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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 9/12/2016BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING September 12, 2016 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Fred Strand, Vice-Chairperson; Harold Maki; Larry Fickbohm and Jeffrey Silbert Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison; Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator; Dennis Pocernich, County Board Chair; and 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. Public Comment. S. Miller called for public comment three times. No comments received. Comments were closed. 3. Approval of the August 8, 2016 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Strand, Silbert) to receive and place on file the August 8, 2016 meeting minutes that are saved in Dropbox. Carried. 4. Presentation: Roger Aiken, Friends of Bayfield County Forests. R. Aiken, resident of the Town of Bayfield, representing a group of citizens, appeared before the Committee to request inclusion in the Comprehensive plan and annual forest planning process for purposes of improving rather than critiquing past forest practices. He presented the following recommendations for the Committee’s consideration. 1. To include Aesthetic Zones (referencing the Department’s Comprehensive Plan), ex. Mt. Ashwabay, and maybe other recreational areas. Special management of scenic right of ways and views and other recreational areas by use of buffer zones. 2. Revising the corridor/buffer plan; selective cut to leave more mature sized trees in the buffer. The recommendation is 100-foot corridor when clear cutting and an average 35 foot corridor when thinning. The goal recommended is to create a diversified forest environment in the corridors that includes old growth and continuity in understory from previous neighboring cuts. 3. and 4. Protecting the waters of the lake and all water resources by enhancing some existing practices in identified sensitive headwaters areas. Regarding road reimbursements to towns; the top recipients of road aid are also the top tax base recipients. The forest is not the problem but there is a problem with the watershed; the bay is red after a major storm. 5. Provide attention to climate change in relation to being economically productive 40 years from now and to develop techniques to give the forest a better chance for the future. R. Aiken summarized by encouraging an aesthetically better place for residents and people returning for tourism and to spend money. 5. Presentation. Jane Severt, Executive Director, Wisconsin County Forest Association. J. Severt spoke of the unique (only one in the nation) cooperative relationships between communities and the forest products industry and how we live in the state. She read State Statute 28.11(1) defining the purpose of the county forests. Forestry is a $24 billion industry and the second largest industry in Wisconsin. Timber production reached $41+ million in fiscal year 2016 and in Wisconsin the forest industry supports 65,000 jobs. Total land is about 35 million acres of which 17 million are rural forest. What’s important is that the forests provide a steady and reliable source of raw material, which is not always Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 6 September 12, 2016 Meeting Minutes true in other industries. Over $4 million dollars went back to the towns based on number of acreage lying in the county forest land. The second topic addressed in the statute is motorized recreational opportunities. The vast majority of ATV trails are on county forest. Watershed protection and stabilization is taken seriously. Full recognition is given to the concept of multi-purpose use. Severt serves as vice chair of the Wisconsin Council on Forestry. The state’s county forest mill tax provides many grants to support county forests in the state. The Council is planning a research project on how the counties conduct strong forestry practices in the state. She went on to quote Mike Ferrucci, Yale University and FSC auditor, who said WI county forests are one of the best models for effective public land management in the nation. 6. Presentation. Joseph LeBouton, WDNR County Forest Liaison. J. LeBouton has been the liaison to Bayfield County for six years. The state statute provides 46,000 DNR manpower hours to the county forest program; Bayfield County’s portion is 3,395 hours. The hours are spent with many aspects of the county’s forestry program including assisting reconnaissance, setting up timber sales, managing timber, planning annual goals, accessing grant funding, providing instrumentation in biomass harvesting guidelines, managing the certificate programs (audits), etc. Bayfield County Forester Jason Holmes is serving on the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts work group. J. LeBouton commented regarding buffer strips that saving old trees are not the best way to go as they become susceptible to disease and age, eventually die and fall (safety hazard on trails). Fickbohm and Silbert commented the newly improved Lost Creek Falls trail and the recreation area it provides is impressive. 7. Presentation. Various Local and Regional Forest Product Industries and Natural Resource Management Professionals. Mark Abeles-Allison. Revenues provided from the County’s well managed county forest provides sustaining programs for Human Services, Highway and Law Enforcement at renown levels of services that are unheard of throughout the state. There are 172,000 acres of County Forest and 2.5% is actively managed on an annual basis. Forestry revenue represents a levy reduction of 30%.; in 2015 the Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Department generated a net income of $3.1 million. Henry Shienebeck; Exec. Director, Great Lakes Timber Professionals. (Two handouts) This 1,000 member association represents townships, loggers, equipment manufacturers, etc. to protect forests for future generations. The association’s mission is to protect multiple use forests for future generations. The County is doing a good job of managing the forest. Important to know that loggers do not want to run out of forests. The best management practices addresses: quality of life, water quality, recreation trails, hunting, wildlife, and scenic beauty. It’s important to maintain the infrastructure to support the forests we have. Scottie Sandstrom; Exec. Director, Bayfield Co. Economic Development