HomeMy WebLinkAboutL & W minutes 4-3-12GRANT COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION
COMMITTEE MEETING
April 03, 2012
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; Mark Stead, Lester Jantzen, Marvin Kettler, Don Splinter, Steve Adrian, and Grant Loy.
Others present were, John Patcle, Jared Reuter, Melissa Bartz, Lynda Schweikert, Kevin Lange, and Annette
Lolwing. John Patcle left at 11:40 a.m.
Certification of Open Meeting Law: Annette Lolwing
Annette Lolwing sent the agenda to Karla Schwantes to post in the Administration Building and at the
Courthouse, also sent agenda to Bob Middendorf, WGLR, and was posted in the front of the Ag Services
Building. Media notices were sent to Karla Schwantes, Herald Independent, Tri County Press, and the
Platteville Journal.
Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Steve Adrian to approve the Agenda as written. Motion carried.
Motion by Lester Jantzen, seconded by Grant Loy to approve the minutes with a correction that John Patcle
was in attendance at the February 27, 2012 meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Lester Jantzen, seconded by Steve Adrian to approve the bills. Motion carried.
County Board Chairman Report: John Patcle
John reported on the water incident at the 52 building. John will be meeting with an individual to check the
pipe wrapping for asbestos. It is Election Day today, and would like for everyone to get out and vote.
County and SWRM Cost Sharing Approval: Lynda Schweikert
Lynda reported that Doug Wolf stopped by in November to complete a cost share application for a well
decommissioning. He was informed that we still need the depth of the well and the diameter of the pipe,
prior to taking the application to the LWCC for tentative approval. Doug turned in his paid receipt and
completed DNR form without supplying the needed information prior to closure. Motion by Marvin Kettler,
seconded by Don Splinter to deny his county cost sharing request as he did not follow proper procedure.
Motion carried. Steve Adrian Abstained.
Lynda presented final request for county cost sharing of $497.00 on a well decommissioning project for
Mark Drew, Mt. Hope Twp. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Lester Jantzen to approve payment. Roll
Call: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent. Motion carried.
Lynda handed out a sheet with all 39 cost share applications for county and SWRM cost sharing along with
how much, additional funding was being put toward those projects. At this time we do not have a signed
contract with DATCP for the SWRM funding. Construction on the projects will not be able to start until a
contract is signed with DATCP and then with the cost share applicants.
Gale Knapp, North Lancaster Twp., $3,500.00 county cost sharing, and $3,500.00 SWRM cost sharing for a
manure storage closure, priority H-5.
Lonnie Holthaus, Mt Ida Twp., $3,500.00, 2011 county cost sharing, SWRM cost sharing, $7,000.00 for a
manure storage facility, priority H-6.
Runde Farms, Hazel Green Twp., $3,500.00 county cost sharing for a manure storage facility, H-6.
Bode Brothers, Paris Twp., $7,000.00 SWRM cost sharing for a grade stabilization structure, H-7.
Tom Majerus, Paris Twp., $783.00 county cost sharing, $18,117.00 EQIP cost sharing for a grassed
waterway and grade stabilization structure, H-7.
Esser Brothers, Waterloo Twp., $3,500.00 county cost sharing, $6,300.00 SWRM cost sharing for a grassed
waterway and grade stabilization structure, H-7.
Donald Brandt, Jamestown Twp., $1,940.00 county cost sharing, $12,600.00 EQIP cost sharing for a grade
stabilization structure, H-7.
Joe Uppena, Cassville Twp., $1,366.00, county cost sharing, $6,334.00 EQIP cost sharing for a grassed
waterway and grade stabilization structure, H-7.
Brooke Grinde, North Potosi Twp., $3,500.00 county cost sharing, $6,766.90 SWRM cost sharing for a
grade stabilization structure, H-7.
Francis Droeszler, Jamestown Twp., $2,951.00 county cost sharing, $5,330.00 EQIP cost sharing for a grade
stabilization structure, H-7.
Fred Kieler, Paris Twp., $970.00 county cost sharing, $5,330.00 EQIP cost sharing for a grade stabilization
structure, H-7.
Irvin Muller’s Sons, Paris Twp., $3,500.00 county cost sharing, $2,370.00 SWRM cost sharing and
$5,330.00 EQIP cost sharing for a grade stabilization structure, H-7.
Joe Weber, Jamestown Twp., $3,500.00 county cost sharing, $7,000.00 SWRM cost sharing for a grade
stabilization structure, H-7.
Carl Abing, Waterloo Twp., $1,914.00 county cost sharing, $8,586.00 EQIP cost sharing for a grassed
waterway and grade stabilization structure, H-7.
Kevin Lange, Paris Twp., $3,500.00 county cost sharing for a grade stabilization structure, H-7.
Steve Adrian, Glen Haven Twp., $1,044.00 county cost sharing, $6,650.00, 2011 SWRM cost sharing for a
grade stabilization structure, H-7.
