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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation Committee - Minutes - 8/20/2021 (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 August 20th, 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.; Greg Tetzner-FSA Rep; Ben Dufford-Co. Conservationist; Melissa Kraft- LWCD Asst; Andrew Teal-AIS Coord.; Travis Tulowitzky-Cons. Tech., Ramona Shackleford-NCWMA Coordinator Absent: Wildlife Damage Specialist; Gary Haughn-NRCS; Ted Koehler-USFWS; Eddie Shea-DNR Wildlife Biologist The meeting was called to order by Fred Strand-Chairperson, at 9:00 a.m. Discussion on Approval of Minutes from May 21st, 2021, meeting: MOTION: Approval of Minutes (May 21st, 2021) – Marty Milanowski/Dave Zepczyk – motion carried. Public Comment: Fred asked if there was anyone in the public who would like to address the committee, hearing none, Fred closed public comment. Agency Staff/Partners Reports: a. NRCS Update: Garrett Santora is no longer working at the NRCS office. Ben noted our office is helping when needed. Travis did the oversight work on the partnered projects. b. USFWS Update: None. c. WDNR Update: Eddie Shea is the new area Wildlife Biologist. He was unable to attend however, he plans on attending a future meeting to introduce himself to the committee. d. WDAP Update: (Included in the below WDP agenda item.) Discussion/Possible Action- Budget Amendment Resolution-Request to amend the Bayfield County LWCD 2021 Budget: Ben noted that the amendments are needed for additional grant dollars awarded after the 2021 budget was submitted. The amendments include the USFS GLRI Weed grant, and the DNR Knotweed Control grant for an increase to those expense accounts as well as an increase in the same amount of those revenue accounts. Motion: by Marty Milanowski, 2nd by Pete Tetzner to forward the Budget Amendment Resolution on Request to Amend the Bayfield County Land & Water Conservation 2021 Budget, to the full County Board for approval. Motion carried. Discussion/Possible Action-Resolution on DNR Lake Monitoring & Protection Network Grant Bayfield County Aquatic Invasive Species Project 2022: Ben noted that the resolution presented is required to apply for the next round of grant funding for the AIS program. Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County Motion: by Charly Ray, 2nd by Marty Milanowski, to forward the DNR Lake Monitoring & Protection Network Grant Bayfield County Aquatic Invasive Species Project 2022 to the full County Board for approval. Motion carried. Discussion/Possible Action: Wildlife Damage: Dave Schultz retired as the Wildlife Damage Specialist on August 13, 2021. Before Dave’s departure, he did provide us with a WDAP Budget worksheet for 2022 estimated costs to be reviewed and approved for signature if Bayfield County determines to partner with Ashland County LWCD for hiring a new Wildlife Damage Specialist. Bayfield County entered into an agreement with Wildlife Services to finish out the duties of the Wildlife Damage Specialist through the rest of the 2021 budget year. The Land Conservation Committee was asked for their recommendation for the 2022 budget year to determine whether Bayfield County should partner with Ashland County LWCD to hire someone for a Wildlife Damage Program (WDP) Specialist or if Bayfield County should contract with Wildlife Services for 2022. If Bayfield County partners with Ashland Co LWCD the Wildlife Damage Specialist position would be a little different than the position that Dave Schultz had held. Mary Jo, Ashland Co LWCD Conservationist, secured a NACD grant for approximately $85,000, for a position that may approximately work part-time as the WDP Specialist & part-time as a Nutrient Management Specialist and the times spent doing each position is in discussion, but it would be split between Bayfield, Ashland, Iron County (Douglas Co has advised they intend to contract with Wildlife Services for 2022). It was noted that the bear trap amount is county specific. The projected cost for bear trapping is a fixed cost/set rate to provide bear trapping. Bayfield County’s estimate cost for the 2022 budget for Bear Abatement is $4,050. The amount is calculating from an average of the last 5 years. The committee said they did not want to make a formal motion at this time on the decision, however, there was committee consensus to move forward toward partnering with Ashland County for the 2022 budget year for the Wildlife Damage Program but would like an update at the next meeting. It was also noted Mary Jo may want the person to start before the end of 2021. Ben explained a question on Farmland Preservation eligibility, noting that it has been very difficult finding any eligible landowner to agree to the Farmland Preservation program in Bayfield County as it seems they feel the incentive is not enough for them to sign onto it. It was also noted that if we did have landowners that were interested in Farmland Preservation program that an agronomist would be the one really