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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 10/9/2017BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING October 9, 2017 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Fred Strand, Vice-Chairperson; Harold Maki; and Larry Fickbohm Members Absent: Jeffrey Silbert Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Asst. Administrator and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison; Chad Abel, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; and Brenda Garrett, Bayfield County Parks Campground Manager 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. No public members present. 3. Approval of the September 11, 2017 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Strand, Fickbohm) to approve the minutes as presented. Carried. 4. Land Acquisition Proposal: Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Chad Abel described the proposal made by the Red Cliff Tribe to purchase approximately 80 acres of County Forest Land located near Sand Point Rd in the Town of Bayfield. Currently, the Tribe is in the process of securing funding on just the 80 acres but additional funding may be possible to purchase the entire quarter section. This property meets the grant requirements to protect wetlands. To apply for the grant, Abel requests a firm price to be able to include in their grant application. H. Maki is concerned that if the land is sold, then this property would be closed to the general public. Because of the potential conflict of interest, H. Maki is related to the adjacent landowner, S. Miller asked if he would like to recuse himself. H. Maki declined to do so. It was pointed out that the County could use the proceeds from this sale in another Stewardship grant, thus potentially doubling any acreage lost via the sale. Also, the grant application that the Tribe is seeking is scored higher if general public access is maintained rather than closed off. F. Strand also has a preference that the property remains open for all of the publics’ use and the value of land would have to be determined by an analysis of fair market value before a price could be given. Timber sale cooperation with Red Cliff tribe was discussed. To date, one large potential sale is yet blocked from access; however, it is possible the issue could be reviewed again. MOTION: (Fickbohm, Miller) to allow Red Cliff Tribe to pursue the grant with endorsement of the Forestry Committee and to set the acreage price at $1,000.00/acre. Discussion: F Strand would like to see further justification for the $1,000/acre amount. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3 October 9, 2017 Meeting Minutes AMENDED MOTION: (Strand, Fickbohm) that the price [per acre] is to be determined based on information gathered from comparable appraisals. H. Maki reiterated his point of what is currently public land should stay public land. F. Strand clarified that an appraisal is not necessary; just enough information to determine the fair price by comparing comparable sales/appraisals. J. Bodine was given the authority to investigate comparables to determine a fair market value. Once determined, J. Bodine may forward the dollar amount to the Tribe. Vote on amendment: Yes: Fickbohm, Strand. No: Maki. Carried. SECOND AMENDED MOTION: (Strand, Maki) that it is our preference that the property be open for all the public to use. Yes: All. No: none. Carried. Vote on the full motion in amended form: Yes: All. No: None. Carried. 5. 2017 Bayfield County Campground and Parks Summary. Brenda Garrett reported the improvements made at all the campgrounds over the summer; added mooring dock, steps, outdoor storage and parking expansion near dumpster at Twin Bear. All of the Twin Bear (19) and Delta Lake (13) designated seasonal sites have been reserved for 2018; marking an increase in interest at Delta Lake. Free boat launches on Tuesdays have been very well received. The end of season improvements will be to remove stumps and handicapped ramp and handrail, to give the beach a facelift, to add handicapped fishing deck and road grading. Projects at Big Rock this year was to replace damaged picnic tables and remove hazardous trees. Painting is planned. Atkins Lake has new picnic tables and a new dock. She noted the net revenue goal of $1000,000 has been exceeded for this year. She thanked everyone for their support and invited everyone to visit the parks. 6. Monthly Reports. a) Forestry 1) Department 2017 Budget Update. The timber sale revenues collected in September were approximately $504,000. Expenses are normal. 2) Red Cliff Land Sale Update. J. Bodine reported that corporation counsel notified him that the documents for finalizing the Frog Bay 80-acre land sale will be completed next week. 3) Forest Certification Audit – Preliminary Results The audit was completed mid-August and a report was received recently from Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI). J. Bodine reported that the audit was a success 4) Bayfield County recently was awarded the state DNR’s Milt Reinke award; for a third year in a row; a testament to maximizing the sustainable harvest of the forest. b. Parks. The end of the season is near; mostly weekenders coming in now. Revenues to date are at an all-time high of $102,500. Investments since 2011 at Twin Bear have been roughly $140,000 and $40,000 at Delta Lake. The challenges have been in increasing mid-week camping. In the past over sixty-five percent of revenues were from seasonal campers and now it is roughly 50/50 (seasonal versus transient). c. Trails and Recreation 1) Motorized Trail Updates. Clubs are actively scouting the trails. The snowmobile maintenance grant amount for the next season has been increased from $250/mile to $300/mile. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3 October 9, 2017 Meeting Minutes 2) Non-Motorized Trail Updates. The new access trail to the Bayfield yurt is completed; removing most foot traffic from the groomed ski trail. Lost Creek Falls trail is scheduled for additional work this month. 3) Yurt Updates. Bayfield is at 73% and Cable is 53% occupancy in September; anticipating doubling the net budgeted revenues for the year. MOTION: (Maki, Strand) to receive and place on file the monthly reports. Carried. 7. Fall Timber Sale Offering. The fall offering has 28 tracts totaling 2,221 acres. A minimum of one million in sales is included in the offer. There is one tract that if it does not sell this offering, it will be sold directly. MOTION: (Maki, Fickbohm) to approve these sales for the fall offering. Carried. 8. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. Bayfield County has been very productive with timber productivity and the accomplishments are recognized by receiving the Milt Reinke award. A recent partnership meeting brought forward all the activities going on in the county forest; not just timber sales. H. Maki proposed the county provide an appreciation dinner for all of the timber producers. 9. Executive Session. MOTION: (Strand, Fickbohm) @ 7:03 PM to enter in and out of Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e), for the purposes of 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. Carried. a. Approval of the August 14, 2017 Executive Session Minutes. b. 2018-2020 Campground Manager Contract. 19.85(1)(e). Discussion and possible action. c. Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s Land Acquisition Proposal. 19.85(1)(e). Discussion and possible action. 10. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 7:25 PM. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting and timber sale bid opening will be held Monday, November 13, 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