Organization. S. Sandstrom believes the County Forestry is striking a balance between quality forestry management health to the benefit of county revenues and to recreational needs by listening to stakeholders for purposes of promoting county parks and recreational uses. He supports future decisions to be properly discerned by J. Bodine and staff. D.J. Aderman; Johnson Timber Corporation, Hayward, WI was founded in 1973 and with all the mills currently has 400 employees. The Park Falls mill founded in 1896 was a hemlock mill but now relies on white birch. Birch pulp comes from forests in the tri-state area and Canada; adding that approximately 15- 20% of birch and aspen comes from Bayfield County to their mills. The Committee should be proud of the staff and liaison program that exists in the County; an outstanding job has been done. He encouraged the continuation of species diversification; recommending that the public is educated that there is a continued balance and demonstration of strong forest health here. The company is also involved with the Bayfield Regional Conservancy. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 6 September 12, 2016 Meeting Minutes Max Ericson; Ericson Logging, Minong, WI. M. Ericson is a certified master logger. The mills and state auditors check that the sales are cut and utilized properly. Also, the audits verify the roads and streams are being handled correctly. He suggests because of the quality of work that the county and state foresters are doing, the federal forest management should be turned over in its entirety to the counties. Chad Morgan; Louisiana Pacific, Hayward, WI. LP is a SFI third party certified company and employees 220 staff. The products LP produces are oriented strand board and lap and panel siding. It takes 230 logging companies to supply the mill on an annual basis. It’s been determined through inspections and audits that the County does a good job and the company supports them. Eric Maki; President, Midwest Forest Products. E Maki is a 4th generation logger, volunteer x-country ski coach, and has owned a business site in Iron River since 1979. He is strongly against the concept of establishment of a buffer zone policy on recreation trails because when the trees mature, they are susceptible to disease, present a threat to users on the trails and are more expensive to manage and remove. Implementing a policy could remove 8,800 acres from timber production. No need to customize BMPs for water quality as the County has and is doing an outstanding job of managing water and timber sustainably. Timber management practices in the last 50 years have provided recreational trails to grow and usage increase. Regarding climate change, suggests that possibly promote sequestration of carbon; and young forests do that at a higher rate than mature forests. Cutting more timber and increasing acreage of early successional forest type that will absorb more carbon would be beneficial. Mike Blomquist; Forester, Sappi Fine Paper, Cloquet, MN. Sappi had spent $170 million to produce chemical cellulose which will be used in a variety of products such as clothing, food, pharmaceutical applications, and many more products. Nanocellulose (new technology) is coming soon. From 2014- 8/2016, 52,386 cords of wood purchased came from Bayfield County Forest. SFI and FSC certification is important; 58%-62% of their wood is certified and the customers demand it. Annual Sappi audits of Bayfield County tracts come through with flying colors consistently; the auditor sees no reason to return. The belief is that buffers are a way of hiding and does not think sound forest management should be hidden. Bayfield County is rivaled by no other. It would be advantageous for people to go out to see the clear cut areas as they regenerate and the dynamics of the ecosystem. Educating the public is important. Gordy Mouw; Verso Corporation. Verso has 8 mills of which 2 are in Wisconsin employing 1400+. These employees send a big thank you to Bayfield County for the outstanding program. Bayfield County is the #1 provider of certified fibers. Verso continues to operate high class mills and Bayfield County provides a reliable source of productive forest land. That is of the utmost importance. Tom Mason; Citizen, Friends of the Bayfield County Forest. T. Mason showed a few photos on his media device to the Committee taken near North Boundary Road. The claim is the photos show a lack of regrowth. On Mountain Road there is regrowth but objects to the machinery and mud/runoff when it rains. Mason questions the ability to snowmobile after a timber sale, cut 5-6 years ago, and lacks of new growth. He believes you would have to go to Michigan to see a 400 year old white pine. J. Bodine replied the area T. Mason is referencing is either a jack pine or a red pine stand and it is in the process of being regenerated. Gina Emily; Citizen. She respects the job that the County is doing but doesn’t recall seeing an ad for planting or jobs available. Why can’t job be offered to people to address biodiversity? People care about wildlife and water quality but questions why there is no replanting. Duane Raspotnik; He is a certified logger and a retired U.S. Forest Service forester (45 years). Years ago there was a market for aspen and the big oak trees were bulldozed. Forty acre clear cuts were implemented. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 4 of 6 September 12, 2016 Meeting Minutes Then, buffer zones were implemented to offset the clear cuts; which lead to a landscape architect suggesting “look ins.” A reason to avoid using buffers is that buffers hide good forest management and due to the vast number of trails, the county would run out of forest if all the trails are buffered. Suggests the Committee let the department professionals continue to do their job and educate the public. J. Bodine; County Forest Land and public land in general is being pressured more and more to be something for everyone. Fortunately, Bayfield County has the luxury of having more public land (51% of the land base or nearly 500,000 acres) than any other county in this state, including county, federal, state and other municipal ownerships. Recreational use is already extensive on the county forest, with new requests coming in on a regular basis. The department is making a concerted effort to increase and improve recreational opportunities on the forest. However, in addition to all of the extensive recreational use, the public will see sustainable timber management; a good thing. We are dual certified, maintain a solid working relationship with the Wisconsin DNR (who also oversees our program) and employ highly educated and trained professional staff. Our forests are extremely well managed and highly regulated. S. Miller commends J. Bodine and staff on the management that’s been done. Travelers like to come here to see the pristine forests and enjoy good water. Sometimes they tell us that we are doing things wrong. They are entitled to their opinion. He thanked the foresters and representatives in the audience for attending. 