HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 4/9/2018
BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING
April 9, 2018
County Board Room
Members Present: Shawn Miller, Chairperson; Fred Strand, Vice-Chairperson and 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: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison; Todd Naas, WI DNR, Wildlife Biologist
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.
Chairman Miller called for public comment; no one from the general public were in attendance. Public
comment was closed.
3. Approval of the March 12, 2018 Meeting Minutes.
MOTION: (Silbert, Fickbohm) to accept the minutes as presented. All: Yes. Carried.
4. Wildlife Opening Maintenance Request: Todd Naas, WDNR Wildlife Biologist.
T. Naas reported on the past year’s accomplishments of the annual wildlife opening maintenance projects
located on county forest land. Eighty-one of the one hundred twenty-eight goal openings were maintained
by hand clearing and mowing. The third year of wet conditions prevented access to maintain 24 of those
openings. Twelve openings were treated with herbicide. The plan for 2018, is to maintain 121 openings
(114 acres) in the Towns of Hughes, Bell and Clover.
MOTION: (Silbert, Strand) to support the wildlife opening maintenance requested by Todd Naas. All:
Yes. Carried.
5. Monthly Reports.
A. Forestry (all updates):
1) 2018 Budget.
J. Bodine reports that March timber sale revenues were approximately $540,000 and the total is
on pace with the past two years. The prediction is $4+ million for the year. Expenses are normal
for the first quarter.
2) Red Cliff Land Sale (80 acres).
The request for withdrawal from CFL of the 80 acre Sand River property is still under review
by the DNR. Other details are in place to move forward with the sale of the property to the
Tribe once the decision is received.
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3) Stewardship Grant.
The application was preliminarily approved and appraisals are nearly complete. The initial
Bibon Swamp land appraisal (Compass Land Consultant) came in at approx. half of what was
expected. The DNR ordered second appraisals on the Bibon (match) and Ceres properties. The
second appraisal is expected at the end of April. With lower than hoped valuations, this grant
could be approximately half of what was initially expected.
4) Siskiwit River Preserve.
Closing on this property is expected around the beginning of May, assuming the NOAA grant
award is formally awarded. A second grant of roughly $10,000 is available that could be used
for a parking lot, trail improvements and signage. Once the award letter is received, the
department will begin work on preparing the property for public use, which will first require
planning and collaboration with the Town of Bell and Bayfield Regional Conservancy.
5) Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine.
An informational agenda item to make the committee aware of the recent statewide EAB
quarantine. To date, EAB has not been discovered in Bayfield County. Ash wood products
may be hauled freely within Wisconsin but restrictions are applied if a state line is crossed.
6) Oak Wilt.
The WI DNR is taking the lead on public outreach to help raise awareness of the disease. Oak
wilt has not yet been discovered in Bayfield County; however, it has been found 6 miles to the
south of county forest land near Cable. In an attempt to reduce the spread of the disease, the
Department has incorporated no harvesting restrictions (April 15 to July 15) on current and
future timber sales, in the Cable block, with a significant oak component. The restriction
addresses the period of time when the primary vector of overland spread of the disease (a sap
feeding beetle) is most active.
B. Parks.
Due to poor weather conditions, a delayed campground opening date could be announced. Manager
Brenda Garrett has returned and is in the process of preparation for the season. Some dead branches
will be trimmed from a large white pine at Big Rock campground also.
C. Trails and Recreation.
1) Motorized Trails.
It was a successful winter season and the Snowmobile Alliance spent approximately $200,000
to maintain trails. If dry enough, ATV trails will open around Memorial Day.
Local work on the digitized state funded trail network map is nearing completion. Work has
begun on the annual DNR grant applications.
A portion of the snowmobile trail in Cable may require a re-route. The trail currently travels
West off Parker Road onto U.S. Park Service land and then through private property. The
private property portion has been closed by the owner. Initial discussions with the Park Service
have also not been favorable. In addition to not allowing a re-route, we have been informed that
motorized trails will not be allowed on their property at all. To maintain connections, we may
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have to route the trail onto Randysek Road, which is not desirable. The road is maintained
(plowed) and traffic is frequent. No alternative safe trail has been located.
2) Non-Motorized Trails.
Nothing new to report.
3) Yurts.
Occupancy at the Bayfield yurt was 77% in March and 52% in Cable. The new, third yurt,
arrived last week.
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Public Services (oversee the UDC program) agreed to
grandfather in the first two yurts. It was determined that Bayfield County completed due
diligence to secure the proper permits. The local UDC inspector will follow up with a
confirmation document to that effect. The third (new) yurt will be required to follow UDC
protocols as part of construction.
MOTION: (Maki, Silbert) to receive and place reports on file. All: Yes. Carried.
6. Spring Timber Sale Offering.
Of the 30 tracts (2,623 acres) of which 3 tracts (171 acres) are re-offers for the spring timber sale offering.
The minimum bid value is $1.22+ million. The maps are now two pages. The harvest requirements and a
small inset map are now included on Page 2 of each. The bid sheet is a separate page.
MOTION: (Silbert, Maki) to accept as proposed. All: Yes. Carried.
7. Recreational Use Request. Seeley Lion’s Club. Discussion and possible action regarding a request to
utilize trails in the Town of Cable for the 24th annual Pre-Fat Mountain Bike Race on August 18,
2018.
J. Bodine explained that the route is changed each year and it happens to include a portion of county forest
land in 2018.
MOTION: (Silbert, Fickbohm) to recommend approval. All: Yes. Carried.
8. Recreational Use Request. Cable Area Resources in Emergencies (C.A.R.E.), Discussion and possible
action regarding a request to utilize trails in the Town of Cable for an annual 10k running event on
July 4, 2018.
J. Bodine recommends approval. No discussion.
MOTION: (Maki, Fickbohm) to approve. All: Yes. Carried.
9. Amendment to the Bayfield County Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Discussion and
possible action regarding an amendment to the 2015-2019 Outdoor Recreation Plan, to include the
Bayfield County Fairgrounds.
J. Bodine explained adding the fairground campgrounds to the Plan will allow for future grant application
considerations. He will research whether the shooting range should be included in the Plan also and will be
include on the May agenda if needed and ready to present.
MOTION: (Strand, Silbert) to recommend approval to amend the Outdoor Recreation Plan to include the
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fairgrounds. All: Yes. Carried.
10. Recognizing Shawn Miller Upon His Retirement from the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors,
Including Eight Years as Chairman of the Forestry and Parks Committee.
S. Miller was recognized and thanked for his years of service and direction while on the Forestry and Parks
Committee and the many accomplishments that have been brought to fruition during those years.
11. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative.
J. LeBouton expressed thanks to S. Miller also.
The meeting adjourned at 6:59 P.M.
The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting and timber sale bid opening will be held Monday, May 14,
2018 at 6:00 P.M. at Bayfield County Courthouse, County Board Room, Second Floor, 117 E. 5th Street,
Washburn, Wisconsin.
Submitted by,
Pat Bruno