HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 Approved 09-07-2023 CSZD Minutes
GRANT COUNTY CONSERVATION, SANITATION, & ZONING
COMMITTEE MEETING
September 7, 2023
9:00 a.m.
Room #264, Grant County Board Room, Administration Building
Lancaster, Wisconsin
The Grant County Conservation, Sanitation & Zoning Committee meeting was called to order on September 7,
2023, at 9:00 a.m. by Gary Northouse, the Conservation, Sanitation, Zoning Committee Chairman in Room #264,
County Board Room of the Administration Building.
Board members present in the County Board room #264: Porter Wagner, Gary Northouse, Joe Mumm, Pat
Schroeder, Brian Lucey, and Adam Day. Others present in the County Board room; Erik Heagle, Annette
Lolwing, Robert Keeney, Shane Drinkwater, Ben Schroeder, Terry Lyght, and Elijah Demmer. On Zoom:
Eheagle, Grant County Board Room, Shane Drinkwater, Robert Keeney, Mike Adams, Tonya White, and
Wepkings. Sam & Paul Stoltzfus arrived at 9:13 a.m. and left at 9:20 a.m.
Certification of Open Meeting Law
Annette Lolwing sent the Amended agenda to the County Clerk’s office to post in the Administration Building,
and on the county website. An Amended agenda was also posted in front of the Ag Service Center Building. An
Amended agenda was also sent to Bob Middendorf, WGLR. Media notices were sent to the County Clerk’s
office, Herald Independent, Platteville Journal, Muscoda Progressive, Boscobel Dial, Fennimore Times, and Bob
Middendorf.
Approval of September 7, 2023, Amended Agenda
Motion by Pat Schroeder, seconded by Joe Mumm to approve the Amended agenda. Motion carried.
Approval of the August 3, 2023, Minutes
Motion by Adam Day, seconded by Brian Lucey to approve the August 3, 2023, minutes. Motion carried.
Review & Accept the Bills
Motion by Porter Wagner, seconded by Joe Mumm to accept the August bills. Motion carried.
Public Hearing for Rezones
Chairman Northouse opened the Public Hearing
#RZ23-19 Terry Lyght, Harrison Twp. is requesting to change the zoning classification on PIN: 020-00866-0000
of +/- 27.5 ac. from FP to A-2 to allow for the proposed use of an outdoor sports business inside the existing
home.
In Favor: Harrison Twp. approved on July 11, 2023. Terry Lyght.
In Opposition: None
In Interest: None.
Committee Discussion: None
Chairman Northouse closed the Public Hearing
Motion by Porter Wagner that the items are concurrent with all the conditions on the Farmland Preservation
Worksheet and to recommend approval of the rezone to the full County Board, seconded by Adam Day. Motion
carried. See Attachment A Worksheet.
Chairman Northouse opened the Public Hearing
#RZ23-20 Sam & Paul Stoltzfus, Hickory Grove Twp. are requesting to change the zoning classification on
PIN:024-00671-0010 of +/- 3.0 ac. from C-1 to FP to allow for continued agricultural use.
In Favor: Hickory Grove Twp. approved on July 11, 2023. Sam & Paul Stoltzfus.
In Opposition: None.
In Interest: This rezone has one condition; the rezone needed to have the farmland preservation map amended
before the rezone could take place. DATCP maps are all approved. The only thing that the Conservation,
Sanitation, and Zoning Department would request is that the commercial sign on the property be removed. They
are going to continue to sell flowers. This is not going to be a commercial used property.
Committee Discussion: Adam Day stated that it is going from Commercial to Farmland Preservation, but they are
still going to be able to use it to sell flowers. In the farmland preservation standards, there is an agricultural use
that a business can still be utilized under the farmland preservation zoning district. Adam asked Erik about stuff
that needed to be fixed. Do these things need to be addressed? To move forward with citations and Orders for
Corrections on the property, the property must be zoned as Farmland Preservation. Erik stated that the rezone
would help to alleviate some of the issues. Robert Keeney mentioned that the way that it is mapped on the county
web portal, do they need an easement for their driveway? Erik stated No, they do not. All the property
surrounding them is contiguous property under the same ownership. The actual parcel lines are not necessarily
where the lines are in parcel explorer.
