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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 11/14/2016BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING November 14, 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; Andrew O’Krueg, Forester and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison; Craig Golembiewski, WI DNR Team Leader; Jim Latvala, WI DNR Forester-Barnes Office; Gena Abramson, LTE Forester-Washburn Office; Brenda Garrett, Parks Manager and citizens. 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. Chris Bretting, ABC Sportsmen; reported that the club has attempted to meet with the club’s neighbors but have not received a response to date. He clarified that the proposed trap range is not necessarily be open to the public but meant for the kids. As mentioned before, the club is perceived as a safe and controlled environment with many families using the facility. He urged any who have not yet visited the site, should do so. S. Miller called for more comments and none were received. Comments were closed. 3. Approval of the October 10, 2016 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Silbert, Strand) to accept and place on file the October 10 meeting minutes. Carried. 4. Fall Timber Sale Bid Opening. J. Bodine read the timber sale bids of the 2017 fall timber sales. Twenty-five tracts were offered and all were sold. The bids were announced and the unofficial sold value is $2.3 million. MOTION: (Maki, Silbert) to receive and accept the bids as presented for the Fall 2016 timber sale offering. Carried. 5. 2016 Bayfield County Campground and Parks Summary. Brenda Garrett. Twin Bear: It was a busy camping season with 18 seasonal sites taken. The Free Tuesdays boat launch promotion has been well received especially by seniors and new campground visitors. A report of a big fish caught spread fast through social media (Facebook). Wi-Fi access has been a great asset and draw. Many compliments were received for the excellent coverage. There is a need for two part time hosts; Brenda will continue to be on-site also. Delta Lake: The campground had new excellent hosts (retired couple) this year and will return next season. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 4 November 14, 2016 Meeting Minutes Twelve seasonal sites were taken for the year. Big Rock also had an increase in campers; possibly partially due to the wind storm which closed the U.S. Forest Service’s Birch Grove campground southwest of Washburn. The campground is in need of replacement picnic tables and some painting next season. A few details remain for the end of season wrap up. J. Bodine reported that a few hazard trees will be taken down in 2017 at Big Rock. Adding an observation deck, recreational trails and improved access along the river way are suggestions for improvements at Big Rock. He added that the parking area is on WI DNR property. J. Bodine added that planned improvements at Twin Bear are the mooring dock and to add overflow parking. The retaining wall is starting to fail also and will need attention. The ADA ramp at Delta Lake will need replacement and possibly replacement of the boat dock at Atkins Lake. MOTION: (Maki, Silbert) to receive and place on file the campground manager report. Carried. 6. Monthly Financial Report. A. Forestry 1) Department Budget Update. Current timber sale revenues this year are approximate $4.25 million; the same as 2016. Sustainable harvests continue and the markets are strong. Expenses are on target. The blowdown clean up continues. A large aspen tract was recently completed. Most of the blowdown sales were located northeast of Iron River and were roughly 82 acres of land. 2) Land Use Plan Revision Update. No selection has been made to review to date. 3) County/Tribe Land Transaction Update. Discussions with the Red Cliff Tribe are moving this forward. There is a potential to meet this goal using a stewardship, Community, GLRI or some other options, such as large private land owners. The Tribe is interested in 1,500 acres of county forest land. J. Bodine shared that the Tribe would take on the entire grant process responsibility. J. Silbert pointed out that the land exchange would be acre for acre so no public recreational land would be lost; but would be relocated. B. Parks. It was a banner year for revenue which reached nearly $90,000. Twin Bear campground brought in $500+ over 2015’s revenues and all the parks had increased revenues. Final numbers will be included in the year end accomplishment report. C. Trails and Recreation 1) Snowmobile and ATV Trail Updates. There are a few landowner disputes and trail reroutes in the Washburn area to deal with. Also, the trails west of Mason are going problematic as there is little public land to access. People are using Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 4 November 14, 2016 Meeting Minutes the ditches and roads. There is a complete stretch in Mason that closed. 