HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation Committee - Minutes - 5/21/2021 (2)
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 Website: www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
MINUTES
May 21st, 2021 (to be approved)
Present: Fred Strand-Chairperson; Marty Milanowski-Vice-chairperson; David Zepczyk-Co
Board of Supervisor; Charly Ray-Co Board of Supervisor; Pete Tetzner-Citizen
Rep.; Ben Dufford-Co. Conservationist; Melissa Kraft-LWCD Asst; Andrew Teal-AIS
Coord.; Travis Tulowitzky-Cons. Tech., Garett Santora-NRCS; Ramona
Shackleford-NCWMA Coordinator
Absent: Dave Schultz-Wildlife Damage Specialist; Gary Haughn-NRCS; Greg Tetzner-FSA
Rep; Ted Koehler-USFWS
The meeting was called to order by Fred Strand-Chairperson, at 9:00 a.m.
Introductions made round table.
Discussion on Approval of Minutes from February 26th, 2021 meeting:
MOTION: Approval of Minutes (February 26th, 2021) – Marty Milanowski/Dave Zepczyk –
motion carried.
Public Comment: Fred asked if there is anyone who would like to address the committee. None.
Fred closed public comment.
Agency Staff/Partners Reports:
a. NRCS Update: The technician hired to replace Paul J. is no longer working there. Ben
noted our office will help out if we can. Garrett Santora introduced himself. Garrett is
from Dubuque, Iowa, and has spent the last seven years working as a third-party
contractor for NRCS, in Iowa, and also worked in the Wisconsin area before being
recruited with NRCS here.
b. USFWS Update: Ted and Ben working on some project plans.
c. WDAP Update: Dave Schultz provided an updated report which is on file for committee
members to review.
Discussion/Possible Action: Wildlife Damage – Ben discussed the farmers union and WI Bear
Hunters association. Both had agreed that the WDP would be turned back over to the WI DNR,
however, the thinking is that this plan is no longer in the works. Dave is retiring this August and
the current thought is to have APHIS out of Rhinelander take over the WDP for the remaining
year. We need to decide if we want to hire a 4-county person as it has been in the past.
Depending on the final decision at the state level, we will have to look at what route we want to
take regarding the Wildlife Damage Program. In the meantime, Ben will contact Brad Koele and
discuss the possibility of having APHIS, out of Rhinelander, continue the program for the
remaining 2021 budget year. Ashland County would like to hire someone that would be to do Ag
work and the WDAP to make a full-time position. Mary Jo, Ashland Co Conservationist, intends
on applying for funding for that position. Ben and Mary Jo had discussed that possibly that
position could be designated to help with Bayfield County’s Nutrient Management program as
Jason F. from extension office does not have the time to continue to work on it with his other work
priorities. Ashland County LCC meets next Wednesday, May 26th, to discuss the issue further.
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
Ben will update the committee as to further discussions about the potential position and the
WDAP.
The committee heard from Dave Schultz, 4-county wildlife damage coordinator, and his report is
on file.
Discussion/Possible Action: AIS Coordinator / Surface Water Conservation Specialist
Position: DNR is taking away the competitive grant program and allocate money across the
board. We would need to reapply every year for smaller amounts, but it would be more of a
sustainable and non-competitive pot of money and would not require matching funds. Funds will
be less and the 2022 estimated amount we could apply for is around $20,000. Andy noted he
found a few grant possibilities that he could try and apply for additional grant funds. If we cannot
get other funding sources, we may need to ask the county for funding to make up for the portion of
AIS salary that we would fall short of due to the new DNR grant changes.
The Land and Water Conservation Department (LWCD) staffing/allocation funding that we apply
for every year with DATCP covers about one and a half positions. A bill is at the state level to get
more staffing funding. If the bill goes through and DATCP receives more money, then Bayfield Co
LWCD staffing grant would likely be allocated more money that we could possibly make up the
$10,000. Ben noted he will likely have to bring the issue before the personnel committee.
