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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation Committee - Minutes - 6/29/2012 Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County Bayfield County Land & Water Conservation Department 615 2nd Ave. East; PO Box 126 Washburn, WI 54891 _____________________________________________________________________________________________  Phone: (715) 373-6167  FAX: (715) 373-6127  Website: www.bayfieldcounty.org MINUTES (to be approved) June 29, 2012 Present: Bucky Jardine, Chair; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chair (9:00-10:52); Neil Schultz; Bill Bussey, Becky Anderson, FSA Rep; Peter Tetzner (9:02),. Staff: Ben Dufford, Dave Schultz, Travis Tulowitzky, Jeremy Bates (9:08), Jennifer Schierman Absent: NONE Partners: Karl Kastrosky, Zoning; Al Pribnow, WCC; Dale Peacock, Grazing Spec. (9:08-9:52); Gary Haughn, NRCS (9:11) Public Attendance: None 1) Call to order: Bucky Jardine, Chair (9:00 am) 2) Introduction of new committee members 3) Discussion/Possible Action: Nomination(s)/Approval(s) of LCC Chair and Vice-Chair NS – nominated Bucky Jardine for Chairperson, no other nominations were made. Motion - elect Bucky Jardine as LCC Chairperson – Bussey/Schultz – carried. BB – nominated Marco Bichanich as LCC Vice-Chairperson, no other nominations were made. Motion - elect Marco Bichanich as LCC Vice- Chairperson – Bussey/Jardine – carried 4) Approval of Minutes: Motion approval of June 29, 2012 LCC meeting minutes by Bussey/Tetzner – carried 5) Public Comment - NONE 6) Discussion / Possible Action: Increase 2013 WI Cons. Congress (WCC) budget – Karl Kastrosky and Allan Pribnow: Request $1,800 be budgeted in 2013 for WCC volunteers to cover expenses. Would like BC to be the pilot program for other counties to follow. A lot of the work goes towards working with youth. Take care of some exp., not set-up programs, guiding force to DNR, fishing/archery programs. – promote youth involvement. Five (5) members of the WCC for our region. Some costs: mileage, lodging. This is a valuable use of funding. TT: Are local conservation clubs contacts? Possibly look to Co-Op with other Dept’s (IE: Forestry). Jerry Merryfield could write up summary of things the WCC provides. Committee recommended this item be touched on during next reg. meeting within proposed budget. 7) Agency Staff / Partners Reports: a. NRCS Update: GH – Reporting on recent flooding. Looking for information on farm (private land) related damage. Restoring may be funding available a damage assessment would need to be done. A lot of crop loss due to saturation of fields. Direct people to NRCS for more information. Farm Bill needs to be passed by Oct. 1, 2012 (fiscal yr for NRCS). Money may not be released until bill is passed which may cause delay in program funding. Reduction will be made, approx. 14 people will be lost statewide. There is part-time clerical help, covering 4 counties which is very helpful to the agency in their office. b. USFWS Update: NONE c. WDNR Update: NONE d. BRWA Update: NONE e. Others: Moved from #10: DP: Grazing Specialist – 4 county area (ABDI) mainly worked w/PRI- RU-TA for almost 2 years. Reported that not a lot is going on and is in the process of phasing out of position. Funding is from DATCP & PRI-RU-TA. Most work has been done in BC & Douglas. There is an office space for Grazing Spec. in the Ashland County office. New computer in Ashland office was purchased. Dale will provide support/back-up once new person on board or more information is provided regarding programs. Would be good if someone could get on board right away and Dale could be a support. Most work has been done with Beef producers. A lot of potential. The grazing spec. is focused and able to provide great information for producers. 8) Wildlife Damage Program Update: DS – on file 9) Discussion / Possible Action: Budget Amendment Resolution: Motion LCC recommends forwarding Resolution to full County board for approval BB/MB – carried. 10) Bayfield County Grazing Update - Dale Peacock 11) National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant Proposal Update: BD - $12,000 to go toward Tech/Support staff which will help offset budget. 12) 2012 Agroforestry Project with U.W. Extension / USDA National Agroforestry Center: BD – Provide handout introducing Agroforestry. Fish Creek Watershed will be the focus area. Hazelnut is a possible agroforestry crop. Jason Fishbach (WI Ext), is the point person for the project and he and Ben will design and work with contractors on the installations. 13) 2013 Budget Discussion / Direction: BD – provided a brief summary of how funding is obtained for LWCD. In addition to DATCP funding, several grants/agreements are sought out to help off-set staff funding needs. 14) 2012 Project Update: TT – Town of Eileen has 5 wetland basins in the works, 1st big one this year. Some draws are: wildlife and “slow the flow”, which is something the landowner choose to pursue. This job is funded by three sources which really helps the landowner financially. Other projects are mostly agri related. 15) Financial Report – on file 16) LWCD Staff Reports: a. Jeremy Bates, AIS Coordinator – on file b. Jennifer Schierman, Clerk I – on file c. Travis Tulowitzky, Land Use Specialist – on file d. Ben Dufford, County Conservationist – on file 17) Other business as authorized by law - NONE 18) Next meeting date: Friday, August 24, 2012 (9:00 a.m.) 19) Adjourn – 11:25 K:\LCC Meetings\Minutes\2012\06_29_12_Minutes.doc