HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 2/8/2016BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING
February 8, 2016
County Board Room
Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; Harold Maki, John
Bennett and Fred Strand
Members Absent: None
Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator and Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator
Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR
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 January 11, 2016 Meeting Minutes.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to receive and place on file the January 11, 2016 meeting minutes. Carried.
3. Public Comment.
S. Miller called for public comment. None were received.
4. Monthly Financial Report.
A. Forestry
1) Department Budget Update.
Approximately $125,000 for timber sale revenues have been received. Poor winter logging
conditions are a factor. However, to date, February revenues have nearly doubled those receipted for
January. Expenses are on track and the payments to the Towns from the Town Road Aids fund have
been mailed.
2) State Land Sale Update.
J. Bodine provided maps of three state properties located in Bayfield County being considered for
sale. A property near Mt. Ashwabay is being considered for sale to Bayfield County. More
information has not been received but the state will be approaching Bayfield County soon.
3) Duck Lake Update.
A hearing is scheduled for March 3. Nothing more to report at this time.
B. Parks
There is nothing new to report at this time.
C. Trails and Recreation
1) Snowmobile Trail Update
Trail conditions have improved with the recent snow. The weather has been a challenge this year.
Reports are that local trails are receiving relatively heavy use due to poor snow conditions in other
parts of the state.
a. Recreation Strategic Direction. The process is just getting started and it will be a long process.
J. Bodine anticipates having something to bring to the Committee in the middle to end of the
year.
Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 2
February 8, 2016 Meeting Minutes
b. Yurts. The work is well underway. A large number of permits are required including rezoning
the properties from F2 to F1 which is in process. There is a high level of use expected.
MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to receive and place on file the January 2016 financial report. Carried.
5. Recreational Use Request.
A request from Lifetime Triathalon Series, LLC has been received to use trails located on County Forest
Land in the Town of Cable on September 17, 2016. The events are the 34th Annual Chequamegon Fat Tire
Festival mountain bike racing events.
MOTION: (Bichanich, Maki) to approve the request from Lifetime Triathalon Series, LLC to use trails on
September 17, 2016. Carried.
6. DNR Fire Towers
MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to notify the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that Bayfield
County is not interested in acquiring the fire tower located off of Friendly Valley Road. Carried.
7. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative.
No comments.
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.
The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting and timber sale bid opening will be held Monday, March 14,
2016 at 6:00 P.M. at Bayfield County Courthouse, County Board Room, 2nd Floor, 117 E. 5th Street, Washburn,
Wisconsin.
Submitted by,
Steve Probst