Andy noted he has been working with Travis on mitigation work; storm water management; and is
also taking CAD training so he will be able to start working on additional future projects.
Manure storage ordinance update. The committee had requested more information about what
other counties have done regarding storage ordinances. Ben gave an overview. The county has a
general county storage ordinance in place. Discussions on whether revising the ordinance for
more stricter standards is in favor and, if so, how we want to proceed. Ben discussed the maps
provided. The various maps note ag regulations in the state. The handout compares counties and
whether they have manure ordinances. Ben noted he will look closer at how our county ordinances
compare with the others. Ben discussed the South Fish ordinance that was challenged in the past
and he feels that after discussions that stricter regulations in our ordinance would be a big
challenge at this point.
Antler Ridge Cervid Farm update: Zoning had a closed session meeting last night. It appears
the intention of the owner is to apply for new permits with DATCP to continue to operate the game
farm but at a smaller fenced in area. It’s clear she is in violation on various issues. DATCP and
DNR seem to be working with her.
CWD update: Ben discussed the program and its past success. He noted that Matt Bolen, the
intern the program has had for the last couple years, took a full-time job elsewhere, therefore, he
would not be available this 2021 season. Ben feels that we can manage the dumpster program in-
house and will solicit donations as we have in the past. Dale Johnson contacted him and offered
to pay for one dumpster for this upcoming season. Fred noted that there was feedback from the
last season to put out dumpsters earlier in the season.
Staff reports: Travis gave his staff report, which is on file. He noted there is a good mix of cost-
share projects, including lakeshore projects for 2021. One project he noted was an old concrete
pit. The barn has burned down many years ago and is a huge safety hazard. The landowner
reached out to us for help and signed a cost-share. We have less funding this year but will do the
best we can to assist landowners with as many as projects as we can. Travis provided some
pictures of a few projects. One project was completely done on the ice this past March. The
landowner wanted to take care of erosion that had been occurring. Travis is heading to a meeting
today to finalize the shoreline publication brochure that he has been overseeing.
Travis left meeting at 10:03 a.m.
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
Ben discussed the current grant funding.
Andy reported on his staff report, which is on file. He noted a grant with Partnering with Healthy
Lakes native planting dollars and cost-share Shoreline native planting projects. Also, he discussed
a shoreline stabilization project and a well decommissioning project.
Ramona discussed a new grant award that she received notification on in March and also a DNR
Weed management grant she is waiting on. This week she was notified that we received a large 5
-year Knotweed grant. She discussed interns that were hired, specifically a crew leader and two
interns that they have been working for a couple weeks already. She will be hiring more interns to
start in June. Two will be full time boat wash workers who will work four 10-hour days Thurs-
Sunday.
Melissa gave a brief update on her staff report, which is on file.
Ben gave an update on the various projects he has been working on. Also, he was involved with
the NCWMA intern interview process. He also noted he was involved with a state tech tour hosted
in Vernon County and this year it will likely be held in our county, if possible. He also noted the
tech committee meeting is early June. It was noted that WI Land+Water would possibly have
some funding dollars available for the cost of renting a bus and possibly a meeting room.
Concerns of whether or not we will be able to host a tech tour in October due to possible covid
issues was discussed.
Ben discussed a survey that was recently done by Bayfield County regarding the budget process
request. He noted that water quality was ranked #1 and natural resource ranked top in the survey
as well. He brought up the question on whether we need more funding dollars and/or staffing time
to be set in the budget for example, for things like: Professional consulting/artesian water quality
work, the Carbon credits program with Forestry – revenue and what will be done with the revenue
and possibility of reinvesting our money into natural resources, invasives, etc.
Pigeon Lake update: We had received a summons/complaint to provide some information if
available. It was passed on to the county’s corporation counsel to handle.
Next meeting date: August 20th, 2021, at 9:00 AM.
Meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.
K:\LCC Meetings\Minutes\2020\05-21-21 Minutes LCC.doc
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County