Chairman Northouse closed the Public Hearing
Motion by Pat Schroeder, that the items are concurrent with all the conditions on the Farmland Preservation
Worksheet and to recommend approval of the rezone to the full County Board, with the stipulation that the
commercial sign needs to come down, seconded by Adam Day. Motion carried.
Public Hearing for Conditional Use Permits
Chairman Northouse opened the Public Hearing
#CUP23-017 Kowalski Kieler Inc., Fennimore Twp. is requesting a Conditional Use Permit on PIN: 016-00390-
0000 of +/- 4.82 continued use of an asphalt and cement mix plant and proposal of a portable asphalt plant under
3.14 (2) (b) of the Grant County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.
In Favor: Fennimore Twp. approved on August 14, 2023. No conditions were placed on this request.
In Opposition: Erik did receive a phone call earlier in the week asking about the asphalt portion. Matt Rutkowski
was contacted this morning and informed our office that there will not be an asphalt plant.
In Interest: Erik clarified that this parcel will not have an asphalt plant, just a portable cement mix plant. Ben
Schroeder from Bard introduced Elijah Demmer. Elijah works with property management and mining
development.
Committee Discussion: None
Chairman Northouse closed the Public Hearing.
Motion by Porter Wagner to recommend approval of the Conditional Use Permit, seconded by Joe Mumm.
Motion carried. See Attachment B Worksheet.
Zoning/Sanitation Report
Sanitation - Sanitation permits issued in 2022 were 117 permits, in 2023 – 94 permits. Very busy with installs.
Still have court cases and hearings coming up. Deadline for the 3-year maintenance forms is September 30, 2023.
There has only been 1 applicant for the Sanitation Technician in the last 3 months.
Zoning - Erik reported that we have had 193 permits in 2022, compared to 215 zoning permits in 2023.
There has been no time to work on enforcement.
Jim Bergles passed his POWTS test but didn’t pass the soils test.
There has been a large public records request and the upcoming Board of Adjustments has taken up a lot of staff
time. BOA is scheduled for September 22, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. The BOA will have 2 variances and one
administrative appeal of the White Tail decision. A stenographer has been hired, will cost $1,000 to $1,500.
Zoning Fee Schedule Language Update
Erik reported that the CSZD has always charged the $300.00 CUP fee for reclamations. The Reclamation Plans
are handled through the Southwest Regional Planning Commission for non-metallic mining. The CSZD does all
the postings in the newspapers. In the fee schedule the language wasn’t quite right. The CSZD has always
charged the fee but never had the correct language. The language should read: Non-Metallic Mining Public
Hearing and to add Reclamation Plan Submissions. Motion by Adam Day, seconded by Joe Mumm to approve
the language change to Non-Metallic Mining Public Hearing/Reclamation Plan Submissions = $300.00. Motion
carried.
Discussion & Possible Approval of 2024 Budget
Erik reported that he has brought some totals down from the last few years and have increased the dollars in
trainings and lodging. 2023 carryover accounts are not showing up in the 2024 budget. Motion by Pat Schroeder,
seconded by Brian Lucey to approve the budget as presented. Motion carried.
Erik heard from DATCP that we need to have our Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance recertified by them by the
end of the year. There are no extensions allowed. Most of the hard work is done and will need to reapply in
Spring of 2024. If DATCP can get everything certified by the end of 2024, nobody will lose the Farmland
Preservation tax credits.
Farmland Preservation Program
Erik reported that Brian Conley has voluntarily opted out of the Farmland Preservation Program. He is not a
resident of the state anymore, so he doesn’t qualify for the program. Letters were sent out to all the participants
explaining the new changes to the Farmland Preservation. Have been receiving some calls from producers. One
of our Agronomist, Nina Carns, has passed away. Brady has been calling producers who have used her business
to write their Nutrient Management Plans to inform them of her passing, so they know to make other
arrangements. The CSZD will be offering a small farmer written NMP class on September 12th & 13th at the
Youth & Ag building. Will be bringing back the NMP update class in January. The CSZD is also working with
the Southwest Technical College with their farmer written NMP class. There is a charge to take those classes, but
SW Tech receives grant money to give back to those individuals that are taking the NMP class.
County Cost Sharing: Beginning Balance $23,409.28/Ending Balance $19,659.28
Erik asked for an extension request for Nikolaus & Katelyn Bognar, Potosi, Twp. well decommissioning project.
