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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 7/13/2015BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING July 13, 2015 County Board Room 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: Brenda Garrett, Campground Manager 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 8, 2015 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the June 8, 2015 meeting minutes. Carried. 3. Public Comment. S. Miller called for public comments. None were received. 4. Monthly Financial Report. A. Forestry 1) Department Budget Update: J. Bodine reported that stumpage revenues for June were just under $500,000. Nothing unusual in June for expenses. However, there will be some budget adjustments at the end of the year i.e. Town 10% fund, sustainable forestry grant, broadband grant, etc. The Department was awarded a State Sustainable Forestry Grant for $37,500 for a knapweed treatment project in the Town of Barnes. J. Bodine received late word that the Wisconsin Counties Forestry Association membership fee reimbursement (50%) was removed from the 2016 state budget. Bayfield County will be responsible for its full annual membership fee of approximately $9,000, rather than $4,500 as in past years. 2) Stewardship Grants. It is anticipated that the closing date to enroll the newly purchased 2,600 acres to County Forest Land will be mid-August; thus completing the land purchase. 3) Section 12 Ordinance Amendments. A recent motorized trail access/use issue came to the Department’s attention, prompted a review of Section 12 of the County Ordinances. The County ordinance was written in a way that restricts certain types of uses on state funded motorized trails. Section 12-1 deals with county park land regulations, conduct on county owned lands, etc.; Section 12-2 deals with the county forests; and Section 12-3 addresses the Tri-County Corridor. All of these sections are outdated and in need of revision. The Committee would like to review the information and revisit this at a future meeting. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3 July 13, 2015 Meeting Minutes B. Parks The 4th of July weekend generated the largest amount of camping revenue, over a period of one week, to date. However, revenues for the year may be down from last year. There have been no unexpected costs. C. Trails Trails remain a work in progress. It is difficult to have groups meet for contract discussions during the summer. MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to receive and place on file the June 2015 financial report. Carried. 5. Parks Update, Brenda Garrett. B. Garrett described the increased use of Twin Bear campgrounds, children enjoying the new play areas (at both campgrounds); campers enjoying the removal of the coin boxes in the showers, new fishing dock, Wi- Fi, and seasonal specials such as free boat launches on Tuesdays. Weekly rentals are up at Twin Bear and six new seasonal campers were added with no seasonal sites remaining. Delta Lake campground’s tree clean up project was an improvement. B. Garrett anticipates having a full time Delta Lake host for the 2016 season to replace the 2015 part-time host. She shared her enthusiasm for her management position and the Committee expressed their appreciation of B. Garrett’s work. J. Bodine explained there will be changes to the ADA ramp at Delta Lake to reconfigure and improve the path and reclaim overall shoreline use. No action taken by the Committee. 6. 2016 Budget. The 1997 New Holland tractor is in need of replacement. This unit is shared with the Maintenance Department during the winter season. M. Bichanich suggested that the Fair could possibly use this tractor. J. Bodine has not decided if the replacement will be in 2016 or the future. H. Maki inquired about the 2% funds the Towns had been awarded and if the Towns who were awarded are utilizing their funds, specifically Bayfield and Bayview Townships. J. Bodine said they were notified of the awarded funds but was unsure if they had started the planned projects. No action taken. 7. Recreation in Bayfield County. As a part of the 2016 budget, the department is considering including the construction of new trail camping sites including yurts. Yurts (a 4 season cloth structure usually on a platform with wood stove and an outhouse on site) are very popular in other recreation areas in the state. The expected cost is $20,000/site with a 3 to 4 year payback. These are excellent for four season access of trails and prime sites have been identified by the foresters. No action taken. 