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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 11/13/2017BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING November 13, 2017 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Fred Strand, Vice-Chairperson; Harold Maki; Jeffrey Silbert; and Larry Fickbohm Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Asst. Administrator and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Eric Sirrine, WI DNR Team Leader; Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison 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 6:01 P.M. 2. Public Comment. S. Miller called for public comment. Yvette Fleming, citizen of the Town of Bell. She recommends that Bayfield County Forestry & Parks Committee recommends the full county board purchases the 100-acre parcel known as Siskiwit River Conservation Protection Project. The project would provide public access for recreation and conservation. Allen Hahn, citizen of Bell Township and owner of property that adjoins the Swenson-Surowiec property. He requests that the Committee supports [the purchase] as it would be good for the county and the township. Susan Keachie, resident of Cornucopia and former member of the planning commission of the Town of Bell. She was disappointed with the Town of Bell board seemingly rejected the idea that the planning commission’s comprehensive plan embraced this project. She is in favor of the project. Brent Surowiec, the property owner with his wife Sherry Swenson- Surowiec of the Siskiwit River Property. He shared the history of the property. Arvid Swenson immigrated from Sweden and settled in Cornucopia in 1943. The family started a cabin business in the 1960’s. A tragic fire took the lives of two family members in 2015 who were the cabin owners. The surviving family would like the land to be conserved. He contacted the BRC to start the project. The property provides old growth timber, boreal forest, mixed deciduous trees, deep ravines, almost one mile of the Siskiwit River a Class 2 trout stream, and cascading waterfalls. The family encourages the County to move forward with the project to preserve and to continue to provide public access to this special parcel. Jayne Nortin; Ehlers Store owner, Cornucopia and adjacent land owner. The project [offers] protection of a great resource and has an economic development [advantage] to it. The public enjoys the area’s quiet places and she encourages protection and preservation. Kathleen Russell, resident of Town of Washburn, property owner in the Town of Bell and owner of Apostle Islands Realty. She encourages the Committee to recommend that the County Board purchases the Swenson-Surowiec property. She feels to do so would provide sustainability of tourism and forestry. Also, conservation of this unique natural resource is important. Bayfield County has shown expertise to steward and manage properties like this. There are benefits to the people of Bayfield County and all other living creatures and the non-living to have the County take over ownership of the property now. Fracturing of a Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 5 November 13, 2017 Meeting Minutes such a unique parcel (removing public access), would be a great loss to the county. S. Miller called for any other public comments. There being no further public comment, the Chair closed public comment. 3. Approval of the October 9, 2017 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Maki, Fickbohm) to approve the minutes as presented. Carried. 4. Fall Timber Sale Bid Opening. J. Bodine explained that a bid may be pulled out if done so prior to the reading of the bids for the tract. J. Bodine read the 121 timber sale bids as they were opened. Twenty-eight tracts were offered and five of these received no bids. J. Bodine explained that the policy for a sale that has not sold for two sales is that it can be sold directly at the sale’s minimum appraised prices or re-offered. The total unofficial sold value is $1.5 million. MOTION: (Strand, Fickbohm) to accept the apparent high bids. Carried. 5. Monthly Reports. a) Forestry 1) Department 2017 Budget Update. The total spring and fall bid for 2017 is $3.62 million; one of the lowest for the last few years. Regarding the unsold sales, the committee recommended re-offering these sales for bid in the next month. The bid opening will take place at the December committee meeting. J. Bodine also explained that if a change is made in a sale detail prior to re-offer, the sale is then in new sale status and not subject to the direct sale status of selling at the minimum listed bid prices. The timber sale revenues collected in October were approximately $346,000; on pace for $5.0 million for the year. Expenses are normal. A budget amendment will be coming in January to increase the 10% to the Towns payment. 2) Red Cliff Land Sale Update. i. Blueberry Road (Frog Bay) Parcel. The $80,000 payment has been received and this sale is completed. ii. Sand Point Road Parcel. The Red Cliff Tribe is still considering purchasing the 80-acre parcel. The grant will no longer be pursued, but the Tribe may appropriate internal funds for the purchase. J. Bodine anticipates that Chad Abel, Red Cliff Tribe, will make a presentation at a future Committee meeting. 3) Xcel Energy New Transmission Line Update. J. Bodine referenced a letter received from Xcel that is included in the meeting packets. Of note is that Xcel is required to receive approval from Bayfield County to construct a line on County owned land. It can be expected that any residents who are in opposition will apply action to the County as the eminent domain law does not pertain to county owned land. Concern was expressed by J. Silbert regarding the proposed Xcel power transmission line impeding a line of site view from either of the Bayfield yurts or by causing an issue with existing recreation trails on County land. J. Bodine has reviewed the proposed lines and found that no issues are anticipated but will provide a map for the Committee’s review. J. Silbert also learned that areas Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 5 November 13, 2017 Meeting Minutes served by Bayfield Electric Cooperative and run across Xcel proposed lines, that Bayfield Electric must bury the line. b. Parks. This was an exceptional year from the parks standpoint with revenues at a record $104,011. Big Rock attendance was up and Twin Bear day use was exceptional. The facilities are in good shape at the end of the season. An old access ramp to the beach at Delta Lake is slated for repair. Tree trimming is planned at Big Rock. Brenda Garrett signed the three-year manager contract. c. Trails and Recreation 1) Motorized Trail Updates. A substantial re-route project of Trail 13, near Pub ‘n Grub, is in process due to private land owners closing access to the existing trail. A couple of land owners have given permission to about one mile of trail as a re-route solution with long term permissions. 