Ken Kunkel, Jamestown Twp., $1,059.75 county cost sharing, $5,240.25 EQIP cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Kent Okey, Cassville Twp., $1,276.00 county cost sharing and $5,461.50 EQIP cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Chris Neises, Patch Grove Twp., $2,955.00 county cost sharing and $26,445.00 EQIP cost sharing for rip
rap, H-9.
Doug Schauff, Waterloo Twp., $313.00 county cost share and $11,237.00 EQIP cost sharing for rip rap,
H-9.
Joe Starrett, Beetown Twp., $3,279.00 county cost sharing and $6,521.00 EQIP cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Ken Drury, Harrison Twp., $2,535.23 county cost sharing, $5,076.27 SWRM cost sharing, and $15,138.50
EQIP cost sharing for rip rap H-9.
Lester Jantzen, Harrison Twp., $3,798.73 county cost sharing, $5,076.27 SWRM cost sharing, and
$11,075.00 EQIP cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Dave Margan, Platteville Twp., $1,523.73 county cost sharing, $5,076.27 SWRM cost sharing, and
$14,400.00 EQIP cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
TEVA LLC, Clifton Twp., $3,500.00 county cost sharing, $5,076.29 SWRM cost sharing, and $15,572.50
EQIP cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
John Wiegman, Smelser Twp., $1,960.00 county cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Steve Gehrke, Ellenboro Twp., $1,428.00 county cost sharing for rip rap, H9.
Ron Kunkel, Hazel Green Twp., $1,428.00 county cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Brian Nichols, Little Grant Twp., $1,428.00 county cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Pat Udelhofen, Harrison Twp., $1,428.00 county cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Burr Oak Farms, Liberty Twp., $1,428.00 count y cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Roger Graney, South Lancaster Twp., $1,428.00 county cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Ron Pelkey, North Potosi Twp., $1,428.00 county cost sharing for rip rap, H-9.
Steve McPhail, Liberty Twp., $0.00 cost sharing for a grade stabilization structure repair, H-10.
Ken Kunkel, Jamestown Twp., $5,220.00 EQIP cost sharing for a grade stabilization structure repair, H-10.
Don Kuhls, Smelser Twp., $5,220.00 EQIP cost sharing for a grade stabilization structure repair, H-10.
Al Neises, Patch Grove Twp., $0.00 cost sharing for rip rap repair, H-10.
David White, Liberty Twp., $6,166.00 EQIP cost sharing for roof gutters, M-9.
Terry Redfearn, Hazel Green Twp., $0.00 cost sharing for stream crossing, L-1.
Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Marvin Kettler to decrease the maximum cost share percentage from
75% to 70%. Motion carried. Lester Jantzen & Steve Adrian Abstained.
Motion by Grant Loy, seconded by Don Splinter to decrease the maximum SWRM amount from $10,000 for
manure storage, and $7,500 for all other practices to $7,000 across the board. Motion carried. Lester
Jantzen & Steve Adrian Abstained.
Motion by Don Splinter, seconded by Marvin Kettler to give rip rap with EQIP cost sharing higher priority
over rip rap projects without EQIP cost sharing. Motion carried. Lester Jantzen & Steve Adrian Abstained
Motion by Steve Adrian, seconded by Don Splinter to prorate remaining county cost sharing among rip rap
projects without EQIP cost sharing while allowing a buffer of $10,000 to remain in the county cost share
fund for well decommissionings, cover crops, and cost over runs. Lester Jantzen Abstained.
Motion by Don Splinter, seconded by Mark Stead to approve all county cost sharing requests down to and
including H-9 priority rip rap. Motion carried. Lester Jantzen & Steve Adrian Abstained.
Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Don Splinter to approve all SWRM cost sharing requests down to and
including H-9 rip rap, contingent upon receiving cost share funds from DATCP. If said funds come in
differently than $60,242.00 the funds will be adjusted as needed by Lynda. Motion carried. Lester Jantzen
Abstained.
Motion by Steve Adrian, seconded by Lester Jantzen to deny cost share applications in the medium and low
prioritiy categories due to the lack of funds. This would affect Dave White and Terry Redfearn. The
remaining applications without funding will be held until funding becomes available. Motion carried.
Animal Waste Storage Permit Application: Lynda Schweikert
Lynda reported that Hardscrabble Farm, Charles Volenec, is applying for a waste storage facility permit.
Construction plans were checked by Mike Dreischmeier, NRCS Ag. Engineer, and approved by Ralph
Hemling, DATCP Area Specialist Engineer. He has paid his permit fee of $100.00, which the estimated cost
of construction is around $100,000. Motion by Steve Adrian, seconded by Mark Stead for approval of the
permit. Motion carried.
Renewal or Purchase of Photo Copy Machine Lease: Lynda Schweikert
Lynda reported that our photo copy machine lease agreement is to expire on September 7, 2012. Our
existing photo copy machine costs $266.65 per month. Public Property pays $162.68, and we pay $68.67 per
month. Their proposal of a black & white photo copy machine is $245.39 per month. We can buyout the
lease for $1.00, then the LWCD will own it. We purchased a maintenance agreement and they are not sure if
it can be extended. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Lester Jantzen to buyout the existing copy machine
for $1.00. Motion carried.
