Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 6/13/2016BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING June 13, 2016 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Fred Strand, Larry Fickbohm and Jeffrey Silbert Members Absent: Harold Maki Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator, Steve Probst; Assistant Administrator; and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison and Craig Golembiewski, WI DNR Team Leader 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 6:02 P.M. 2. Public Comment. S. Miller called for public comment. None were received. 3. Approval of the April 11th Meeting Minutes. (Correction made at the meeting to read “May 9” and not April 11th) MOTION: (Silbert, Fickbohm) to receive and place on file the May 9, 2016 meeting minutes. Carried. 4. Monthly Financial Report. A. Forestry 1) Department Budget Update. County Forest Land (CFL) revenues are at $2.05 million. Expenses are under budget. 2) Good Neighbor Authority. (Not addressed.) B. Parks For parks, the current revenues are at $43,000. Transient camping is slower than normal. C. Trails and Recreation 1) ATV Trails Update Trails are in good shape with very little extra work to go into the new year. The clubs have done a good job cleaning up form recent storms. MOTION: (Strand, Fickbohm) to receive and place on file the June 2016 financial report. Carried. 5. Supervisor Questions and Comments. J. Silbert commented that the department summary that J. Bodine recently provided the Committee is excellent. J. Silbert suggested that a paper copy is provided for every County Board Supervisor to keep a copy as a reference. A formal direction to forward to the full County Board was made. J. Bodine addressed an inquiry made by J. Silbert if a proactive policy and procedure document is needed in the event the timber market taking a hit. Budgeted revenues are conservatively set with that in mind. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 4 June 13, 2016 Meeting Minutes S. Miller anticipates that the prices would not drop below 50% of current prices. It was further added that there is flexibility in the species grown in the County and the second sale of the year could be altered to address a needed adjustment. F. Strand also appreciated the summary document provided and suggested an expansion in a future document revision regarding the sustainability certification program. Regarding certifications, they are a necessary way of doing business to have a third party independent certification: Sustainable Forestry Initiative/ Sustainable Forestry Council. They audit the certificate every three years. The DNR regulates our program and an audit is every three years also. 6. Trap Shooting Range Development. ABC Sportsmen Club, Larry Nelson. An agreement was developed about 12 years ago naming Bayfield County as the lessor, the WI DNR as the lessee and the ABC Sportsmen Club as the sublessee. L. Nelson provided information on the proposed plan to expand an existing shooting range in the Town of Bell. The expansion would serve as an instructional site to teach kids trap shooting (a new program). A trap house is proposed to be built and used only during course activities or for special events lasting two hours maximum. The shooting would be in a northerly direction (dense woods; old pine) with the 10X10 trap house facing east. The range would be closed to the general public, with a security camera in place. A member will monitor the range when open; 8AM-8PM on week days and 8AM-6PM on weekends. The closest neighbors are a little over one mile as the crow flies. L. Nelson believes that the range located near Ashland cannot serve the number of youths interested in the sport. L. Fickbohm inquired if any noise abatement has taken place? L. Nelson said that noise testing on County C was monitored in the past. Because bigger guns are more common now, there may be more noise since the testing was completed. L. Nelson noted that the range was at this location prior to any nearby residences. Currently, there are league nights set with the kids’ classes to be held on Sundays. No lead management abatement plan is in place. L. Nelson explained that it is recommended by the EPA but it is not required. MOTION: (Fickbohm, Silbert) to suspend the rules to allow Gary Egstad to speak. Carried. G. Egstad, speaking on behalf of the neighbors of this range, referenced a distributed copy of an email on the subject, detailing guidelines for a required number of acres (10) per (1) trap house and the size of the comb for shooting. G. Egstad said that in discussions with people familiar with Sports Hollow G. Egstad learned that there are up to 25 coaches available but are at less than ½ capacity currently. The noise has become uncontrollable. Legal enforcement is not an option. Neighbors are not opposed to the range but are concerned about the expansion and the increased noise. Neighbors feel that the club needs to take care of what they currently have. When first developed, all the shooting was to the east. L. Nelson responded that he does not know what Sports Hollow has to offer. L. Nelson looks at it from the instructional standpoint offered for the kids. If there is no range, the effect could be shooting along forest roads; a free for all situation. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 4 June 13, 2016 Meeting Minutes The Committee would be willing to reconsider the proposal but with clarification and additional rules and regulations; and the noise, pollution, hours and safety impact on the neighborhood. MOTION: (Silbert, Fickbohm) to deny the trap proposal at this time. Roll Call Vote: Yes: All No: None Carried. 7. Recreational Use Request. Ron Bergin, CAMBA. J. Bodine received a request from CAMBA to hold the first annual CAMBA Longass Mountain Bike event on July 23, 2016 with portions taking place on county forest land in the Town of Cable. MOTION: (Strand, Silbert) to approve the request. Carried. 8. Recreational Use Request. Cable Area Resources in Emergencies (C.A.R.E.). J. Bodine received a request from CARE to hold a 10k running event on July 4, 2016 with portions of the event taking place on county forest land in the Town of Cable. MOTION: (Strand, Fickbohm) to approve the request. Carried. 9. Recreational Use Request. Odia Wood-Krueger. J. Bodine received a request from Odia Wood-Krueger to hold the Chequamegon 100 Mountain Bike Race of June 18, 2016 with portions of the race taking place on county forest land in the Town of Cable. MOTION: (Silbert, Fickbohm) to approve the request. Carried. 10. Yurt Construction Proposals. Forty-five specific contractors were sent post cards; an advertisement was published in the newspaper in two editions. Twenty-five bids were received. Labor costs were highly variable. North York Construction was the only contractor to bid under budget. The owner of North York Construction has experience building and living in a yurt. The contract does not include building a lean to shed for firewood storage but could be added as an addendum. American with Disabilities Act compliance was discussed; however, due to the rustic nature and access limitations, there will not be a ramp to the doorway. MOTION: (Silbert, Strand) to accept the lowest bid made by North York. Roll Call Vote: Yes: All No: None Carried. 11. Special Use Permit Request. Gilbert Schwartz, Seasonally Sources Foods, LLC. Gilbert Schwartz has requested a permit to collect wild vegetables, fruits, nuts and/or mushrooms from county forest land. Prior to J. Bodine taking this to the Forestry and Parks Committee, Mr. Schwartz had secured a permit from the U.S. Forest Service for the same. The purpose is to sell to restaurants and co-ops for resale to the general public. If approved, J. Bodine recommends a flat fee of $200 for the permit. J. Bodine suggested using language provided on the U.S. Forest Service permit as a guideline for the County’s permit. J. Silbert thanks the person for coming forward and requesting a permit and not just collecting without one. MOTION: (Fickbohm, Silbert) to approve the permit. Carried. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 4 of 4 June 13, 2016 Meeting Minutes 12. 2017 Budget. J. Bodine requested input from the Committee for purposes of building the 2017 operating budget. No action taken. 13. Bayfield County Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP) Amendment. The Town of Barnes has requested a language change to the current CORP for their portion of the existing plan. This amendment to the plan, if approved by the Committee, will be directed to the full county board for consideration. MOTION: (Silbert, Strand) to approve the amendment. Carried. 14. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. Nothing to report at this time. MOTION: (Strand, Fickbohm) at 7:15 PM 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 purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. Roll call vote: Yes: Strand, Miller, Silbert, Fickbohm. No: None. Carried. 15. Executive Session. a) Approval of the April 11, 2016 Executive Session Minutes. b) Duck Lake Property Ownership Dispute. (1)(g) c) Purchase of Land Returned to open session at 7:28 PM. 16. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Purchase of DNR Land in the Town of Bayfield. No action taken at this time. 17. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 7:29 PM. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting and timber sale bid opening will be held Monday, July 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