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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 2/10/2014BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING February 10, 2014 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 and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison and Todd Naas, Wildlife Biologist, WI DNR, and Brett Cortlett, Gordon Get-Er Done Snowmobile Club 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 January 13, 2014 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Jardine, Bichanich) to receive and place on file the January 13, 2014 meeting minutes. Carried. 3. Public Comment. S. Miller called for public comments. None were received. 4. Logger Comments. S. Miller called for logger comments. None were received. 5. Monthly Financial Report. A. Forestry: J. Bodine reported that timber sale revenues and expenses are as expected in January 2014. B. Parks: CY 2014 Seasonal deposits continue to come in. The Twin Bear campground parking lot continues to be maintained by the County Highway Department for winter public access to the lake. C. Trails: A meeting is expected to take place in early March between the county, club members, chamber director, businesses and locals relating to Iron River area snowmobile trail maintenance. New trail requests will be accepted by the WI DNR prior to April 1 for the coming season. S. Miller and J. Bodine will work to prepare a submission on a new trail in near Mason. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the January 2014 financial report. Carried. 6. Recreational Use Request: Brett Cortlett, Gordon Get-Er Done Snowmobile Club. J. Bodine has received a request from the Get-Er Done Snowmobile Club to develop a new snowmobile trail using existing logging roads on county forest land in the Town of Barnes. The proposed trail would cross portions of Douglas and Sawyer Counties and would connect existing Trail 17 (Douglas Co) to Trail 8 (Sawyer Co). J. Bodine recommended approval contingent upon DNR approval of two possible water/wetland crossings. MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to approve the request from the Get-Er Done Snowmobile Club to develop a connecting snowmobile trail on county forest land in the Town of Barnes as proposed. Carried. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3 February 10, 2014 Meeting Minutes 7. DNR Special Recognition Award Presentation: Todd Naas, DNR Wildlife Biologist regarding the Barnes Barrens Management Plan. T. Naas presented the Wisconsin DNR Northern District Wildlife Management Special Services Award recognizing Bayfield County’s efforts to uniquely manage 11,500 acres of forest which connect wildlife areas according to the DNR’s Northwest Sand Barrens Habitat Corridor Plan. The Germann Road fire in 2013 provided an unplanned opportunity to provide a stepping stone of habitat connection between the Douglas County and Bayfield County barrens management areas. The goal is to connect all areas in the corridor for purposes of promoting wildlife genetic exchange. J. Bodine recognized former Bayfield County Forester Kirby Dernovsek for his early efforts in this project. No action taken. 8. 2013 Accomplishment Report. J. Bodine reviewed the productive and busy year as addressed in this annual report. All 2013 goals were met. Of special note is the increase in jack pine cone permits from the usual 1 permit to 13 permits. The cones that are delivered to the DNR are used by the DNR Nursery program. Bayfield County seeds approximately 50 pounds of seed each year. No action taken. 9. Telemark Land Exchange. A meeting is scheduled on February 18 between the new owner, J. Bodine and S. Miller. No action taken. 10. Land Use Request. Matt Hudson, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, Northland College. J. Bodine received a request to install temporary stream monitoring equipment along the Sioux River, west of the bridge, within Big Rock Campground’s boundary. This is option #2 as the preferred option is another location on DNR land which is located east of the bridge. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the request from Matt Hudson, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, Northland College to install a temporary stream monitoring station along the Sioux River located at Big Rock Campground. Carried. 11. Recreational Use Request: Ashwabay Outdoor Education Foundation. J. Bodine received a request from AOEF to utilize trails located in the Town of Bayfield for the WinterDASH event scheduled to take place on March 1, 2014. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the request from Ashwabay Outdoor Education Foundation to utilize trails located in the Town of Bayfield for the March 1, 2014 WinterDASH event. Carried. 12. General Discussion Items: A. Motorized Trails Resolution. This annual resolution authorizes submission of applications to the state for financial aid. J. Bodine is proposing the county pursue a five year resolution rather than an annual resolution. MOTION: (Bichanich, Jardine) to approve the proposal made by J. Bodine to pursue a five year resolution with the state rather than a one year resolution. Carried. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3 February 10, 2014 Meeting Minutes B. Recently acquired tax delinquent properties. Two forested tracts have recently been acquired by Bayfield County through tax delinquency. One is a tract of 157 acres in southern Barnes Township. Because of its abundance of mature timber, it’s ready for immediate management. S. Miller suggested logging it then brought to the land sales committee for consideration. The second is in the Namakagon area, which is currently surrounded by publically owned land and is also ready for management. A straw poll consensus determined that both parcels should be maintained by the County and enrolled in County Forest Law, but that the land should be managed prior to enrollment. It was also stated that these parcels should be brought to the land sales committee for additional considerations. 13. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative Comments. None at this time. 14. Supervisors’ Comments. H. Maki requested a letter be sent to all Bayfield County timber producers thanking them for a successful 2013 timber harvest. Meeting was adjourned at 6:26 P.M. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, March 17, 2014 at 5:30 P.M., Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn, WI. Submitted by, Pat Bruno