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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 5/8/2017BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING May 8, 2017 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Fred Strand, Vice-Chair; 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: Kevin Johnson, Bayfield County Veteran’s Service Officer; Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison; 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 and none were received. Comments were closed. 3. Approval of the amended March 13th Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Silbert, Fickbohm) to accept the amended minutes as presented. Carried. 4. Approval of the April 10th Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Strand, Maki) to accept the minutes as presented. Carried. 5. Spring Timber Sale Bid Opening. J. Bodine read the 172 timber sale bids as they were opened. Twenty-six tracts were offered and all but one were sold. The unofficial sold value is $2.0 million. 6. Presentation Regarding the Construction of a Veterans Park: Across-the-Pond Veterans Park Project Workgroup. K. Johnson, Bayfield CVSO distributed a description, cost estimates and a brochure for the proposed park project. The location is in the Town of Hughes overlooking a pond just west of Iron River and on the south side of Highway 2. The group has applied for a non-profit status. Phase 1 of the proposed project will include building a road to the park, parking lot, playground, picnic area, small utility building and establishing the memorial and flags. The site’s utility needs will be electricity and a water well. J. Bodine said the project intended purpose is for a higher and better use; therefore, no issues are anticipated with the DNR in the removal of the property from designated county forest land. The process would take 30-60 days after board approval. Regarding ownership transfer, the workgroup would prefer the County to turn over the property rather than lease. K. Johnson described the project maintenance as volunteer supported and self-sustaining in future phases. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 4 May 8, 2017 Meeting Minutes 7. Land Acquisition Request: Across-the-Pond Veterans Park Project Workgroup. J. Bodine described the property for the proposed project as holding approximately 200 cords of mature scrub oak and aspen. Motion by H. Maki: to get Jason Bodine to follow up on taking land out of CFL and preparing an agreement with the veterans to sell it to them and start out at Phase 1 then go to Phase 2. See how it goes. Amended Motion by H. Maki: to transfer the land to the veterans for one dollar. 2nd by L. Fickbohm. Discussion: F. Strand suggested that the sale of the land would be on the condition that the property has to be used primarily for a veterans’ memorial. The non-profit group intends a two-year time frame after the transfer date to begin work on the project. Amendment to Amended Motion by F. Strand: to amend the motion that the purpose has to be primarily for a veterans’ memorial and that we also need a start date. Also to include that at least a portion of the work must be initiated within two years and if not, then the land reverts to the County. 2nd by J. Silbert. Vote on the amendment to the motion: Yes: All No: None. Motion carried. Discussion. J. Bodine should proceed with the sale of this property and if the motions pass in this committee, then it goes of the full board. S. Miller suggested that the non-profit should be in place for the sale to be completed. “Across the Pond Veterans Park” will be the tax-exempt, non-profit 503c name. Motion by L. Fickbohm: to accept the amended form. 2nd by J. Silbert. Vote on the motion in its amended form: Yes: All No: None. Motion carried. 8. Monthly Reports. A. Forestry 1) Department 2017 Budget Update. Approximately $1.85 million of timber sale revenues have been received to date with April’s revenues at $258,000. Expenses are on target. 2) Wisconsin County Forest Association Summer Tour. Details are coming together; however, the banquet site is not yet confirmed. The intended restaurant remains closed. The tentative tour schedule should be ready mid-May. Mary Motiff has provided planning assistance and she offered to shuttle food during the field tour event. 3) Red Cliff Land Sale Update. The DNR is reviewing the withdrawal but we should have an answer in about 7-10 days. The Red Cliff Tribe has been approved for funding; however, to date the funding has not yet been secured. B. Parks. New mooring docks have been installed at Twin Bear and new stairs to the dock will be built. Parking lot expansion planning is in the works. Path repairs will be made at Delta Lake. Ice storm damaged trees were trimmed. A new dock was also placed at Atkins Lake. The old dock has not yet been sold. Signs at Atkins and Big Rock need replacing. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 4 May 8, 2017 Meeting Minutes C. Trails and Recreation 1) Motorized Trail Updates. ATV trails opened last week and are in good shape. Club workers have been cleaning up ice damage debris along with grading and brushing snowmobile trails but very little grooming. 2) Non-Motorized Trail Updates. Another 500 feet of boardwalk has been built on the Lost Creek Falls trail. Two hundred more feet will be added this summer by a contracted crew. Trail counters have shown 1,500 users per month. The summer intern will be assigned some tree trimming and gravel work. The North Country Trail reroute work will be this summer. Also, the trail behind the golf course near Iron River will been cleaned up from storm damage by the golf course owner and the County intern. 3) Yurt Updates. To date $17,000 in reservations have been committed up to early November. The budgeted revenue is $12,000. Bayfield County Tourism Department is helping with promotion of the Cable yurt by placing advertisements in recreational magazines. The Cable yurt has had less activity than the Bayfield site but is slowly increasing. MOTION: (Silbert, Maki) to receive and place on file the monthly reports. Carried. 9. Access Permit Request. Wisconsin DNR. The Wisconsin DNR has requested access to land located in the Town of Bayfield. The proposed permit would be for 20 years rather than the usual 10 because it is a government entity. The reason for the need for a permit now is that past access was via land that has since been sold. MOTION: (Silbert, Strand) to approve the request for a 20 year permit be granted to the DNR. Carried. Discussion: F. Strand asked if the land is sold by the DNR would the access permit transfer to a new owner to which J. Bodine said it would. 10. Access permit Request. Mark Lutterman. A request was a received from Mark Lutterman who is looking for pre-approval to access land that he intends to purchase. The current owner is using a different access point. MOTION: (Maki, Silbert) to approve a 10 year access permit be granted. Carried. 11. Access permit Request. Russ, Rick and Gary Leino. Because of an inquiry by the Leino’s to maintain trails through CFL to their (3) private properties, it was discovered that an official access permit did not exist. The land is located south of Whiting Road. The permit would grant access to their properties. This would be a reciprocal agreement as the County would use trails that cross the Leino properties. The trails are gated and all parties would have a key. The area is non-motorized. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 4 of 4 May 8, 2017 Meeting Minutes MOTION: (Maki, Strand) to give an access permit to the Leino boys as stated. Carried. 12. Recreational Use Request. The Chequamegon 100. A request was received from The Chequamegon 100 mountain bike race to use roads and trails located on Bayfield County Forest Land on June 17, 2017. The event hosts 300 participants and all proceeds go to CAMBA. MOTION: (Silbert, Maki) to approve the Chequamegon 100 request. Carried. 13. Recreational Use Agreement/Permit. Corporation Counsel reviewed the permit. It was recommended that proof of general liability insurance (Item 3) is required for any recreational use (event) that charges a fee/when money is exchanged. The permit verbiage allows requiring insurance when there is large group use who have responsibility for many participants. Recreational use indemnity is covered under state statute when an event/use is free to the user/participant. Anytime there is a fee involved, recreation insurance coverage is lost. This would help small user groups avoid the cost of security insurance but still be able to use and maintain the trails. MOTION: (Fickbohm, Strand) to accept the new agreement. Carried. 14. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. 15. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, June 12, 2017 at 6:00 P.M. at Bayfield County Courthouse, County Board Room, Second Floor, 117 E. 5th Street, Washburn, Wisconsin. Submitted by, Pat Bruno