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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 12/15/2014BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING December 15, 2014 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller; Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; John Bennett, and Harold Maki and Fred Strand Members Absent: None Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Asst. Administrator and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: 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 November 3, 2014 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the November 3, 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: Timber sale revenues are $4.4 million to date; net stumpage revenues are at $4.3 million. Expenses are on target. The final large expense for the year will be the 10% payment to the towns; expected to be approximately $455,000 and paid in January 2015. The Town Road Aid Fund reimbursement 1% increase (from 1% to 2%), approved in March 2014, will be implemented in 2015. B. Parks: J. Bodine reported that the parks are closed down for the season. Twin Bear and Delta Lake Parks improvements now in progress are: Wi-Fi installation; (primarily paid for by a grant obtained via Norvado), and a new playset for Twin Bear campground. C. Trails: J. Bodine reported that recent rain deteriorated most trails to the point of closure. S. Miller said that Trail #4 easements (Sanborn – Mason) have been secured. It’s expected that improvements will be completed by volunteers and paid for by the clubs. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to receive and place on file the November 2014 financial report. Carried. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3 December 15, 2014 Meeting Minutes 6. Land Exchange: Edith Merila It has come to the attention of the Department that there has been a trespass issue of a privately owned outbuilding on County Forest Land located at the Freedom Valley sub-division in the Town of Bayview. A land exchange option has been developed which satisfies Zoning setbacks to exchange approximately .10 acre. Ms. Merila is the fourth owner of this property since the area was developed. The issue was discovered after a potential buyer of the Merila’s property survey was completed. The owner is responsible for all costs associated with an exchange if approved. MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to move forward with a survey for the potential land exchange option as proposed. Carried. 7. County Conservation Aid Grant. This is an annual grant request of the DNR for which the County provides a 50% match up to approximately $4,000. Reforestation projects have been funded in the past with this grant. Although no specific project has been identified for 2015, Committee approval is required prior to the annual grant application. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the application for the Conservation Aid Grant with the DNR. Carried. 8. Recreational Use Request, Trail Re-Route: Bayfield Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Bureau. Citing spectator safety concerns, the Bayfield County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Bureau has requested a trail re-route for the Apostle Islands Sled Dog race. The re-route would establish a new connector to the south of the spectator area. The trail would be approximately 175’ long and 12’ wide through young aspen. J. Bodine recommends approval. MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to approve the request made by the Bayfield Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Bureau to re-route the trail on Bayfield County forest land in the Towns of Bayfield and Russell for the 20th annual Apostle Islands Sled Dog Race on February 7 & 8, 2015 as proposed. Carried. 9. Recreational Use Request: Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. J. Bodine has received the annual request from the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival organization to use trails located on County Forest Land located in the Town of Cable for their 33rd annual festival on September 19, 2015. MOTION: (Bennett, Strand) to approve the request made by the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival to use trails located on County Forest Land located in the Town of Cable for the 33rd annual festival on September 19, 2015. Carried. 10. Recreational Use Request: North End Ski Club. J. Bodine has received the annual request from the North End Ski Club organization to use trails located on County Forest Land located in the Town of Cable for the North End Classic cross country ski race on February 8, 2015. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the request made by the North End Ski Club to use trails on Bayfield County forest land in the Town of Cable for the North End Classic cross country ski race on February 8, 2015. Carried. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3 December 15, 2014 Meeting Minutes 11. Recreational Use Request: American Birkebeiner Association. J. Bodine has received the annual request from the American Birkebeiner Association to use trails located on County Forest Land located in the Town of Cable for following events: a. BirkieTour: January 18, 2015. b. American Birkebeiner, Kortelopet and Prince Haakon: February 21, 2015. c. Fat Tire Birkie: March 7, 2015. d. Birkie Trail Run and Trek: September 26, 2015. MOTION: (Bennett, Strand) to approve the request made by the American Birkebeiner Association to use trails on Bayfield County forest land in the Town of Cable events requested. Carried. 12. Establishment of Guidelines for the County Forest Recreational Trails Grant. The goal behind the funds ($30,000 capital improvement budget) is to help improve recreational opportunities in the County by focusing on County Forest land trails, or trails on private land which connect to County Forest trails, and are part of a larger network (see Guideline draft handout). The Guidelines would be shared with established non-profits and other groups (such as, municipalities, etc.) that currently maintain trails. It is hoped that the program would assist in the development of non-motorized trails; but are not limited to non-motorized trails. H. Maki questioned the need for separation of trails (non-motorized and motorized). J. Bodine responded that most trails are designated multi-use but not all. Informational only. No action taken. 13. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. Comments. None. 14. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 6:28 P.M. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, January 12, 2015 at 6:00 P.M., Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn, WI. Submitted by, Pat Bruno