HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 5/12/2014BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING
May 12, 2014
County Board Room
Members Present: Shawn Miller; Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; Harold Maki, John
Bennett and Fred Strand
Members Absent: None
Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator; Mike Amman,
Forester; Andrew O’Krueg, Forester; and Pat Bruno, Office Manager
Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison, Matt Blaylock, Team Leader, WI DNR and
Dennis Pocernich, County Board Chair
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. Election of Forestry and Parks Committee Chairperson.
S. Miller opened the floor to nominations for Forestry and Parks Committee Chair.
M. Bichanich moved to nominate S. Miller as the Committee Chair. S. Miller called for other nominations
and repeated the call twice more. No other nominations were received.
MOTION: (Bennett, Maki) to close nominations and approve Shawn Miller for Committee Chairperson.
Carried.
3. Election of Forestry and Parks Committee Vice-Chairperson.
S. Miller opened the floor to nominations for Forestry and Parks Committee Vice-Chair.
H. Maki nominated M. Bichanich for Vice-Chair. S. Miller called for other nominations and repeated the
call twice more. No other nominations were received.
MOTION: (Strand, Bennett) to close nominations and approve Marco Bichanich for Committee Vice-
Chairperson. Carried.
4. Approval of April 7, 2014 Meeting Minutes.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to receive and place on file the April 7, 2014 meeting minutes. Carried.
5. Public Comment.
S. Miller called for public comments. None were received.
6. Logger Comments.
S. Miller called for logger comments. None were received.
7. Spring Timber Sale Bid Opening.
J. Bodine read the timber sale bids of the 2014 spring timber sales (29 tracts offered). The unofficial
winning bids were announced.
Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3
May 12, 2014 Meeting Minutes
MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to accept the unofficial bids as presented for the Spring 2014 Timber Sale
Offering. Carried.
8. Monthly Financial Report.
A. Forestry: J. Bodine reported that timber sale revenues are slightly above average for April and
expenses overall are below average.
Parks: Parks will officially open May 14. A slow start to boat launch activity at Delta and Twin Bear
Lakes due to the ice.
B. Trails: The ATV season will open on May 22 to coincide with the U.S. Forest Services opening. Wet
spring conditions have made the opening later than usual.
MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to receive and place on file the April 2014 financial report. Carried.
9. Easements to Private Land.
J. Bodine updated the Committee regarding granting permanent easements to private land owners. Section
755.3 of the Bayfield County Land Use Plan addresses the potential options; i.e. land exchange, reciprocal
easement, or cash payments for a permanent easement.
The permanent easement template was written to continue to allow management of the county forest, to
maintain access to the general public, to not sell land to the private landowner and to keep the easement as a
revocable by the County. The draft permanent easement template has gone to corporation counsel and
forwarded to the DNR. No action taken.
10. 2013/2014 Snowmobile Season Recap.
There are 437 miles of snowmobile trails and 168 miles of winter ATV trails to be maintained by the
snowmobile and ATV clubs. The Snowmobile Alliance provides maintenance oversight for all the clubs.
The expenses incurred include groomer wage reimbursements, supplies, and equipment maintenance costs.
Total state revenues received to reimburse the maintenance expenses was $126,000. The clubs spent 60%
above that amount. Some of the overage was offset by the club donation to the Alliance of $15,000. State
funds are applied for to offset the overage; however it’s expected that the reimbursement will be 30%-40%
of normal years due to an increase in overall state-wide reimbursement distribution. A meeting will be
scheduled with the Alliance in the near future for season review. No action taken.
11. 2014 ATV Season.
A recent decision by a private land owner in the Barnes area closed ATV access through their private
property. This resulted in the need for an alternative route to connect existing trails. The situation is
currently under review to resolve. A conservation easement could be considered. Currently, there is not an
ATV alliance but there are individual clubs. No action taken.
12. 2014 Parks Season.
Considering the harsh winter, there were only minor repairs needed and the campgrounds will open on May
14.
Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3
May 12, 2014 Meeting Minutes
The adverse health of the Delta Lake Park trees calls for a minor timber sale for maintenance and safety
reasons.
13. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative Comments.
None.
14. Supervisors’ Comments.
S. Miller called for supervisor comments. None were received.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P.M.
The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, June 9, 2014 at 6:00 P.M., Bayfield
County Courthouse, Washburn, WI.
Submitted by,
Pat Bruno