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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 8/10/2015BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING August 10, 2015 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; John Bennett; and Fred Strand Members Absent: Harold Maki Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Asst. Administrator and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Matt Blaylock, Team Leader, WI DNR and other 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 6:01 P.M. 2. Approval of the July 13, 2015 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to receive and place on file the July 13, 2015 meeting minutes. Carried. 3. Public Comment. S. Miller called for public comments. Roger Aiken reported to the Committee with a listing of six upcoming bicycle events that have and will be taking place in the northern part of Bayfield County in 2015 and winter of 2016. Event participation ranges from 70 – 500 people attending. These events translate to increases in sales tax revenues and overall support to area businesses. S. Miller called for public comments. No other comments received at this time. 4. Monthly Financial Report. A. Forestry 1) Department Budget Update: Timber Sale Revenues: July’s revenues were just under $850,000 and revenues to date are nearly $3 million. Expenses are very close to the current budget. Parks: Parks continue to go strong with Twin Bear seeing a big increase in transient camper and day use (playground and boat launch) activity. Delta Lake is not as active, which may translate to an increased number of seasonal sites offered in 2016. Nothing out of the ordinary for expenses. Trails: A meeting with the Snowmobile Alliance is planned at the end of August. Nothing is finalized yet on the Mason trail temporary closure issue to date; however, all the agreements are signed by all the private land owners. 2) Stewardship Grants. August 14th is the date set for the purchase of land from Meteor Timber and Lyme St. Croix Land Company. After the purchase, the process will begin for enrollment into County Forest Land. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 4 August 10, 2015 Meeting Minutes It has come to the Department’s attention that there is land available for purchase in the area of the established Jolly Trail system. J. Bodine is in discussions with the state on this proposed project which could add access to the Jolly Trail system. This property is not eligible for a stewardship grant. Also, Lyme St. Croix Land Company has offered to sell more of its holdings in the southern part of the County. This property could qualify for another Stewardship grant project. 3) USFS Good Neighbor Authority. The Good Neighbor Authority allows the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with states and Puerto Rico to allow the states to perform watershed restoration and forest management services on National Forest System lands. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources signed an agreement with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest this week to work with the USFS to continue to manage the timber located in this area. This is the first agreement of its kind signed in the United States. No profit can be made by the state from the agreement but expenses can be covered. Bayfield County has been approached by the state if there would be interest in assisting with this program as a subcontractor. All the details are not available at this time; but more information will be coming for consideration. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the July 2015 financial report. Carried. At this time, S. Miller recognized that more members of the public had arrived. MOTION: (Strand, Bichanich) to amend the agenda to re-open public comment. Carried. Gina Emily, full time resident of Siskwit Lake, addressed the committee regarding concerns of increased timber hauling during the night and the war zone appearance on the Siskwit Lake and South Stone Road after a recent timber sale was completed. G. Emily expressed concern for the wildlife and public safety and inquired of the County’s reforestation policies. S. Miller thanked her for her comments and explained that the parameters of the agenda do not allow for an answer during the meeting but invited the attendees to contact the office during the week. Tom Mason, resident of Siskwit Lake, expressed concern of the logging that was completed within 20-30 feet of Siskwit Lake Road and the increased number of logging trucks that are traveling on the road daily. S. Probst explained that the Town of Bell had requested contracting with the County to harvest the timber within 20-30 feet of the Siskwit Lake Road. The County had an adjacent, established timber sale. S. Miller thanked the attendees for their comments and called again for public comment. None received. Public comment was closed. 5. 2016 Budget. J. Bodine reviewed the highlights of the draft budget for 2016. The bottom line is net returns (revenues minus expenses) to the general fund are expected to increase by 1.1% in 2016, when compared to the adopted budget for 2015. There is an $11,000 increase in overall revenues and a $6,000 decrease in spending. Grant revenues fluctuate from year to year. Timber sale revenues have increased but due to market fluctuations, budget increases are conservative. Expected capital expenses for 2016 include purchasing a snowmobile for the trails program and two yurts for rustic campsites; improving the forestry garage for snow and ice damage; adding a water line to the outer edge campsites and dock extension at Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 4 August 10, 2015 Meeting Minutes Delta Lake; and building steps on the shore near Puig’s Point at Twin Bear campground. F. Strand inquired if the state trail reimbursement rate is 100% to which Bodine replied it is. MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to approve the proposed draft 2016 Forestry & Parks Department budget and forward to the full county board for consideration. Prior to voting on the motion, J. Bodine read the department’s mission statement: The mission of this department is to manage, conserve and protect the resources of the Bayfield County Forest in a manner that ensures optimum production of forest products together with providing recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, watershed protection and the stabilization of stream flow. Management practices that focus on sustainability and multiple use will ensure a wide variety of forest products and amenities for current and future generations. Natural resources, such as those provided by the Bayfield County Forest, provide valuable social, economic and environmental benefits that are important to our quality of life. County Forest resources will also be managed to minimize adverse effects from natural catastrophes such as fire, insect and disease outbreaks, and from human threats such as encroachment, over utilization, environmental degradation, and excessive development. Management of the County Forest must also balance local needs with broader ecological concerns through the integration of forestry, wildlife, fisheries, endangered species protection, water quality, soil capability, and recreational opportunities. Multiple use management provides the assurance of maximum public benefit. MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to approve the proposed draft 2016 Forestry & Parks Department budget and forward to the full county board for consideration. Carried. 6. Section 12 Ordinance Amendments. J. Bodine referred to this ordinance issue which had been brought to the Committee’s attention at the July meeting. J. Bodine will attend an upcoming meeting of land owners where the existing state funded snowmobile trail lies between Washburn and the Great Lakes Visitors Center. Off road bicyclists would like to use the trail. S. Miller asked if bicyclists using the trail would create an issue with the grooming process. J. Bodine feels that the concern is more for user safety and does not anticipate any problems with grooming. F. Strand asked if other counties have provided information and shared problems encountered. J. Bodine said of those contacted there are no restrictions in other counties’ ordinances. J. Bodine has learned that the existing trail users and the bicyclist group have safety concerns regarding trail sharing. Also, motorized users take issue that, unlike bicyclists, the motorized group provides trail maintenance financial support via registration and gas tax fees. S. Miller would like to have more information provided and requested that representatives from both groups attend the next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting to discuss. No action taken. 7. Access Permit Renewal Request. Donald Wick. J. Bodine received a request to renew an existing 10 year temporary access permit to provide land located in the Town of Hughes. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the renewal of a temporary 10 year Access Permit as requested by Donald Wick to property located in the Town of Hughes. Carried. 8. Access Permit Request. Richard Bratley. A request to access private property located in the Town of Port Wing was received from Richard Bratley. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 4 of 4 August 10, 2015 Meeting Minutes J. Bodine reported that the Department recently learned that the party has been using an existing railroad grade to access their property without a permit. J. Bodine said the road is good and has no issue with granting this request. MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to approve the temporary 10 year Access Permit as requested by Richard Bratley to property located in the Town of Port Wing. Carried. 9. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. J. LeBouton was not present. Matt Blaylock, Team Leader, reported that the Washburn Ranger position has been filled. Eric Siroin is the Ranger who transferred from the Brule Ranger Station. A vacant Barnes position has cleared laterals and a new hire is expected within the month. The goal is to hire 15 new foresters for the Barnes area in the next 2-3 months. 10. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 6:46 P.M. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, September 14, 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