2) Non-Motorized Trail Updates. The Lost Creek Falls trail is nearly completed with the addition of 200 feet of boardwalk and handrails added to a crossing. Approximately $40,000 in improvements have been made. Trail counters have tallied approximately 1,500 users per month (during peak season). 3) Yurt Updates. The yurt use continues to be phenomenal. The Bayfield occupancy was at 94% and Cable 50% in October. November is currently 30-40%, each. Weekends are booked. A second yurt site near the Bayfield yurt has been identified and the site is being prepared. A variance was granted by the state allowing the second Bayfield yurt to be built. A soil test will be completed in the spring. Siskiwit Falls Project Update: The Town of Bell has formally declined ownership of the property. The potential for county ownership is still being studied by the department. It is anticipated that use will be high. Also, the department’s ability to maintain it must be part of the analysis. A Stewardship grant will not be considered as part of the purchase; however, a Great Lakes Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program grant (CELCP) and Bayfield Regional Conservancy funds are still viable options. A trails contractor has visited the parcel to estimate potential costs associated with initial sustainable trail development (assuming high use pressures), which could be a $60,000+ investment. Also, if the property is owned by Bayfield County, it may be eligible for entry in county forest law (as special use). If so, then 100% of the appraised value could be used as a match in a future Stewardship grant for county forest land acquisition. L. Fickbohm requested that the impact to area tourism is included in the merits of the project. J. Silbert encourages use of grants to purchase due to the costs involved in the preparation of the trail. He also recognizes the concerns of the citizens and encourages consideration when making the decisions. F. Strand supports the project especially if gifted to the County; inquired if there would be recreational grants to support trail preparation; accommodating public use would be more important than maximizing; also that if a “friends” group were to form it would be a welcomed addition. Once concerns are addressed, the Siskiwit Falls Project will appear on a future Committee agenda for consideration. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 4 of 5 November 13, 2017 Meeting Minutes MOTION: (Silbert, Maki) to receive the monthly reports as presented. Carried. 6. Recreational Use Request. Mt. Borah Foundation, LLC. Mt. Borah Foundation has requested to use existing trails in Cable for the 2018 Mt. Borah epic mountain bike race on June 9, 2018. MOTION: (Silbert, Fickbohm) to approve the recreation use request. Carried. 7. Recreational Use Request. North End Ski Club. North End Ski Club has requested to use existing trails in Cable for the North End Classic cross country ski race on February 11, 2018. MOTION: (Strand, Fickbohm) to approve the recreation use request. Carried. 8. Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant for County Forest Land Acquisition. J. Bodine explained the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant. As per that grant, the county can use the appraised value of county owned property towards the required 50% match. Ultimately, the state pays the county (through the grant process), either 50% (if the property is owned for more than one year) or 100% (if owned for less than one year) of the appraised value of all eligible match properties. Four parcels had been identified as potential match lands, in addition to using the $80,000 from the recent land sale to Red Cliff Tribe. Of note is that if the land is used as a match, it must be enrolled into county forest land (CFL). J. Bodine went on to describe examples of potential purchasing scenarios. The primary match parcel is the roughly 3,000 acres in the Bibon swamp. These parcels have been deemed eligible for enrollment in CFL as special use. If the Bibon swamp property is included, as well as the three previously owned parcels, the newly acquired fourth parcel, and the $80,000 from the sale to Red Cliff, the grant could have significant buying power, contingent upon the appraised value of the Bibon swamp. Properties for potential acquisition are targeted in and around the Bayfield peninsula. Most of the properties that were purchased with the last Stewardship grant were pine stands north of Barnes. Elements taken into consideration for purchase are position within the blocking, timber management potential (both immediate and long term), impacts to accessibility of the forest, potential for public use, recreational opportunities, etc. All are being analyzed as part of consideration for purchase. The Bibon swamp is in Grandview Township where there has not been CFL before and could result in up to $8,000/year to the Town. Primary discussion points included: concern over using all available properties as a match; support applying for a Stewardship grant, but just not one that’s so large; concern turning the Bibon swamp into CFL solely to give the Town of Grandview 10% timber sale revenues; to caution selling county land for $1,000 acre (to the Tribe) and then buy public land elsewhere is objectionable; support maximizing a large purchase of private land citing someone else will buy it; support the county entering the Bibon swamp into CFL as special use, which will, in part, benefit the Town of Grandview, and to use it as a match for a stewardship grant; to increase the potential for public recreational use via a purchase; to purchase now when the funding potential is greatest, especially the industrial owned parcels; and to take advantage of the grant funding. MOTION: (F. Strand, J. Silbert) to direct Jason to proceed as outlined in the agenda narrative for this meeting for 100% of the land, then come back to the committee to review and to consider what he develops and move forward with it. Yes: 3: No: 2. Carried. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 5 of 5 November 13, 2017 Meeting Minutes 9. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative. J. LeBouton introduced Eric Sirrine, the new supervisor in the Wisconsin DNR Washburn office. J. Silbert commented that the Discover Wisconsin television crew is currently producing a story in the Cable area and the yurts will be part of the television special. 10. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 8:08 PM. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting and timber re-sale bid opening will be held Monday, December 11, 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