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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUnapproved MINUTES_November 1_2011 L & WGRANT COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING November 1, 2011 9:00 a.m. Ag Services Building Lancaster, Wisconsin The meeting was called to order by Chairman Vince Loeffelholz at 9:00 a.m. Present in addition to the Chairman were, Lester Jantzen, Steve Adrian, Mark Stead, Marvin Kettler, Grant Loy, and Don Splinter. Others present were, Melissa Bartz, Lynda Schweikert, Kevin Lange, Jared Reuter, Annette Lolwing, Craig Hollingsworth, Matt Singer, and Bill Carlson. John Patcle arrived at 10:30. Certification of Open Meeting Law: Annette Lolwing Annette Lolwing posted the agenda at the Ag Service Center. Media notices and agendas were sent to Karla Schwantes to post at the Administration Building, County Courthouse, and were sent to WGLR radio. Media notices were sent to the Herald Independent, Tri County Press, and Platteville Journal. Motion by Don Splinter, seconded by Marvin Kettler to approve the October 4, 2011 minutes. Motion carried. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Lester Jantzen to approve the Amended Agenda as written. Motion carried. Bills: Annette Lolwing Motion by Steve Adrian, seconded by Grant Loy to approve the October bills. Motion carried Matt Singer – DNR Forester Bill Carlson is the team leader that covers this area for the WI DNR. Matt Singer is the DNR forester from Lafayette County that has also been working temporarily in the Grant County forester position. Craig Hollingsworth is the retired Grant County forester. There was discussion of the tree planting equipment that was up for sealed bids. Bill Carlson referenced that the DNR would like the county to retain the split axle tree planter and magnetic portable lights. Bill Carlson mentioned that the DNR is willing to take over with the billing process through their department and to cover the cost of maintenance and staff to continue with the tree planting program in Grant County. Bill Carlson mentioned that the DNR is hiring, however, Grant County’s permanent replacement will probably not be hired for up to 1 to 1 ½ years from now. Bill stated that he is in the process of hiring a 6 month temporary employee to assist in Grant County and other counties. After listening to the DNR testimony and background information, Mark Stead recommended to continue on with the meeting and open the sealed bids. Open Sealed Bids and Approval for Sale of Tree Planting Equipment Lynda provided a handout of those individuals who bid and the amount they bid. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Steve Adrian to accept the high bid on all items, except item #2 and item #21. Motion carried. Motion by Steve Adrian, seconded by Don Splinter that the Land and Water Conservation Department retains ownership of #2 (split axle tree planter) and #21 (magnetic portable lights) and to allow the WI DNR to use the tree planter, mainly in Grant County at no cost to the county. This is pending any liability issues. Motion carried. County Board Chairman Report: John Patcle John reported that they are finalizing the budget of the feasibility study of the 52 building. There has been at least 5 or 6 letters of intent, and have no idea of the cost of the project. Bids will be opened Monday, November 7, 2011. County Cost Share Approval: Lynda Schweikert Lynda reported that she has 2 cancellation requests for Tom Kunkel, Hazel Green Twp., for cover crop, $787.50 and also Walter Bausch, East Cassville Twp., for a well decommissioning project, $87.50. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Steve Adrian to approve the 2 cancellations. Motion carried. Lynda presented final approval request for county cost sharing of $486.86 on a well decommissioning project for David Bryhan, North Potosi Twp. Motion by Lester Jantzen, seconded by Grant Loy to approve payment. Roll Call: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent. Motion carried. Lynda presented final approval request for county cost sharing of $408.00 on a well decommissioning project for Julie Jenkins, Lima Twp. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Lester Jantzen to approve payment. Roll Call: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent. Motion carried. Lynda presented final approval request for county cost sharing of $500.00 on a well decommissioning project for Merrill Weittenhiller, Clifton Twp. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Don Splinter to approve payments. Roll Call: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent. Motion carried. Lynda presented final approval request for county cost sharing of $2,998.00 for a grade stabilization project for Donald Brandt, Jamestown Twp. Motion by Steve Adrian seconded by Grant Loy to approve payment. Roll Call: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent. Motion carried. Lynda presented final approval request for county cost sharing of $421.67 for a grade stabilization project for Francis Droeszler, Jamestown Twp. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Steve Adrian to approve payment. Roll Call: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent. Motion carried. Lynda presented final approval request for county cost sharing of $2,033.00 for a grade stabilization structure for Al-Do Farms, Beetown Twp. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Lester Jantzen to approve payment. Roll Call: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent. Motion carried. Lynda presented final approval request for county cost sharing of $536.25 for rye cover crop for Stephen Adrian, Glen Haven, Twp. Motion by Don Splinter, seconded by Marvin Kettler to approve payment. Roll Call: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent. Motion carried. Steve Adrian Abstained. Lynda presented final approval request for a 2010 DATCP cost sharing of $1,346.38 for a grade stabilization project for Tim Pitzen, Paris Twp. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Lester Jantzen to approve payment. Roll Call: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent. Motion carried. Lynda presented tentative approval request for county cost sharing on 4 grade stabilization structures for Doug Schauff, Cassville Twp. $2,530.00. Motion by Steve Adrian, seconded by Grant Loy to approve Doug’s request. Motion carried. Clark View Farms: Permit to Construct Storage Facility – Lynda Schweikert Lynda reported that Clark View Farms is a permitted farm through the Wisconsin WPDES, DNR. Every time they need to do something they need to first get approval from DNR to expand. They are installing a concrete stacking pad on their farm which is draining into the existing storage facility. Estimated cost is $20,000. Paid permit fee of $20.00. Clark View Farms has signed the permit and DNR has approved it. Motion by Steve Adrian, seconded by Marvin Kettler to give final approval of the permit. Motion carried. Budget Update: Lynda Schweikert Lynda reported that since last month Nancy went through the budgets and noted a change in insurance and committee per diem. We were at -3.8% now we are at a -2.2%. Transfer SEG Funds to Columbia County: Lynda Schweikert Lynda reported that the SEG funds are the Nutrient Management Funds. Columbia County responded back to Lynda stating that they could use the $3,500.00. Motion by Steve Adrian, seconded by Don Splinter to approve the transfer of the $3,500.00 SEG funds to Columbia County. Motion carried. Land and Water Conservation Department Report: Lynda Schweikert Lynda reported on the purchase of the new fleet vehicle. It was recommended at the last committee meeting that Randy, Vince and herself go test drive a vehicle from Les Mack and Fillback Ford, however, the bids were for ordering and not on lot. The low bid was accepted at Les Mack for a 1500 Dodge Ram truck for $21,870. Lynda sent a letter of acceptance to Carla McAndrew, requesting her to contact our office to arrange details of payment and transfer of the purchasing of the 2000 Ford Ranger. Lynda reported an update on the Amos Bieler Manure Storage Facility built without a permit. The LWCC had given Amos an extension to November to have his facility certified. He is going to be reducing the manure storage capacity to less than 3,500 cubic feet, which will fall below the ordinance. Lynda sent a letter to Amos to see if the work had been done. (Amos is the one who lost the chicken barn due to a fire). Manure is being pumped, and should be cleaned out and filled by the week of November 7th. Amos is to call our office when he completes this project. An update will be presented at the December LWCC meeting. Lynda reported that she received the Nutrient Management Farmer Education Grant Award of $12,000. This goes towards 10 landowners that wish to be certified to write their own Nutrient Management Plans. Next NMFE meeting is on December 6, 2011. The 10 landowners will be receiving $1,000 incentive to become certified to write their own NMP. Lynda reported that on the expense sheet it shows that the gas account is over budget by approximately $400.00. The registration from WLWCA will be over budget of $315.00. The extra hire account has a balance of $1,240.77 remaining in that account. Lynda took that $1,240.77 to cover the WLWCA registration of $315.00 and the remaining $925.77 will be transferred to the fuel account to cover until the end of the year. Lynda reported that Vince, Lester, Grant, Don, Annette and herself attended the SAA meeting. Grant County took 1st place in 4 area contest levels. The 1st place winners were: Primary Division was Jessica Patterson, Elementary Division was Randy Winch; Middle Division was Dalton Gardner; Junior Division was Matt Lambert; Senior Division was Richland County, Leah James with 1st place and Grant County, Joseph Droessler with 2nd place. Lynda mentioned that there was a picture in the Platteville Journal of students from St Mary’s in Platteville with their posters that were turned in for our poster contest. Lynda wanted to get a feel of what the LWCC felt regarding the WLWCA/WALCE merger. Comments were made in opposition to the merger stating that they wanted to maintain their identity, were fearful of losing power to employees and that they wanted to keep the organization as it is. The issue will be made an agenda item in December to decide how the LWCC will vote at the WLWCA Conference. Julian Zelazny was the executive director for WLWCA and has accepted another position in British Columbia, Canada. Julian put a lot of time and effort in to the organization. Julian had done an excellent job bringing the