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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 11/9/2015BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING November 9, 2015 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; Harold Maki, and Fred Strand Members Absent: John Bennett Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator; Mark Abeles- Allison, County Administrator; Andrew O’Krueg and Jason Holmes, Foresters and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, 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 6:00 P.M. 2. Approval of the October 12, 2015 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to receive and place on file the October 12, 2015 meeting minutes. Carried. 3. Public Comment. S. Miller called for public comment. None were received. 4. Fall Timber Sale Bid Opening. J. Bodine read the timber sale bids of the 2015 fall timber sales (30 tracts offered). The unofficial winning bids were announced. MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to accept the unofficial bids as presented for the fall 2015 Timber Sale offering. Carried. 5. Monthly Financial Report. A. Forestry 1) Department Budget Update. Timber sale revenues for October are $472,000+ with a total for the year approaching $4.2 million. The amended budget is at $3.1 million. Anticipated is an end of 2015 expense budget adjustment to the 10% to the Towns line item of approximately $130,000. 2) Staff Update. Leigh Neitzel has handed in her resignation effective December 11, 2015. The position is currently advertised with a closing date of November 15, 2015. 3) 2016 Work Plan. J. Bodine requested input from the Committee for the draft 2016 Work Plan document. No comments were received. The draft plan will be presented at the December Committee meeting for consideration. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3 November 9, 2015 Meeting Minutes 4) Future Planning/Projects. Staff are moving forward with yurt construction plans. B. Parks Parks are closed for the season. Use of Big Rock and Twin Bear campgrounds has increased but Delta Lake has not. Promotional tactics are being considered by the Department and the Tourism Department to increase Delta Lake activity in 2016. The free boat launch at Atkins Lake has brought positive responses. C. Trails 1) Lost Creek Falls Trail Update Photos of the project were reviewed showing the current boardwalk and trail widening progress. When conditions improve, the trailhead and parking lot will be prepared; kiosk and signs installed. 2) Future Planning/Projects Yurt construction is anticipated to begin late spring or early summer 2016. MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to receive and place on file the October 2015 financial report. Carried. 6. Parks Report. Brenda Garrett was unable to attend the meeting. 7. Bayfield County Snowmobile Alliance Equipment Purchasing. The Bayfield County Snowmobile Alliance (BCSA) is in the process of purchasing new equipment and is requesting financial assistance from the County for loan expenses (interest portion only) in the form of a low interest loan. Existing equipment is insured under the County’s policy thus saving the BCSA $8,000 to $10,000 a year. F. Strand has an interest in helping but to hold the county harmless has to be considered. The Committee would like to see area businesses that benefit from the trails provide assistance. No action taken. MOTION: (Maki, Strand) to suspend the rules to allow Jim Sloane to comment. Carried. Jim Sloane, Iron River, Wisconsin commented that what Mr. Bodine is posing would be beneficial to the environment and economy but if a single entity; a non-profit is approved for funding then would the County be opening a door for anyone in a competitive business to come to the committee for funding? 8. Potential Land Trade or Sale in the Town of Hughes. J. Bodine received a request was received to buy or trade 3 acres of land for the purpose of meeting setback requirements for septic system installation on the adjoining private property. The requestor was unaware the County owned this 3 acre sliver when purchasing the adjoining property. J. Bodine explained that private land sale requests are usually denied due to land sale policies. However, this 3 acre sliver of land will not be managed for timber harvesting or other public use. Further, Committee approval could make way for the withdrawal of land from CFL and revenue for the Land Acquisition revenue account. The private land owner requested the Committee’s consideration based on real estate taxes collected would outweigh the lack of any other benefits gained by the general public. H. Maki is concerned that this could be precedence setting. In fairness, others have been denied in the past. M. Abeles-Allison explained that a private land sale would not be open to the general public; only tax delinquent property is auctioned. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3 November 9, 2015 Meeting Minutes MOTION: (Miller, Strand) to approve negotiating a sale of three acres in the Town of Hughes. Discussion: F. Strand asked if the purchase price would include appraisal costs and other closing costs and proposed that the proceeds of the sale would go into a non-lapsing fund for purchase of land in the future. J. Bodine will include the request in any potential negotiations and any proceeds would go into the Land Acquisition non-lapsing fund. MOTION: (Miller, Strand) to approve negotiating a sale of three acres in the Town of Hughes. Roll call vote: Yes: Miller, Bichanich, Strand. No: Maki. Carried. 9. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. The state will soon fill the position vacated by Jay Gallagher and also two other supervisor positions. MOTION: (Strand, Bichanich) to suspend the rules to allow Ken Visocky, Delta, Wisconsin to speak. Roll call vote: Yes: Miller, Bichanich, Strand, Maki. Carried. K. Visocky commented on the railroad grade property ownership issue in the Village of Mason. K. Visocky is requesting on behalf of the adjoining property owners that the County document and produce deeds reflecting ownership to the right of way of the subject properties. K. Visocky believes the owners will negotiate with the County. 10. Executive Session. A. Approval of the September 22, 2014 Executive Session Minutes. B. Potential Land Trade in the Town of Cable. C. Railroad Grade Issue in the Towns of Mason, Keystone and Cable. MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to enter into Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)Ie)(g), deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session and for the purpose of considering legal advice regarding strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved. Roll call vote: Yes: Strand, Maki, Miller, Bichanich. No: None. Carried. 14. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:53 P.M. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting and timber sale bid opening will be held Monday, December 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