HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 6/12/2017BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING
June 12, 2017
County Board Room
Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Fred Strand, Vice-Chairperson; 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; David Good and Mark Bugher; Town of Russell
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 May 8th Meeting Minutes.
MOTION: (Silbert, Strand) to accept the minutes and place on file as presented. Carried.
4. Monthly Reports.
a. Forestry
1) Department 2017 Budget Update.
Timber Sale Revenues are at $572K for May and on the same pace as 2016. Due to
unanticipated food costs, the food budget for the Summer Tour is over budget.
2) Department 2018 Budget Update.
J. Bodine will be formulating the 2018 and anticipates having something ready to present at
the July meeting.
3) WCFA Summer Tour Update.
To date there are 141 registrations and the original estimate was 120. The agenda was reviewed
and J. Bodine invited the committee to attend the WCFA Executive session meeting on Wednesday.
Guest speakers lined up for the tour are Ron Bergin, CAMBA; Ben Popp, American Birkebeiner;
Todd Naas, WI DNR; Bob Hanson, DNR Crex Meadows; Bob Macreth, Apostle Islands historian
and Bayfield County staff. J. Holmes, Bayfield Co Forester, developed a narrated drone video
presentation of the Barnes Barrens reforestation project.
4) Red Cliff Land Sale Update.
J. Bodine has received the approval from the DNR for the land withdrawal. If grant funds are ready
at the end of the month, the sale will then move forward.
5) Stewardship Application Update.
Waiting for the process of the Red Cliff grant transaction to finalize before moving forward.
b. Parks
Due to suspected fee tube thievery at Big Rock Park, staff is researching options to purchase anti-
thief fee tubes. The expense budget for parks may go over due to the high costs of those tubes.
Restitution of $1,200 due from the robbery at Delta Lake in 2016 has not been received to date.
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c. Trails and Recreation
1) Motorized Trail Updates.
The clubs are working on trail maintenance. A new digital system will soon be in place for
snowmobile clubs to report grooming and maintenance.
2) Non-Motorized Trail Updates.
Two hundred more feet of boardwalk at Lost Creek Falls will be built at the end of this month or
into July. There may be a need for more trail gravel due to high usage.
3) Yurt Updates
The Bayfield yurt is rented for all but four days for the next three months and Cable is picking up
as area groups have entertained more events. Revenues could be at $25K for the year; budget was
set at $12K. Staff will be addressing routine maintenance this week and installing a rain barrel for
an emergency, non-potable water source.
MOTION: (Fickbohm, Silbert) to accept and place on file. Carried.
5. Town of Russell Proposal.
MOTION: (Miller, Silbert) to allow the representatives present from the Town of Russell to speak. Carried.
Mark Bugher, Supervisor and Dave Good, Treasurer, Town of Russell, are proposing to enter an agreement
with the County to exchange lands outside the boundaries of the Town of Russell for County Forest lands
located within the Town. The purpose of the proposal is to rebuild the tax base in the town as 2/3 of the
property is non-taxable.
Discussion: It was suggested the Town develop an MOU to bring to the Committee for consideration.
No action taken.
6. Recreational Use Request. CAMBA.
A request was received from CAMBA to use existing trails located in the Town of Cable for the second
annual Longass Ride mountain bike event on July 15, 2017. The non-competitive event is expected to draw
350 participants.
MOTION: (Silbert, Strand) to approve the CAMBA Longass ride. Carried.
7. Recreational Use Request. American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation.
American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation has requested to use existing trails, located in the Town of Cable, for
the Hayward High School Invitational and Double Pole Derby Citizen Race. The cross-country ski event
would take place on December 30, 2017.
MOTION: (Fickbohm, Silbert) to approve the request. Carried.
8. Access Permit Request. Jonathon Brassow
J. Brassow has tentatively requested a 10-year access permit to private property adjacent to county forest
land located in the Town of Barnes, pending land purchase. J. Bodine explained minimal timber volume
would be removed for which the county would be reimbursed.
MOTION: (Fickbohm, Strand) to grant an access permit. Carried.
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June 12, 2017 Meeting Minutes
9. Access Permit Request. William Hilbert.
W. Hilbert has requested a 10-year renewed access permit.
MOTION: (Strand, Fickbohm) to approve. Carried.
10. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative.
Nothing to report.
11. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:50 PM.
The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, July 10, 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