HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 7/14/2014BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING
July 14, 2014
County Board Room
Members Present: Shawn Miller; Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; John Bennett, Harold
Maki and Fred Strand
Members Absent: None
Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator; Mark Abeles -
Allison, County Administrator; and Pat Bruno, Office Manager
Others in Attendance: Dennis Pocernich, Bayfield County Board Chairperson; Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR
Liaison; and members of the public
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 the June 9 Meeting Minutes.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the June 9, 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 for the month of June were at $500,000+; another
exceptional year to date. Expenses are on target. The Forestry garage construction is progressing;
concrete is expected to be poured this week.
B. Parks: Twin Bear and Delta Lake campgrounds were full over the 4th of July holiday weekend and the
year is expected to be a good one. Big Rock campground however has been slow to start.
C. Trails: Trail status is excellent; some work is being done. S. Miller reported a new trail project in the
Mason area could be ready by the fall of 2014.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the June 2014 financial report. Carried.
6. Update on Access to County Forest Land Located Within the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa Reservation Boundary.
J. Bodine updated the Committee on meetings with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
addressing ways to provide access; particularly to the piece of property north of Blueberry Road. The
timber was ready for harvesting in 2006 but inaccessible. The access road crosses private property which
needed permission from the property heirs. Since that time, the Tribe has gained authority to grant access
rights to using the road in question. In November 2008, the Red Cliff Tribal Council addressed the issue;
but the conversation turned to timber management and no formal access determination was made. Access
other ways is not easily feasible due to the rough terrain. Only a portion of the land could be accessed off of
the corner of Blueberry Road. No action taken.
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July 14, 2014 Meeting Minutes
6:12 P.M. – Bennett left the meeting.
7. Bayfield County/Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation Agreement.
The Red Cliff Band has expressed that their goal is to acquire all lands within reservation boundaries.
Bayfield County needs access to county owned, land locked property on the reservation to manage the
timber. Red Cliff also has an interest in receiving compensation for road repairs and maintenance.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Miller) to move forward with negotiations with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa to create a memorandum of understanding involving county forest land located within the
Reservation boundary.
H. Maki suggested the full committee should be involved in negotiations. J. Bodine assured the Committee
that a draft document would come before the full committee for review. If needed, the document could go
back to discussions with the Red Cliff Band before being sent to the full County Board for review and
possible approval.
No record was found that the County has paid for access to property. The Committee discussed several
options to harvesting the timber and also if compensation should be made and how to compensate the Tribe.
Strand noted a fair market value would need to be determination prior to a sale. Strand also noted that land
value versus sale value would determine reinvesting into county forest law keeping in mind the need to keep
an equivalent amount of land as public land via purchase.
Roll Call Vote for the Motion on the Floor: Yes: Bichanich, Strand, Miller; No: Maki. Carried.
8. Access Permit Request in the Town of Russell; Rowley Road. Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa.
J Bodine received a request from the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for an access permit to
construct a bridge on Rowley Road in the Town of Russell.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to grant a 10 year access permit to the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa for bridge construction on Rowley Road in the Town of Russell. Carried.
9. Recreational Use Request. Ashwabay Outdoor Education Foundation.
J. Bodine received an access permit renewal request from Ashwabay Outdoor Education Foundation to
utilize trails located in the Town of Bayfield for an adventure race on September 27, 2014. A small portion
of county forest land will be used.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to grant a recreational use permit to the Ashwabay Outdoor Education
Foundation to use a portion of county forest land in the Town of Bayfield for the September 27, 2014
adventure race. Carried.
10. Sustainable Forestry Grant.
J. Bodine explained this grant money is available on a competitive basis with a primary emphasis on storm
damage repair. Committee approval to apply is required.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to support the Forestry and Parks Administrator application for a Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources Sustainable Forestry Grant. Carried.
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July 14, 2014 Meeting Minutes
11. Access Permit Renewal Request. Francis Tyson.
J. Bodine received a request from Francis Tyson for a 10 year renewed access permit to property located in
the Town of Barnes. Bodine noted that the Tyson’s have used out-of-pocket dollars to improve the road
over the years.
MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to grant the request for a renewed 10 year access permit to Francis Tyson’s
private property located in the Town of Barnes. Carried.
12. Utility Access Permit Renewal Request. Richard and Karen Stormoen.
J. Bodine received a utility access permit renewal request from Richard and Karen Stormoen to their
property located in the Town of Tripp.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to grant a 10 year renewed utility access request to Richard and Karen
Stormoen to their property located in the Town of Tripp. Carried.
13. 2015 Budget.
The need for an additional concrete pad to use for outdoor storage at the new Forestry shop was discussed.
Bichanich suggested using gravel until the ground has settled and reconsider this item in the future. Other
shop items are interior small item storage cabinets and a workshop bench. J. Bodine suggested using parks
revenues to replace the Twin Bear mooring dock. No action taken.
14. Recreational Trail Development on County Land.
In the interest of maximizing the benefit of natural resource access on county forest land, J. Bodine
proposed pursuing non-motorized trail development. A recent tour of potential sites was made by a
nationally recognized trail expert and department staff.
H. Maki suggested trail maintenance costs be supported by a nominal usage fee when recreational access
permits are issued for events.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to approve the development of non-motorized trails. Carried.
15. DNR Assistance Update.
J. Bodine reported that the state is looking into filling the 1.5 DNR personnel equivalent hours with LTE
hires or bringing in staff from other areas to temporarily address the current shortage. No action taken.
16. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. Comments.
None.
17. Supervisors’ Comments.
S. Miller called for supervisor comments. None were received.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:00 P.M.
The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, August 11, 2014 at 6:00 P.M., Bayfield
County Courthouse, Washburn, WI.
Submitted by,
Pat Bruno