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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 11/13/2013BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING November 13, 2013 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller; Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; Bucky Jardine, Harold Maki and John Bennett Members Absent: None Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Andrew O’Krueg, Forester; Leigh Neitzel, Recreation Forester; and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison; Matt Blaylock, WI DNR Supervisor; Robert Huray, Futurewood Corp; Steve Brilla, Brilla Timber Products; Brian Olby Sr., Brian Olby Logging; George Dalbeck, GA Dalbeck Logging; and Terry Priem, Priem’s Forest Products. 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 6:00 P.M. 2. Approval of October 7, 2013 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Bennett, Jardine) to receive and place on file the October 7, 2013 meeting minutes. Carried. 3. Public Comment. S. Miller called for public comments. Robert Huray, Futurewood Corporation, spoke to the declining town road conditions and the need for maintenance. Futurewood Corporation recently spent $10,000 in road improvements to access a timber sale tract in Bayfield County. Terry Priem and Brian Olby spoke concerning the same; stressing the need for increased communication between all the parties. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks has arranged for two meetings to take place in December to begin the dialogue. In a recent County newsletter mailing, the township supervisors were invited to the meetings. They will be held on December 3 at 1:00 PM and December 5 at 6:00 PM in the County Board Room. 4. Logger Comments. S. Miller called for logger comments. None were received. 5. Timber Sale Bid Opening. The fall timber sale bids were opened and read. The unofficial total value of the sales sold (26 of the 27 offered) was $1,724,058.30. 6. Monthly Financial Report. Leigh Neitzel, Recreation Forester, was introduced to the Committee. A. Forestry: J. Bodine reported that October revenues continue to be considerably higher than average. Expenses are on target. B. Parks: Brenda Garrett has agreed to continue as the parks maintenance contractor for 2014. Some services may be subcontracted, which is in line with the current contract language. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3 November 13, 2013 Meeting Minutes At H. Maki’s suggestion, J. Bodine will bring Big Rock Park improvement ideas to the Committee in the future in an effort to increase occupancy. B. Jardine suggested map kiosk installations. C. Trails: J. Bodine reported that FEMA denied a request to fund repairs to Trail #63 because a portion of the trail crosses private property. Designated trails crossing private lands without permanent easements may continue to be an issue in the future. H. Maki suggested working with power line utilities’ right-of-way access for alternative trail options. J. Bodine also indicated that the Department is proactively working with the trail clubs to address potential maintenance needs, groomer reports utilization, potential easement issues, etc. J. Bodine has recently learned that the American Birkebeiner Ski Federation (ABSF) is considering requiring fee based trail passes on the ABSF’s designated, non-motorized trails in Sawyer County. Revenues would be used to fund the trail grooming expenses. MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to receive and place on file the October 2013 financial report. Carried. 7. Recreational Use Request: North End Ski Club. J. Bodine has received a request from the North End Ski Club to use trails located in the Town of Cable for the annual North End Classic Cross Country Ski Race to be held on February 9, 2014. MOTION: (Bichanich, Jardine) to approve the request from the North End Ski Club to use trails located in the Town of Cable on February 9, 2014. Carried. 8. Recreational Use Request: Bayfield Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. J. Bodine has received a request to use trails located in the Towns of Bayfield and Russell for the 19th annual Apostle Islands Sled Dog Race on February 1 and 2, 2014. MOTION: (Jardine, Bennett) to approve the request from the Bayfield Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau to use trails located in the Towns of Bayfield and Russell on February 1 and 2, 2014. Carried. 9. County Conservation Aid Grant. This annual 50/50 grant needs Committee approval to apply. The grant, if approved, will be used to fund reforestation expenses in the coming year. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the application for the County Conservation Aid Grant for calendar year 2014. Carried. 10. Land Acquisition. The Committee is requested to consider the options for the Board of Commissioners of Public Land (BCPL) owned 40 acre property located in the Town of Barnes. The options are: 1) to offer $500/acre (appraised value) and retain all stumpage or 2) to sell the existing timber sale as is, retain our cost of establishment and administration, and return the remaining stumpage values back to BCPL. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to purchase the land with General Fund monies for $500.00 per acre and retain all stumpage. Roll Call Vote: All Yes. Carried. 11. Recreational Trails. As the Department learns more about the existing trail system, J. Bodine expects that many items will be Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3 November 13, 2013 Meeting Minutes coming before the Committee for consideration in the future. Of the more immediate concerns are trail access through private property and the burden of maintenance costs. No action taken. 12. General Discussion Items. a. Forestry Garage. The city of Washburn has been presented with a site plan. However, prior to final approval, the city has requested exterior color selections along with a modified landscaping plan. J. Bodine will work with the architect prior to presenting the selections to the city. b. Meeting with the Towns. This item was addressed in the Public Comment agenda item #3. c. Town of Barnes ROW Timber Sale. The Town of Barnes wants to remove stumps off of the Moore Road (5-6 miles). This will move the existing snowmobile trail off of the road and onto the shoulder. This timber sale will be offered for sale in December 2013. d. Trail 15 Timber Sale. A nine acre parcel of Bayfield County owned land holds mature aspen ready for harvest. This will be offered in December 2013. MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to approve the timber sale along the Moore Road right-of-way in the Town of Barnes and the nine acre parcel on Trail 15 to be sold in December 2013. Carried. e. DNR Partnership Meeting. A meeting of Bayfield County Forestry and DNR staff will be held next week. f. DNR Work Planning Meeting. A planning meeting is scheduled between the Bayfield County Forestry and DNR staff. 13. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. No comments. 14. Supervisors’ Comments: No comments. Meeting was adjourned at 7:46 P.M. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 5:30 P.M., Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn, WI. Submitted by, Pat Bruno