needed to work with those landowners if they signed up for it. Our department does not have one on staff. CWD Program 2021 update: Ben gave a brief update that our main focus will be on making the dumpsters available for the deer hunting season for carcass disposal. We do not plan on hiring an intern this year as we can manage the dumpster program in-house. We will begin to solicit donations soon as we have in the past. He also noted that a private landowner offered to pay for the cost of renting one dumpster for this upcoming season. Annual Cervid Farm Inspection plan/update: Ben noted he spoke with Rob-Zoning Dept., regarding doing annual inspections to check in on the Cervid farms in Bayfield County. Ben talked to both farms and both said they haven’t brought any new animals in. They are required to report to the county if they bring any in. Also, one of the farms had fence citations issued last year. Both farms are open to the inspections and Ben and Rob plan to go to both. Antler Ridge Cervid Farm update: Ben gave a re-cap of some issues with the farm in the past and he said it sounds like some issues remain with DATCP – waiting for a response on the county’s open records request. Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County Discussion/Possible Action: AIS Coordinator / Surface Water Conservation Specialist Position: Discussion regarding: DNR changed the competitive grant program funding to allocating specific set dollar amounts across the board to each county. Funds are therefore less and Bayfield County estimates they will be applying for the available $20,090.27 amount for 2022. The grant is due November 1st, 2021, and counties will likely get notified late December if they are awarded the grant dollars. If we get the funding it is estimated that approximately $17,250.00 of it could be utilized towards Andy’s AIS position. This amount is only a portion of his total wage and, therefore, the county is being asked for budget dollars to fund the remaining portion of his wages. Andy has been doing surface water work for LWCD and Bayfield County has budgeted for half of his position the last couple years for Surface Water Conservation Specialist position. His position as a full time Bayfield County employee for 2022 is estimated at $69,872.38. Mark and Ben discussed that if the county funds more of the position he told Ben that he would like to see the position continue 50/50, (AIS & Surface Water Conservation Specialist). Fred asked Andy where he feels the work is more needed or if it’s a 50/50 need. Andy said he believed that there is more of a need for Surface Water work vs. AIS. He did note that education is a big part of the AIS work. Ben noted we received an increase in our grant dollars of almost a $30,000 increase in DATCP staffing dollars that we apply for every year. It was noted that some of that increase could offset the lack of funding we typically get for the AIS grant position. The committee consensus was supportive of the county making the position to transition Andy’s position for work doing both AIS and Surface Water work to a fully funded county position. Motion by Marty Milanowski, 2nd by Dave Zepczyk, to recommend this position transition as a county position and forward to appropriate Personnel and County Board for review. Motion carried. Discussion and Possible Action: 2022 Budget Proposal: LWCD staffing/allocation funding from DATCP typically covers about one and a half positions. This year, due to a bill that went before the state for more funding, Bayfield County was notified that we will receive $147,181 in staffing funds for 2022. The 2022 staffing award is $27,994 more than the amount we received for 2021. Ben discussed the 2022 Budget proposal in detail and the committee was provided with copies. DATCP Staffing revenue is up from last year. Overall, there are no big changes in the budget, other than with the AIS/Surface Water Conservation Specialist position, and we continue to receive grants to fund a majority of the department. Question on Capital Improvement. Ben noted he had a discussion with Mark about a possible new survey truck as it is 10 years old and starting to show wear and tear. Motion: by Charly Ray and 2nd Marty Milanowski, to forward the 2022 Budget Proposal as presented with the appropriate changes if needed for Andy’s position. Motion carried. State Technical Tour discussion. Bayfield County will be hosting the State Technical Tour on September 30, 2021. Bayfield County Land & Water Conservation Department (LWCD) implements a variety of conservation practices each year. Each year we have a fall tour and invite our Land Conservation Committee & County Supervisors to see some of those projects. This year we are opening it up to other LWCD’s in WI by hosting the state technical tour to showcase some of those projects we have worked on. Ben asked for the opinion of the committee if they have an interest in joining the state tech tour in lieu of our normal fall tour for them or if they prefer their own separate tour as in years past. The consensus was to hold two separate tours. Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County Lining up travel accommodations for the needed buses will be in the works. Bayfield County will be hosting a Soils Test Pit Investigation Training on September 29, 2021, from 9:30 AM -3:00 PM. Stacy Dehne, DATCP Civil Engineer, will be the instructor. Training will take place at two different sites in Mason, WI, Bayfield County. Site 1 will be a soils test pits for a small 313 design and Site 2 will be a soils test pits for a potential wetland 657 design. Soil samples will be taken, and participants will have the opportunity to try out pocket penetrometer and shear vane tools. Soil profile sheets will be completed and discussion on requirements. Discussion on artesian well water: Charly Ray discussed the possibility of bringing in an expert to give us more information on the artesian wells in our area so we can learn more about them to protect and preserve them and the unique resource we have. Potential future regulations could be put in place. Charly suggested we add a budget line for this topic. Zepczyk agreed that we have a unique resource. 2021 Project Grants Update: Ben gave an overview of the current grants for 2021. LWCD Staff Reports: Discussed and on file. Andy Teal gave his staff report, which is on file. Andy continues to work on AIS projects and surface water/mitigation projects. He noted he cut some yellow iris at a couple lakes this summer with a few others. He helped with some lake surveys as well. Andy has been looking into another possible grant opportunity through Partners for Fish & Wildlife and has communicated with Ted Koehler with the USFWS, as to whether a project involving removal of yellow iris in Bayfield County would qualify to fund a portion of his salary. He is still waiting on some feedback to that question and if funds could be allocated to go towards a portion of his salary, then Andy would try applying for it in the amount of approximately $10,000. The grant is due September 30, 2021. He invited committee to join the AIS Snapshot Day Aug. 21st at Prentice Park in Ashland and well as Invasive Species ID Day on Aug. 27th, at Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center. Ramona Shackleford gave her staff report, which is on file. Ramona continues to work with the interns on various invasive weed management projects. The boat washer interns last week is this weekend, they worked 12 weeks. She has been supervising the NCWMA crew interns more than she expected as the crew leader that was hired left the position in July. Melissa Kraft gave her staff report, which is on file. She noted she put a lot of hours into preparing the 2022 budget, reaching out to various grant partners, and compiling the 2022 grant figures needed and entering them into New World. Also, she noted she has been busy doing her regular office duties. She also assisted Ramona with the Invasive Plant Management Field Tour & Herbicide Training Day that took place in Bayfield early August. Travis Tulowitzky gave his staff report, which is on file. Travis gave an update of the various projects he has been working on and provided some photos of some of the projects for the committee. One of the projects he discussed was an old under-barn manure storage closure that a landowner contacted him about as it was a huge safety hazard. The storage was no longer in use and there were no plans for it in the future, so it needed to be permanently closed. He noted it was very difficult to distinguish the hazard from the landscape which made it that much more dangerous and a priority project. Travis said there are several upcoming Shoreline projects in the works. He also noted the Shoreline stabilization brochure was released digitally to WI Land+Water staff and they are still Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County waiting on the printed version which will eventually be distributed to various counties. The document is geared to inland water homeowners and a good way to showcase what the landowner can do for shoreline stabilization practices. Greg Tetzner left meeting at 10:25am. Pigeon Lake Update: Initially Ben was involved and basically an engineer was hired for the road work, but our office has not been involved recently. Zepczyk wonders if we should try and get involved more and Marty noted the Core of Engineers had been involved. Discussion on if the water is pumped where would the water be dispersed to. It was also noted that the water has gone down this year. Ben Dufford gave his staff report, which is on file. Ben gave an update on the various projects he has been working on. He has attended several meetings, most virtual. He noted he has been involved in discussions on the 2022 WI Land & Water annual conference next spring which is to be held in WI Dells. Next meeting date will be the Fall Tour for the committee members on Friday, October 8th, 2021. Meeting adjourned at 10:32 a.m. K:\LCC Meetings\Minutes\2021\08-20-21 Minutes LCC.doc