8. Forestry and Parks Committee. J. Silbert thanked the Friends of the Bayfield County Forest for bringing the topic to the Committee for examination. Most of the concerns listed are already being taken care of by the Department. J. Silbert believes J. Bodine understands how a balance needs to be and buffer zones do not make sense in many places. J. Bodine believes the staff is doing a phenomenal job and is proud of what has been achieved. There will be more and more pressure to provide recreational opportunities which will directly impact tourism. S. Miller pointed out that the revenues go into the general fund and stays in the County; where the state and federal agencies must compete for revenues generated. Work will continue to educate the public and to not hide logging practices. 9. Monthly Financial Report. A. Forestry 1) Department Budget Update. Revenue for August was slightly above average with the year’s total at about $36.2 million. Expenses are on target. 2) Yurt Construction Update. J. Bodine showed photos of the projects progress to date. The Bayfield yurt is nearly complete and Cable is close behind. Some staff took turns staying overnight to fine tune potential issues. 3) State Land Sale. The WI DNR has offered 198 acres of land located on Mt. Ashwabay to the County; and the executive committee has approved the purchase at a 2.5% discount if paid in full the first year. This will be on the next agenda for the full county board’s consideration. The purchase will secure about one mile of existing ski trail. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 5 of 6 September 12, 2016 Meeting Minutes B. Parks. This has been a banner year; partly due to the U.S. Forest Service campsites closures due to the July storm. Big Rock Campground has had increased occupancy. Gross revenues are at $84,000 to date. The fee tube thieves have been apprehended. C. Trails and Recreation 1) ATV Trails Update. All trails are open on county land but a few on federal land remain closed. 2) Snowmobile Trails Update. Staff will be meeting soon with the Alliance in preparation for the upcoming snowmobile season. 3) Access Management Update. J. Bodine met with the motorized groups from the Towns of Bell and Clover. The main concerns were accessibility to the forest; not that it’s closed, but how it was closed. The group will bring suggestions to the Department on sign placements to consider. Also, a small handful of trails will need work to open up to a larger network of trails. The group will make suggestions on where the trails should be located and may work with non-motorized groups to maintain the trails. 4) FEMA/Storm Damage Update. A meeting will be held with FEMA representatives on September 13. The WI DOT covered the entire expense for Trail 63 repair and it will be aesthetically more pleasing. There was approximately $40,000 in damages in the County because of flooding. J. Bodine explained FEMA is, in part, paying for trail repairs because the damage done is under the category of infrastructure. MOTION: (Maki, Strand) to receive and place on file the financial report. Carried. 10. Sand and Gravel Request, Town of Russell. J. Bodine received a request from David Good (e-mail) and the Town of Russell to purchase sand from the Sand River Pit. The Committee’s most recent price setting was in 2014 for $1/ton and to negotiate with the town’s individually. Because it is a permitted pit, the process would go through a public permitting process with the Zoning Department. J. Bodine presented two options. MOTION: (Maki, Strand) to approve Option #2 for $1.00/ton. Carried. 11. Recreational Use Request, South Shore School District, Town of Hughes. (Correction made to Agenda which read “Town of Iron River.”) The South Shore School District has requested to use trails on County Forest land for a cross country running meet to be held on October 6, 2016. MOTION: (Silbert, Fickbohm) to honor the request for the South Shore School District to use the trail on county land. Carried. 12. Recreational Use Request, South Shore School District, Town of Hughes. (Correction made to Agenda which read “Town of Iron River.”) The South Shore School District has requested to maintain existing trails on County Forest land for non- Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 6 of 6 September 12, 2016 Meeting Minutes motorized uses, primarily hiking/running. J. Bodine explained the District would clean up the trail to make it more accommodating for the runners. MOTION: (Strand, Silbert) to approve the South Shore School District request. Carried. 13. Access Permit Renewal Request. Michael Lang. A request has been received to renew an existing utility access permit in the Town of Hughes. MOTION: (Maki, Fickbohm) to approve the request. Carried. 14. Access Permit Renewal Request. Ron Swanson. A request has been received to renew an existing access permit in the Town of Barnes. MOTION: (Silbert, Maki) to recommend approval of the access permit request. Carried. 15. Access Permit Request. Luke Wiitala. A request has been received for an access permit to private land located in the Town of Iron River. MOTION: (Maki, Silbert) to give an access permit to Wiitala. Carried. 16. 2017 Budget. J. Bodine discussed the comparison of the budget prepared by him and the County Administrator. The main differences are the increased projected revenues to timber sale and parks by the County Administrator. No action taken. 17. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. J. LeBouton thought the meeting was good and thanked J. Bodine for lining up people to speak. 18. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 9:01 PM. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting and timber sale bid opening will be held Monday, October 10, 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