counties back in to a unified state. Lynda reported that the WLWCA conference is on December 8-9 at the Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells. We are still soliciting for donations for the auction and silent auction. Mark, Grant, Vince, Don, and Lynda will be attending. Grant County Fair and Extension Department donated a 1:16 scale Allis-Chalmers “G” with Plow; a 1:16 scale Oliver 1355 Tractor, and Sloan Implement, Cuba City, donated a 1/16 scale John Deer 1590 Grain Drill. Lynda reported that we have all been invited to a Frac Sand Mining Conference that will be on December 2, 2011 in Spring Green. This will also be discussed at WLWCA. Lynda mentioned that her anniversary date is on November, 27, 2011 and suggests for her performance evaluation to be held in closed session at the December LWCC meeting. FPP Report: Kevin Lange Kevin reported that he has been working on the 2011 status reviews. Kevin presented 4 voluntary Notices of Non-Compliance for David Blackburn, Fennimore Twp., Phillip and Janean Wyse, Platteville Twp, David Packnett, Watterstown Twp., and John and Irene Seippel. Motion by Don Splinter, seconded by Lester Jantzen to accept the 4 landowners that have voluntarily dropped out of the FPP. Motion carried. Kevin reported that he has been getting calls to install some contour strips this fall. Kevin reported that he is getting ready to start working on CREP again. NRCS Report: Melissa Bartz Melissa reported that NRCS got approval on October 31, 2011 to start issuing CSP, conservation stewardship program payments. Landowners typically had enhancements to do: monitor grazing practices, and do tissue testing, which looks at nitrogen management on corn. Waiting to see when they can make CSP, conservation security program payments. Melissa reported that they will be having some WHIP and EQIP teleconferences coming up. Melissa is having some landowners showing interest in signing up for manure storage, which involves a farm walk over. Melissa reported that NRCS will be doing more national initiatives with EQIP. By targeting practices such as energy plans, hoop houses, activity plans-where you hire a private consultant to look at your woods for management practices. Melissa reported that Marlene and she went to Tomah to watch cranberries being harvested, cleaned, packaged, and sent off in trucks. NRCS has a state cranberry grower liaison, who gave a tour of 3 different facilities. Melissa is still getting many tiling of wetland requests, and updating conservation plans, and construction has slowed down. FSA Report: Jared Reuter Jared reported that the 2010 crop loss disaster program, called the SURE program, will start the sign ups on November 14, 2011. Jared reported that the DCP acre program not be taking signups until January 23, 2012. There will be no advanced payments this year. May not even have a DCP acre sign up this year. Jared reported that they do several commodity loans on corn and soybeans. Producers have until May 31st to apply for those loans. They are able to self certify what they have per FSA’s limitations. There are also facility loans that come in 7, 10, or 12 year notes up to ½ million dollars. There have been 5 loans for grain storage for over $700,000. Producers are also able to construct hay storage facilities. Jared mentioned that FSA will be sending out ballets on November 4th for the county committee election. This is for the Northeast part of Grant County, from North Lancaster to Boscobel, to Muscoda, to Livingston, and to the Fennimore area. Linda Ruchti will be the only individual on the ballet for the county committee election. Ballets must be returned and postmarked by December 5, 2011. Jared mentioned that they are still working with the Hispanic and/or woman claims process that were denied access to the farm loan programs. Jared mentioned that FSA is going through a transition called a program technician convergence. Dennis Hottenstein, farm loan manager now services Grant, and Iowa County from Lancaster and traveling to Lafayette County to cover their county. Grant and Iowa County have 55% of the farm loans in just those 2 counties in the whole state of Wisconsin. Some of the program technicians in the FSA will be training to do some of the farm loan work load. Jared mentioned that last month, in October, he lost his mother-in-law. She was a loan analyst in Lafayette County. The super committee is looking at all programs wondering where to cut funding in the budget. Jared reported that the building roof project is being worked on and will take approximately 1 to 1.5 weeks to complete. Jared reported on the RC&D vacated space that may be picked up and occupied by the FSA. Landlord does not want to wall off space. Jared spoke with the Washington DC contact person, Alaina, for the building lease agreement. Jared will need to provide her with an updated market survey. Landlord is talking about raising the rent to $22.00 per square foot. FSA has delegation from GSA to move forward with the solicitation. The designation location for the Ag Service Center Building is in Lancaster. Call for Agenda Items for Next Months Meeting Other Business Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Don Splinter to adjourn until December 6, 2011. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted by Annette Lolwing for Grant Loy