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HomeMy WebLinkAboutForestry & Parks Committee - Minutes - 4/7/2014BAYFIELD COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING April 7, 2014 County Board Room Members Present: Shawn Miller; Chairperson; Marco Bichanich, Vice-Chairperson; Harold Maki and John Bennett Members Absent: Bucky Jardine Staff in Attendance: Jason Bodine, Administrator; Steve Probst, Assistant Administrator; and Pat Bruno, Office Manager Others in Attendance: Joseph LeBouton, WI DNR Liaison, Matt Blaylock, Team Leader, WI DNR and Dave Lindsley, WI DNR 1. Call to Order of Forestry and Parks Committee Meeting. The meeting of the Forestry and Parks Committee was called to order by S. Miller at 6:00 P.M. 2. Approval of March 17, 2014 Meeting Minutes. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the March 17, 2014 meeting minutes. Carried. 3. Public Comment. S. Miller called for public comments. None were received. 4. Logger Comments. S. Miller called for logger comments. None were received. 5. Monthly Financial Report. A. Forestry: J. Bodine reported that timber sale revenues are above average for the year, to date, and expenses are on target. Contractors are starting to move into spring ground for harvesting. B. Parks: It appears that the 2014 camping season will be delayed due to poor weather conditions. Preparation time is lost. The seasonal camping closing date of October 31 may be adjusted to allow for this delayed start. C. Trails: March and early April snow conditions continue to provide adequate snowmobiling. However, J. Bodine reported that due to the annual March 31 trail closing date included within the access private land owner agreements, the decision was made to close only the trails that include private land access. Public land only trails continue to stay open until conditions deteriorate. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to receive and place on file the March 2014 financial report. Carried. 6. Wildlife Opening Maintenance Request: Todd Naas, WDNR Wildlife Biologist. The WDNR is requesting to maintain 48 openings on County Forest land in 2014 as outlined in the proposal document. MOTION: (Bichanich, Bennett) to approve the request from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to maintain wildlife openings as described in the 2014 Bayfield County Openings Maintenance Proposal. Carried. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 2 of 3 April 7, 2014 Meeting Minutes 7. Spring Timber Sale Offering. This offering includes 29 sales which are comprised of approximately 2,240 acres, containing an estimated 45,000 cords of pulpwood and 1,200 MBF of saw timber. MOTION: (Bennett, Maki) to approve the proposed 2014 Spring Timber Sales. Carried. 8. 2014 Town Road Aids. A. Approval of a resolution to the County Board Authorizing the transfer of funds to the 2014 Town Road Aid expense account. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to approve the proposed Forestry and Parks Department Budget Amendment FY2014 resolution and forward to the full county board for consideration. Carried. B. Selection of 2014 projects. J. Bodine reviewed the table of proposed Town projects. The Towns of Bayfield, Bayview and Tripp have substantial projects planned. MOTION: (Maki, Bichanich) to approve the proposed 2014 Town Road Aid Request Summary schedule. Carried. 9. Sand and Gravel Stumpage Price Establishment for 2014. J. Bodine recently canvassed local sand and gravel providers to establish a fair market price for raw stumpage, with inconclusive results. The 2013 price was set at $4.00/ton. Bodine recommends setting the price at $1.50/ton and only sell the material to municipalities and the tribe for local infrastructure projects. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to set the raw sand and gravel stumpage price for 2014 at $1.00/ton to the Towns; and to allow all others to come before the Forestry and Parks Committee to negotiate a price. Carried. 10. Memorandum of Agreement. The renewed agreement to optionally participate in the Knowles-Nelson Land Acquisition program (stewardship grants) requires a signed resolution as a first step to participation. The land must be available for public use and managed under the plan. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to approve the Memorandum of Agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to optionally participate in the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Land Acquisition Grant Program. Carried. 11. Easements to Private Land. J. Bodine has researched the opinions and documents pertaining to selling permanent/voluntary easements to private landowners that make a request. State statutes do not encourage easements because they are viewed as being permanent and transferable to all future owners or parties. Bayfield County’s land use plan, which was approved by the WDNR, allows easements to be considered for land exchange, reciprocal easements, or cash. J. LeBouton cited a 2008 opinion of the Wisconsin State Attorney General’s office that an easement that is sold cannot conflict with Wisconsin State Statute 28.11 but must be consistent with the guidelines of Statute 28.11. Bayfield County Forestry and Parks Committee Page 3 of 3 April 7, 2014 Meeting Minutes The easement approved at the April 2014 Committee meeting was one that provides access to a primary residence only. Various examples of the advantages and disadvantages to granting various easements were discussed. Easements granted for a cell tower or airstrip would result in a withdrawal from County Forest Law, which requires WDNR approval. J. Bodine referenced the Access Easement Agreement template as proposed. MOTION: (Bennett, Bichanich) to direct the Forestry and Parks Administrator to obtain the County’s Corporation Counsel’s opinion of the “Access Easement Agreement” template and to pursue the template with the state. Carried. 12. General Discussion Items: A. Meeting with the Iron River Chamber. A meeting was held with the Iron River Chamber director and a few business owners in the area. The business involvement and club interest issues will be revisited if no progress is made. 13. Joseph LeBouton, DNR Representative Comments. Regarding easements, Joe Schwantes, WDNR, is impressed that Bayfield County had addressed easements its 15 year plan. This being said, the state is unable to give a blanket authorization to grant easements. 14. Supervisors’ Comments. S. Miller called for supervisor comments. None were received. Meeting was adjourned at 7:00 P.M. The next Forestry and Parks Committee meeting will be held Monday, May 12, 2014 at 6:00 P.M., Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn, WI. Submitted by, Pat Bruno