2013 Joint DATCP/DNR Grant Application: Lynda Schweikert
Lynda reviewed the Joint DATCP/DNR Nonpoint Source Grant Application for applying for staff and
support and cost sharing for calendar year 2013. The base funding for staff is $75,000 which is $10,000 less
than last year. The SWRM tier positions are based on the first position at 100%, $68,774, second position
based on 70%, $47,898, and third position based on 50%, $30,963, fourth position and subsequent position
are 50%, $56,334. We will be requesting $203,969 for our staffing request, $160,000 for cost sharing and
$100,000 for Nutrient management plans. Motion by Don Splinter, seconded by Grant Loy to submit the
Joint DATCP/DNR Nonpoint Source Grant Application for 2013. Motion carried.
Land and Water Conservation Department Report: Lynda Schweikert
Lynda reported that the WLWCA has hired a new Executive Director, Jim VandenBrook, who was the
Water Quality Section Chief for DATCP. Jim was working in the Nutrient Management Section at DATCP.
Jim’s start date at the WLWCA is May 7, 2012. Lynda received an email from Jim VandenBrook who had
read our annual report and was interested in the article of the Farmer Written Nutrient Management classes.
He thought that he could utilize the article to show others how it is done.
FPP Report: Kevin Lange
Kevin reported that he has 1 Cancellation of Notice of NonCompliance; Larry & Diane Alderson, Mt. Ida &
Fennimore Twp. was initially found out of compliance as they failed to provide us with a Nutrient
Management Plan in the allotted time, they have now provided us with one. Kevin also presented 2 Notices
of NonCompliance; Todd Wilkinson, Mt. Hope Twp. voluntarily chose to withdraw from the FPP. Darren &
Kathleen Kreul, Mt. Ida Twp. failed to allow a status review of their property. Motion by Grant Loy,
seconded by Mark Stead to accept the 1 Cancellation of Notice of NonCompliance and 2 Notices of
NonCompliance. Motion carried.
Kevin reported that he and Lynda have been answering a lot of FPP questions.
- has been out in the field marking out contour lines and contour strips.
- has been working on sodbusting plans that continue to come in on a daily basis.
Kevin reported that the merger went through, 138 votes to 24 votes at the WALCE conference.
Lynda reported that the new water quality management person in our area is Mike Vollrath. Mike is
reviewing the old complaints that Mark Cain had visited prior.
NRCS Report: Melissa Bartz
Melissa reported that March 30th was the deadline to finish writing EQIP contracts.
Melissa has been helping survey and has been sending in requests for cultural resource reviews and
endangered species that may affect the construction of the project.
Melissa reported that she is preparing a list and letters of approximately 40 landowners to do compliance
review spot checks. Will be reviewing the farms for wetland and HEL compliance and following the
program rules to stay in the programs. Melissa reported that they can no longer do reviews in our own
county; they will be done by someone from the state office. John Forsyth, soil conservationist, from the state
office will be doing Grant County’s spot checks.
Melissa reported that she has been going out to some controlled planned burns, and has also been reviewing
burn plans.
Melissa has been reviewing some wetland determination requests for tiling.
Melissa reported that NRCS will be getting a new financial computer system for making payments.
NRCS’s system will be down for 1 month starting on April 15th.
Melissa reported that 5 out of the 10 CSP applicants have been approved. Another 3 may possibly be
approved. Will be doing field reviews for CSP.
FSA Report: Jared Reuter
Jared reported that the Milk Program will have a .38 cent per hundred weight payment coming for February.
Hopefully will start making payments the week of April 5th for February milk. Payment will continue to go
up till at least June before it levels off again.
Jared reported that there were 50 CRP offers so far. As a state they have 16,000 acres enrolled of which 30%
of those are trees. Looking to get approximately 20,000 acres enrolled and are losing 66,000 acres for the
year. Grant County has 173 contracts expiring and has 50 offers with hopes of getting close to 80 offers.
10% of the acres coming in are new acres, and 90% are reenrollments. The deadline to sign up for CRP is
April 6th.
Jared mentioned that FSA has a new employee, Nancy Fink, from Green County. FSA is also waiting for an
acceptance from a technician from Rhinelander to relocate permanently to Grant County. April 23rd is the
deadline for the technician to decide if she will be locating to Grant County or not.
Jared reported on the building and lease issue. There was a revision to the month to month lease with
dropping the RC&D space as of February 1st. FSA, NRCS, and LWCD went from 5,575 sq. ft. rented to
5,025 sq. ft. to drop the space from the RC&D. If there is a new solicitation for a building we will increase
sq. footage to 5,900 sq. ft.
Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Lester Jantzen to adjourn until May 01, 2012. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted by
Annette Lolwing for Grant Loy