Plumber is having issues with pulling the pump. Extension was given to the end of the year. Motion by Pat
Schroeder, seconded by Porter Wagner to approve the extension to the end of the year. Motion carried.
Erik presented tentative approval request for county cost sharing on a waste facility closure for Randy & Kay
Waterman, Hickory Grove Twp., $3,750.00. Motion by Joe Mumm, seconded by Porter Wagner to approve the
Waterman’s cost share request. Motion carried.
SWRM Cost Sharing
2022 DATCP Cost Sharing: Beginning Balance $4,931.12/Ending Balance $4,931.12
2023 DATCP Cost Sharing: Beginning Balance $59,500.00/Ending Balance $59,500.00
2021 MDV Cost Sharing: Beginning Balance $0.00/Ending Balance $0.00
Storage Permit Approval:
None
Approval for New Phone System:
Erik reported that he met with Shane, Jessie, and Chris from IT to discuss a new phone system for the CSZD. The
cost is estimated to be $2,000 - $3,000. This will result in all new phones, phone numbers, and extensions. The
plan is to have the new phones installed on October 9th, Columbus Day, the office will be closed. Motion by
Brian Lucey, seconded by Joe Mumm to approve the CSZD new phone system. Motion carried.
Approval of Appointment of Citizen Farmer Non-Voting Member of Committee:
Erik reported that we used to have an FSA representative on the Conservation, Sanitation, and Zoning committee.
The FSA was a non-voting advisor. The state FSA withdrew the FSA representative from attending the CSZC
meetings. The language was changed to a citizen farmer who then can be a representative of the CSZC. Larry
Jarrett, North Lancaster Township, mentioned that he would be interested in joining the CSZC meetings. This is
an advisory roll this is not a voting member. Motion by Porter Wagner, seconded by Joe Mumm to bring Larry
Jarrett on to the Conservation, Sanitation, and Zoning committee as a non-voting member. Motion carried.
CSZD Administrator Report
Meetings
- August 8th – Executive Committee
- August 9th – BOA, 2 items on agenda, recommended approval on both, both were approved.
- August 15th – County Board
- August 17th – Southern Area Association Meeting in Dodgeville
- August 22nd – Tech/Pic Committee in Stevens Point, conference planning
- August 24th – Land Info
- August 31st – Zoom meeting with new invasive species coordinator (Upper Sugar River Watershed)
Matt Walrath left for UW.
Information
- FPP letters were sent out to all participants explaining changes in the program. Received some calls so far.
We are now asking for all NMP’s to be in to the CSZD by June 1st every year (new & updates).
There will be an update class held in September for current year’s spot check participants. There will be a
NMP update class offered in January for all that took the class with us in the past. Collaborating with SW
Tech to send all new folks to their classes and will assist them with their new and update classes. Erik will
be getting in touch with UW Platteville when time allows. Chris Baxter reached out to Erik, they have a
wetlands and hydrology class that they usually collaborate with the CSZD and the NRCS that they are doing
a site visit on a site in the Blue River Watershed. Erik will be talking to the class sometime in October.
There is a BOA scheduled for September 22nd at 8:00 a.m. in the County Board Room.
Erik reported that the DNR has released their MDV funding for next year. Grant County has the availability
for $148,000. Anyone knows of any projects to spend the money on. There are limitations as to what we can
do with those funds.
The FP Plan that was presented to the County Board in August was approved by DATCP. We are good for
another 10 years.
Justin and Erik found out that DATCP had called to say that our Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance needs to
be recertified by the end of the year. There are no extensions granted. Erik was told that the Comprehensive
Zoning Ordinance must be certified by the end of 2024. If it is certified by the end of 2024 no one
will be losing their Farmland Preservation tax credits.
Continuous Improvement
No Report.
NRCS Report: Mike Adams
- Working on certifying cover crop applications. They have contracts for people that had cover crops that were
seeded and flown on.
- Have been working on CRP Sign up’s all summer.
- EQIP sign up – there is a list of individuals interested in various practices. NRCS will be contacting those
individuals to get the planning done and hopefully they can get a contract over the winter.
FSA Report: Emily Schildgen
Erik reported that FSA is currentl y working on the pasture program, they are contacting landowners.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 5, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the County Board room. Motion by
Joe Mumm, seconded by Pat Schroeder. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted by Annette Lolwing for Porter Wagner