed gable end single large door to two 16’ wide by 14’ high doors. J. Bodine will advertise the RFP at the end of the week. B. Budget and Ordinance Amendments Subsequent to Movement of Trails Management from Tourism to Forestry. For informational purposes, J. Bodine will add the following agenda items to the full County Board’s Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3 April 2, 2013 Meeting Minutes April meeting: amendments to the current ordinances and budgets and a resolution regarding the reorganization of the trails program from the Tourism Department to the Forestry and Parks Department. C. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative J. LeBouton informed the Committee that Matt Blaylock has been hired as the Team Leader at the WI DNR Office in Barnes. 13. Supervisors’ Comments: S. Miller called for Supervisor comments. No comments were received. Adjourned 6:31 P.M. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, May 6, 2013 at 5:30 P.M., Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn, WI. Submitted by, Pat Bruno