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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 2/17/2020 BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING February 17, 2020 Emergency Operations Center Members Present: Fred Strand, Chairperson; David Zepczyk and Jeffrey Silbert, Larry Fickbohm and Harold Maki Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Lindley Mattson, Office Manager; Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, DNR Liaison 1. Call to Order of Forestry and Parks Committee Meeting. This meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm 2. Public Comment. Chairperson Strand called for public comment. After repeating the call no one came forward. Closed public comment. 3. Approval of the January 13, 2020 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Fickbohm, Zepczyk) to approve the minutes as presented. All: Yes. Carried. 4. Monthly Reports. Discussion of general activities, events, issues and accomplishments. Possible action on report(s) only. a. Forestry (all updates): a) 2019 Budget. Revenues were roughly $861k over budget, fueled by strong timber sale revenues. As a result the mandated 10% was also over by $80k. Expenses were about $1,500 over budget. 2019 Budget amendment will be at the next board meeting. b) 2020 Budget. Timber sale revenues for January was average at roughly $225k. Nothing of significance to report for expenses. c) Red Cliff Land Acquisition (210 Acres). Tribal council approved the Treaty Natural Resources Division’s application. If awarded that grant, it will come back to the committee to agree on final terms before the withdrawal process. d) Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant – Potential Project. Draft legislation came out mid-January that proposed an extension of Stewardship, but with a few adjustments. The two most significant changes proposed in this legislation would have massive impacts on county forest programs. First, the elimination of using the appraised value of land towards the required 50% match, which is something we ran into with our last application. Second, having a more serious impact to county forests, is the cap on the percentage of public land already in a county. As written in the draft, a county would be ineligible for a County Forest Land Acquisition Stewardship grant if the total amount of public lands, already located within a county, was 20% or more of the total acres a county has. Bayfield County is currently at 51% J. Bodine provided a copy of the draft legislation as well as a breakdown of county land ownership. Bodine does not believe this legislation will go through as written. e) Terminated Timber Sale Contract and Agreements – Tri State Logging. Tri State Logging failed to comply with the terms of our timber sale process. He could not supply us with performance bond on any of the three sales he won this past fall (total value of roughly $61k) In doing this, he has been deemed an irresponsible contractor. As a result, a small sale that he was under contract for was terminated and will be combined with a sale we are currently setting up. Of the three sales from this fall’s sale, two were offered to the next highest bidder (both Ashland Mat) and the third, which had no other bids, will be reoffered this spring. Attached is the letter sent to Tri State. b. Parks: J. Bodine briefly went over the development of credit card usage at the campgrounds. Some discussion from committee. More information will be brought to the March meeting. c. Trails and Recreation: a) Motorized Trail Updates: No comments. b) Non-Motorized Trail Updates: i. Fire Hill. No comments. c) Yurt Updates: No comments. d) Events. No comments MOTION: (Silbert, Zepczyk) Receive and place on file. All: Yes. Carried. 5. Bayfield County Forest Comprehensive Land Use Plan Revision: Chapters 100-600 J. Bodine distributed draft chapters 100-600 prior to the meeting for committee members to review. Highlights gone over during the meeting: Chapter 100 Background: Two most important topics of this chapter are: mission statement - who we are, what we do and why (ie recreation, sustainability, climate change, etc) forest certification – sustainable forest management practices and policies. Some discussion from committee on how to handle/view the public comments that come in. Decided that Bodine will gather comments as they come in and forward to committee to review. Chapter 200 General Administration: Explaining staff, committee, budget structure, trainings, facilities. Most sections reference the appendix. This chapter discusses relationships with tribal nations. Chapter 300 Description of Forest and Management Planning: Topography, soils, water resources, forest types, tables included in this section. Public ownership within the county was discussed. Chapter 400 Count Forest Ownership: County forest blocking, how we acquire land, entry and withdrawal into county forest laws, easements, access permits. Chapter 500 Land Management and Use: Timber sale establishment process; prepare, advertise, prospectus, awarding sales, contracts, etc. Copies of the document templates will be in the appendix. Some more detail on access permits – some discussion on increasing the cost of access permits. Currently at $60 per ¼ mile, draft proposes increase to $100 per ¼ acre. Committee decided to leave the verbiage general to say, “Fee to be determined by committee.” Chapter 600 Protection: Addresses prescribed fire, protection and control, pests and pathogens; gypsy moth, oak wilt, insects and invasive species. This section also goes over deer browse and their potential negative impacts on county forests. MOTION: (Maki, Silbert) Approve the draft chapters 100-600 for public review. All: Yes. Carried. 6. Bayfield County Comprehensive Land Use Plan Chapter 700 Access management – how we address our primary, secondary and forest roads in the county. Chapter 800 Timber management: forest management, aesthetics, special management areas, old growth, monitoring all things management. Chapter 900 covers recreation in Bayfield County. J. Bodine has discussed with committee members: climate change, old growth, aesthetics, sustainability, recreation, special management areas. Now is the time work out details on any of these topics before the draft chapters come out for 700-900. Some discussion on old growth, what is considered old growth. 7. Bayfield County Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2020-2024 This document lists municipal, tribal, non-profit management recreation facilities as current status as well as what might be required in the future. This has gone to M. Motiff (Tourism) for review. If any changes it will be brought back to the committee for review before being sent to the board. MOTION: (Fickbohm, Maki) Approve the plan and recommend to the full county board. All: Yes. Carried. 8. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Liaison – no comments The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, March 9, 2020 at 6:00 P.M. at Bayfield County Courthouse, County Board Room, Second Floor, 117 E. 5th Street, Washburn, Wisconsin. Meeting adjourned at 7:18 PM Submitted by, Lindley Mattson