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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 3/14/2016BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING March 14, 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, Steve Probst; Assistant Administrator; Jen Bratsch, Recreation Forester; and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR and Scott Williams, Bayfield County Snowmobile Association President 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 February 8, 2016 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Bichanich, Strand) to receive and place on file the February 8, 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. This year’s timber sale revenues are closer to average than they were in 2015, which was above. Expenses are slightly below average at this time. However, reforestation projects will produce larger expenses in the coming months. 2) Duck Lake Update. A hearing took place on March 3. The claimant was granted a week’s time to file a response. Since that time, the claimant has filed another motion requesting the judge recuse himself citing conflict of interest reasons. B. Parks Considering the recent snow melt, the May 1st opening date looks to be as scheduled. C. Trails and Recreation 1) Snowmobile Trail Update J. Bodine introduced Jen Bratsch, Recreation Forester, to the Committee. The trails are closed now until conditions warrant ATV traffic. The grooming crews did a good job on trail maintenance this season. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the February 2016 financial report. Carried. 5. Bayfield County Snowmobile Alliance (BCSA) Report: Scott Williams, BCSA President. S. Williams reported that due to the large snow falls after Christmas, the groomers had a rough time keeping Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 4 March 14, 2016 Meeting Minutes up with clearing trails. The warmer temperatures have brought the season to a close now. There were no major breakdowns with the exception of damage done to a machine during a move. Attempts are made to avoid areas with private land closures. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to receive and place on file the Bayfield County Snowmobile Alliance Report. Carried. 6. Recreational Use Permit: Town of Barnes. Recently, it has come to the Department’s attention that there is a system of trails, half of which are located on Bayfield County Forest Land and near Tomahawk Lake, which have existed without a County recreational use permit. The Town of Barnes is interested in expanding usage and possible expansion of miles. The Town has and will continue to provide sole maintenance responsibility. No usage fees are charged. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the request from the Town of Barnes for a recreational use permit. Carried. 7. Recreational Use Permit: Up North Guided Tours, LLC, Joshua Washlow, Promoter. A primarily summer use adventure based business has requested permission to use land and non-motorized trails located on county forest land in the Town of Cable. If granted, this would be the first for-profit organization to hold a recreational use permit on county forest land. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve granting a recreational use permit to Up North Guided Tours, LLC as requested. Carried. MOTION to Amend: (Miller, Strand) to grant the recreational use permit contingent if information is found by the county which would require the permittee to provide liability insurance and valid insurance is provided by the grantee. Carried. 8. 2016 Town Road Aids. J. Bodine discussed the different funding options. J. Bodine noted that many of the townships have spent matching funds and also increased funds to make the necessary repairs. Some townships have only used the funds granted by the county. S. Miller and J. Bodine commented that loggers have seen good improvements in town roads which they contribute largely to this grant. MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to approve the Fund 1 option for 2016 Town Road Aids. Roll call vote: H.Maki: Yes. M.Bichanich: Yes. J. Bennett: Yes. F. Strand: Yes. Carried. 9. Bayfield County Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Amendment. The Town of Bayfield is pursuing grant funding and requests an amendment to the “Recommneded Improvements” section under the Houghton Falls Natural Area (see handout). MOTION: (Bennett, Strand) to support the request made by the Town of Bayfield to amend the Bayfield County Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Carried. 10. Resolution: Good Neighbor Authority. J. Bodine discussed the purpose of the GNA; to help the U.S. Forest Service with timber management and Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 4 March 14, 2016 Meeting Minutes the County’s role as subcontractor to the State of Wisconsin DNR. The USFS is currently in a 45 day comment period. The species to be managed is red pine of approximately 5 million board feet. The County may tailor its involvement to include any or all of the following forester staff tasks: marking, cruising, preparation for sale and sale administrator and how the costs are covered. H. Maki does not like the federal guidelines for marking. F. Strand is supportive of the County’s involvement and would like to evaluate in one year. J. Bennett is concerned in the overtime and how it relates to the County’s policies. MOTION: (Strand, Bichanich) to approve the resolution entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the WDNR for the purpose of conducting forest management activities on federal land. Carried. 11. Yurt Update. The Cable yurt site which is located near several existing and actively used non-motorized trails off of Randysek Road, has been approved by the Town of Cable and rezoning has been approved by the Bayfield County Zoning Department. A conditional use permit request is currently in process with Bayfield County Zoning. Due to opposition expressed by several Whiting Road residents of the initially proposed Bayfield site, a second location was located that met all of the criteria. J. Bodine explained that while the access to both proposed yurts for both northern and southern sites are non-motorized, motorized emergency vehicles will have access. The yurts arrive prepackaged and are constructed on a deck platform. They are meant for a four seasonal recreational experience. S. Miller suggested the construction bids come to the committee for approval. J. Bodine explained that due to the anticipated construction budget, it could be handled similar to other department projects; such as snowmobile trail repairs where a bid process is not always required. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the proposed site at Cable. Roll call vote: H. Maki – No. J. Bennett – Yes. M. Bichanich – Yes. F. Strand – Yes. Carried. MOTION: (Strand, Bennett) to approve the proposed alternative site (#2) at Bayfield. Roll call vote: H. Maki – No. J. Bennett – Yes. M. Bichanich – Yes. F. Strand – Yes. Carried. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to have J. Bodine get bids for the yurt construction. Carried. 12. 2015 Accomplishment Report. J. Bodine reviewed the report highlighting a few of the Department’s accomplishments. New county forest land recreational opportunities are yet pending completion; the Lost Creek Falls Trail and yurts. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the 2015 Accomplishment Report. Carried. 13. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. No comments. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to enter in and out of Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(g)(e), 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 and deliberating or negotiating the Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 4 of 4 March 14, 2016 Meeting Minutes purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session . Carried. Entered into closed session at 7:00 PM. 14. Executive Session. A. Approval of the January 11, 2016 Executive Session Minutes. B. Railroad Grade Issue in the Town of Cable. C. Purchase of Land. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to reconvene in open session. Carried. Entered into open session at 7:23 PM. 15. Discussion and possible Action Regarding the Railroad Grade Issue in the Town of Cable. MOTION: (Strand, Maki) to suspend the rules to allow public participation. Carried. Patrick Dickrell Sr., Town of Keystone and representing his brother Mike Dickrell, spoke of a land survey conducted relating to an existing railroad grade to determine ownership. This resulted in the surveyor’s determination that the owner was “unknown.” P. Dickrell cited a railroad grade decision about these land ownership situations where the land goes back to the landowner. The private landowners want ownership of the railroad grade. S. Miller inquired if the County were to Quit Claim Deed the land to the private owners for a dollar would they agree to that? To which P. Dickrell Sr. answered “yes.” MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to make recommendation to the full county board to sell the land back on a Quit Claim Deed for $1.00 plus closing costs each to Michael Dickrell, John Pennanen, Doug Wegener and Kevin Rasmussen. Roll call vote: H. Maki-Yes. J. Bennett-Yes. M. Bichanich-Yes. F. Strand-Yes. Carried. 16. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Purchase of Land in the Town of Bayfield. No discussion. The item remains on Executive Session agenda for the next meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting and timber sale bid opening will be held Monday, April 11, 2016 at 6:00 P.M. at Bayfield County Courthouse, County Board Room, 2nd Floor, 117 E. 5th Street, Washburn, Wisconsin. Submitted by, Pat Bruno