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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 2/10/2025 BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING February 10, 2025 County Board Room Members Present: Fred Strand (by Teams); Steve Sandstrom; Larry Fickbohm; Charly Ray; Jeff Olsen Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Deanna Regan, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton 1. Call to Order of Forestry and Parks Committee Meeting. This meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM. 2. Public Comment: None Public comment closed at 6:00 PM. 3. Approval of the January 13th Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Fickbohm, Sandstrom) Approve minutes and place on file. All: Yes. Carried. 4. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Topside Lake Properties. General goals of the MOU are: • For the county to enact the reversionary clause and reclaim ownership of the two parcels. • For 4-H to accept that action. • For the county to initiate a review of the area for future rec development opportunities with 4-H. • For the county to be responsible for the funding, development and management of the improvements, also in collaboration with 4-H if opportunities exist (and they do). • For the county to provide 4-H with the opportunity to reserve the area for 4-H related events and programs, and for the county to prioritize/recognize 4-H use. • Provide a mechanism for regular communications between the county and 4-H over the long-term. Bodine recommends moving forward with reversionary clause to reclaim ownership. MOU would be presented to 4-H leaders during their next meeting for review and signature, then formally transfer ownership back to the county. Next, both parcels and the adjacent 20 acre county parcel would be included in the Stewardship grant for eventual entry in CFL. Committee discussion ensued. MOTION: (Fickbohm, Olsen) Approve proposal. All: Yes. Carried. 5. Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant Application for the Acquisition of County Forest Land. We have signed purchase agreements on all except 1, and that offer has been accepted and signatures are forthcoming. The total purchase value of all 9 subject properties totaling 766.26 deeded acres, is $1,330,700.00, which averages about $1,737/acre. All 10 properties are now being appraised. Steigerwaldt was the lowest bidder at $22k and is completing the work. Appraisals are due mid-March. MOTION: (Olsen, Sandstrom) Motion to proceed with negotiations and finish grant application. All: Yes. Carried. 6. Monthly Reports a) Forestry. a. 2025 Budget. Stumpage returns for January were above average, with a total of nearly $314k received. This is continuing the trend of outperforming expectations for most of last year, primarily fueled by an abnormal amount of higher dollar pine sales harvested during these past few winter months. Returns for February are already over $100k. A good start to 2025, but it will slow down. Expenses are on target. b. Carbon Project. Nothing new to report. Meeting on Wednesday, will see if there are updates. c. Other Land Acquisition Projects. Bayfield County Forestry & Parks Committee February 10, 2025 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 2 i. BCPL 40 acres. Expect to close on purchase around the end of February. ii. Iron River/Maki Community Forest. Community Forest grant is federally funded. Cannot move forward with closing on March 31st if the finds are now at risk. Will likely request to push back closing to middle of May. iii. Whittlesey Creek. Same issue as above. Was expected to close March 1st. Landmark will be requesting a mid-May closing date as well due to federal funding issues. d. Herbicide Overspray Update. Bodine recently met with all parties and is pleased to report that we have reached a tentative agreement. The contractor will pay a total of $12,270 in damages, $9,000 to the private landowner with the county retaining the rest, less Corp Counsel costs. Upon receipt of payment, the matter will be considered resolved by all parties. Corp Counsel will draft the final settlement statement within the next week and Bodine hopes to have this matter officially closed by the March meeting. e. Barrens Management. We have been tweaking the Barnes Barrens Management Area (BBMA) boundaries with the goal of streamlining the process and making it more efficient and viable for long-term management. The permanent core is the most important part of the BBMA in terms of productive open barrens habitat, and the most predictable and easiest to manage over the long-term. The floating forested zones, dominated by jack pine, are also managed over the long term but subject to numerous uncertainties and risk. By increasing the core and decreasing the floating area, we will be able to provide a high-quality barrens management area and more effectively achieve the goals outlined in the DNR NW Sands Habitat Corridor plan, while reducing some risk and continuing to accomplish core sustainable forest management objectives. f. WCFA Special License Plate. WCFA is looking for ways to promote the plate. If you have any ideas, please let Bodine know. g. WCFA Board Member Update. WCFA has been very active politically and has hired a lobbyist. Senator Quinn has been placed on the Joint Finance Committee. There is a bill relating to the status of county forest administrators requiring them to be certified foresters. b) Campgrounds and Day Use Parks. Nothing new to report. c) Trails and Recreation. a. Motorized Trail Updates. Snowmobile trails are officially open except for Trail 4, which extends from Delta, through Mason and to Sanborn. Most trails are still considered poor, given the general lack of snow throughout the county. We’ll begin work on the next round of motorized grants soon. b. Non-Motorized Trails Updates. Nothing new to report. c. Rec Coordinator Position. The position has been advertised and closes on Feb 9. We’ll review applicants the week of Feb 10 and schedule interviews, for the week of Feb 17. Assuming an offer is made at the end of that week or early next, Bodine is expecting a start date somewhere between March 17 and April 3. There has been significant interest in this position (22 applicants) with half of them very strong. d. Yurts. Occupancy rates are normal for this time of year. e. Events. Nothing new to report. Committee acknowledges that reports are received and placed on file. 7. Committee Members Discussion. None. 8. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative, Comments: Thanks to Bodine’s crew for putting together snowmobile safety training. Everyone really loved it. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting has been scheduled for Monday, March 10th, at 6:00 PM in the County Board Room. Meeting adjourned at 6:50 PM. Submitted by, Deanna Regan