8. Mason Area Temporary Snowmobile Trail Closure. J. Bodine discussed some of the issues regarding snowmobile trails in the Mason area, particularly, trails 63 and 4 west. Bodine recommended temporarily closing trail 63 from the tri county corridor down to Grand View and trail 4 west from Mason to Highway H. Bodine stated the railroad grade ownership issue, abundance of relatively unsafe road routes on trail 4 west, difficulty getting into Mason and reconnecting Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3 July 13, 2015 Meeting Minutes trails, and the withdrawal of the local club from the snowmobile alliance as reasons to temporarily close these trails. After much discussion, there was an agreement to temporarily close these trails and a recommendation to keep trail 63 open from Grand View to Wilson Road and connect with trail 4 east into Ashland County. At least that would keep the connection open and give people an alternative way to re- connect with the Corridor and to the rest of the trail system. Bodine stated that he would work with the Alliance to make sure the potential re-route is safe and workable. Bodine also asked if we should move forward with the temporary closure and re-route or solicit more public input. The Committee stated that no additional public input is necessary; if there is an issue it can be addressed at future meetings. Information has been given to the Alliance and to respective Clubs. MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to temporarily close Trail 63 from the Tri-County Corridor south to Mason and Trail 4 from Mason west to Highway H and to keep Trail 63 open from Grand View to Wilson Road and re-route on Trail 4 east into Ashland County (Sanborn). Carried. 9. Bicycle and Other Non-Motorized Uses on Motorized Trails. A small interest group from Washburn had publicly designated the existing motorized state-funded trail going from the Great Lakes Visitors Center to Washburn as a biking and hiking trail. This trail currently runs through multiple ownerships. Some of those owners or managers of the current motorized trails have not given formal permissions for this use. Portions of this trail go through private land. A portion is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who have denied bicycle access, at least until next spring. The city of Washburn is another private owner and they are addressing the issue now. County ordinances read that the only vehicles allowed on state funded snowmobile trails are snowmobiles; the only vehicles allowed on state funded ATV and UTV trails are ATV, UTVs, as well as emergency and maintenance vehicles. It is not known if the ordinance’s intent was to restrict trails to motorized vehicles. The caveat is that the private land owner may allow the use of other vehicles; i.e. bicycles. If allowed, the county would work with other interest groups to ensure the trail is safe for multiple uses. It is becoming apparent that the ordinance will need revision to more clearly define the intent and usage. Those who currently pay registration fees and gas taxes for trail maintenance, have issue with those that are not required to have permits/licenses (ex. bicycles, horses). Trail sharing and safety concerns were discussed. No action taken. 10. Sustainable Forestry Grant. The state has made competitive grant funds available specifically for County Forests’ sustainable forestry projects. The Department does not have a specific project in mind, but is considering an application to use funds for survey grade Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment valued at $45,000 and 100% funding. Other projects may be considered for application. A GPS unit was purchased last year for $3,000 but it did not provide what was hoped. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the application for the state’s Sustainable Forestry Grant. Carried. 11. County Forest Recreational Trails Grant. Of the total funds made available by Bayfield County, there remains $21,025. The Department has put together a proposed project to give trail access to Lost Creek Falls located on the South Shore. The project Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 4 of 3 July 13, 2015 Meeting Minutes would include a parking area, boardwalk and footbridge construction, signage and general improvements to the trailhead for the one mile path to one of the few waterfalls in this area. MOTION: (Strand, Bichanich) to approve the Lost Creek Falls trail construction project for $21,025.00 as described. Carried. 12. Deer Browse Impacts on Reforestation Activities. J. Bodine discussed deer browse impacts on general reforestation attempts. Bodine stated that the most significant negative impacts are occurring in the red oak, paper birch and jack pine types, but impacts can be seen in northern hardwood stands as well. J. Bodine stated that this isn’t a new phenomenon, but something that has been occurring for the past few decades. Charts, tables and pictures were provided to illustrate some of the impacts. Much discussion followed. J. Bodine discussed the future long term management goals of the department. Can we ensure the forests of tomorrow will be as diverse and productive as the forests of today? There is less diversity in the hardwood stands or stands being dominated by just one or two species i.e. aspen and red maple. The results of over browsing are found by the foresters on a daily basis. The department is constantly trying new approaches in an attempt to regenerate these species, such as deer fencing and bud capping; however, these approaches are cost prohibitive and not practical on a landscape scale. The department monitors regeneration attempts on an annual basis and will make future reports to the Committee. No action taken. 13. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. J. LeBouton was not present. 14. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 P.M. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, August 10, 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