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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 6/8/2015BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING June 8, 2015 Forestry & Parks Garage Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; Harold Maki; John Bennett; and Fred Strand 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 6:05 P.M. 2. Approval of the May 11, 2015 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the May 11, 2015 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 1) Department Budget Update: J. Bodine reported that stumpage revenues for May have returned to normal. Revenues are on pace for another $4.0 million season. Expenses are on target. 2) State of Wisconsin 2015-17 Proposed Budget: All funding levels were restored in the budget including the County Forest Administrator Grant. 3) Deer Browse Impacts on Reforestation Attempts: The Department routinely monitors the regeneration progress on all pine plantations and oak and birch reforestation attempts. It is learned that deer over browsing has impacted, to the point of failure, the successful full growth of red oak, paper birch and jack pine. Although the species’ regeneration attempts have shown success, without protections such as deer fencing and bud capping, the result is dismal. As a result, regeneration goals are not being met for red oak and birch especially. It’s anticipated that these species will show a significant reduction in the future. The Department is currently effectively managing mature stands; unaffected by the deer population. In an attempt to offset future red oak and paper birch losses, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has developed the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). J. Bodine will invite Todd Naas to attend the July meeting to explain the program. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3 June 8, 2015 Meeting Minutes B. Parks The playset installation at Twin Bear, Delta Lake dock, and Wi-Fi installation at both campgrounds are completed. The next project is to re-key facility locks thereby eliminating multiple keys. C. Trails The ATV clubs are sending the end of the fiscal year bills. The ATV Alliance appears to be defunct. The Department received word of a Washburn bike trail and J. Bodine is looking into this. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to receive and place on file the May 2015 financial report. Carried. 6. Stewardship Grants. The two proposed property purchases will result in 1,392 acres acquired from Meteor Timber and 463 acres from Lyme Timber for a total of $2,592,460.00. The Stewardship Grant would fund $2,238,000.00. The County’s out-of-pocket expense would be $354,460.00. The red pine timber value will result in approximately $1 million plus over the next 10 years. The red pine thinnings alone would generate approximately $100,000 per year over the next 20+ years. F. Strand commended J. Bodine for the work done pursuing this purchase. It’s anticipated that along with it being a viable investment, the potential for additional future public use trails also fits in with the County’s goals. J. Bodine discussed the potential timber value to be harvested from the match properties estimated at $325,000. Also, because some of the designated match properties were not required for the initial stewardship grant, those could be used for another stewardship grant application in the future. MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to approve the proposed property purchase and forward to the full county board for consideration. Roll call vote: Yes: M. Bichanich, H. Maki, F. Strand, J. Bennett. No: None. Carried. F. Strand noted that there could be other unforeseen costs associated with this purchase over the $354,460 out of pocket expenses. AMENDED MOTION: (Strand, Bennett) to approve the proposed property purchase, to propose authorizing $360,000 for the County’s closing and other costs associated with the purchase and to forward to the full county board for consideration. Roll call vote: Yes: M. Bichanich, H. Maki, F. Strand, J. Bennett. No: None. Carried. 7. Recreational Use Request, North Country Trail Association. J. Bodine has received a request from North Country Trail Association to construct a new rustic campsite off the existing hiking trail near Morris Pond in the Town of Hughes. The campsite would not be accessible by motor vehicle. Vandalism (fire) had occurred at the existing campsite. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the request made by North Country Trail Association as described. Carried. 8. Recreational Use Request, Cable Area Resources in Emergencies (C.A.R.E.). J. Bodine has received a request from C.A.R.E. to use existing trails located on county forest land in the Town of Cable. The activity is a 10K running event to be held on July 4, 2015. J. Bodine sees no potential issues and recommends approval. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3 June 8, 2015 Meeting Minutes MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to approve the request made by the C.A.R.E. to use a portion of existing trails located in the Town of Cable for a running event to be held on July 4, 2015. Carried. 9. Recreation in Bayfield County. Department staff are creating a map showing existing county recreational opportunities, which will include federal areas also. This will help identify major use areas (timber harvesting and recreation). There is increasing interest in new opportunities, such as rustic hiking trails and new motorized or non-motorized trails. The most recent surge of interest is sand trails for bicycling. H. Maki would like to encourage trail sharing between the groups. No action taken. 10. 2016 Budget. J. Bodine will have a draft budget ready to present at the July meeting. J. Bodine ran an analysis of wage comparisons and plans to do so every two years. One was completed for this budget and shared with M. Abeles-Allison. The budgets are due to M. Abeles-Allison mid-August. No action taken. 10. Recreational Use Request, Paula Waite, 180 Adventure. J. Bodine has received a request from 180 Adventure to use existing trails located on county forest land in the Town of Cable to host an orienteering, mountain biking and paddling race. MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to approve the request made by the 180 Adventure to use a portion of existing trails located in the Town of Cable for the adventure race to be held June 27 - 28, 2015. Carried. 11. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. Comments. J. LeBouton has nothing to report at this time. 12. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 6:52 P.M. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, July 13, 2015 at 6:00 P.M. at Bayfield County Courthouse, County Board Room, 2nd Floor, 117 E. 5th Street, Washburn, WI. Submitted by, Pat Bruno