2) County Highway D ATV Route Update. The local trail clubs are wondering why they were not included in the process or made aware of the proposed amendment to a proposal by the Highway Committee to eliminate ATV access from Pioneer Rd to Garden Lake Road on County Road D. The clubs may publicly comment at the next full county board meeting. As for the other ATV trails, the clubs are completing final grading and brushing for the season. Trail closures caused by the blowdown continue on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land. 3) FEMA Projects Update. As of today, no official award letter has been received for the two anticipated FEMA projects’ funding. In the meantime, there was no alternative but to operate as though they will be funded. The first project, valued at $38,500, repaired damage to Snowmobile Trails 1, 18 and 31. Due to wet conditions, repairs to Trail 1 and 31 will be completed in 2017. The second project is valued at $9,000 for damage repair to some of our system roads. 4) Federal Trail Projects Update. Two projects partnering with the USFS were arranged to repair trails located on federal land; both of which provide critical snowmobile access for Grandview to Drummond. This should be completed by Friday. USFS will provide $31,000 and the state $20,000. The other project is Trail 15 which is north of Atkins Lake and is a Grandview to Namekagan connector. 5) Yurt Updates The Bayfield yurt is at about 60% occupancy. Mary Motiff, Bayfield Co. Tourism Director’s, Facebook blast brought 200 Airbnb interest hits a day for a solid week. A subsequent article in the local newspaper brought no additional hits. The Cable yurt opening was delayed a couple of weeks due to a county licensing issue. That location has not shown much interest to date. Once the snow comes for trail users, it is anticipated that usage will increase. MOTION: (Silbert, Fickbohm) to receive and place on file the financial monthly reports. Carried. 7. County Conservation Aid Grant. This is an annual formality to set up potential projects for the coming year. No projects have been identified yet. Potential projects could include ADA lake access at the parks along with reforestation projects such as bud capping, site preparation, fencing, etc. MOTION: (Maki, Strand) to move forward with the County Conservation Aid Grant application. Carried. 8. Sustainable Forestry Grant. Similar to the County Conservation Aid Grant process, this is a competitive grant which could be used for future forestry projects. Committee action is required to apply for this annual grant. MOTION: (Strand, Silbert) to move forward with the Sustainable Forestry Grant application. Carried. 9. Recreational Use Request. North End Ski Club. J. Bodine received a request from the club to hold the annual North End Classic cross country ski race on county Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 4 of 4 November 14, 2016 Meeting Minutes forest land trails located in the Town of Cable. The event usually has 250-300 participants. The event is scheduled for February 12, 2017. MOTION: (Silbert, Fickbohm) to approve the request. Carried. 10. 2016 Budget Amendment. J. Bodine discussed five major budget amendments. 1) Good Neighbor Authority revenues and expenses (offsetting); 2) & 3) FEMA for two trail repairs and system road repairs (of which 12.5% will be county fund expenses); 4) DOT snowmobile repair (Highway 63) revenue and expense (offsetting) and 5) 10% to Towns increase which will be known at the end of the year. No action taken. 11. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. J. LeBouton introduced the entire Barnes staff; Craig Golembiewski, WI DNR Team Leader; Jim Latvala, WI DNR Forester-Barnes Office; Gena Abramson, LTE Forester-located in Washburn. Both C. Golembiewski and J. Latvala came from the Douglas County Forestry office. This made for a smooth transition to have experienced staff added. Of the 25 sales sold in the county’s fall sale, 9 were set up by the DNR staff. J. Silbert inquired on a report that the DNR is increasing logging on state lands and if and how that would affect county timber sales. J. LeBouton replied that what the report was referring to were two minimally managed areas. H. Maki inquired on the Good Neighbor Authority progress to date. J. Bodine anticipates there will be more stands offered to the staff in 2017. Currently the agreement is initial reconnaissance and sale write up. The state then administers the contracts. 12. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 8:14 PM. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting and timber sale bid opening will be held Monday, January 9, 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