WAUPACA COUNTY

FARMLAND PRESERVATION STEERING COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

                                    June 20, 2012

Room 1068 - Courthouse, Waupaca

Acting Chair Haase called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m and gave open meeting statement and switched agenda items 4 and 5.

Roll Call / Introductions.

Appointed Members Present:  Margie Schmidt, Art Richardson, Walter Strebe, Dennis Desens, Jackie Beyer, Doug Behnke, Tom Bleck, Glen Newsome, Jim Biddison, Gary Marx, Frank Bauer Jr., and Greg Hanson.

Also Present:   Gary Prill, Bob Opperman, Bill Jonely, Melinda Osterberg, Brian Haase and Jane Haasch  (NOTE - Some of these will be appointed by County Board as official members of this committee per their towns request, prior to the next meeting).

Haase called for nominations for Chair of the FPP Steering Committee.

Motion by Schmidt, second by Richardson to nominate Jackie Beyer for Chair.

Haase called for nominations 3 times.

Motion by Behnke, seconded by Richardson to close nominations and cast an unanimous ballot for Beyer for Chair.  Motion carried.

Beyer called for nominations for Vice-Chair.

Motion by Richardson, second by Marx to nominate Behnke for Vice-Chair.

Beyer called for nominations 3 times.

Motion by Richardson, seconded by Bleck to close nominations and cast an unanimous ballot for Behnke for Vice-Chair.  Motion carried.

Beyer called for nominations for Secretary.

Motion by Richardson, second by Beyer to nominate Biddison for Secretary.

Beyer called for nominations 3 times.

Motion by Behnke, seconded by Beyer to close nominations and cast an unanimous ballot for Biddison for Secretary.  Motion carried.

Motion by Hansen, seconded by Newsome to approve the agenda.  Motion carried.

Haase gave overview of slide presentation given at the March 27 &28 cluster meetings.  Discussion occurred on the topics of forestry and wetland inclusion, following the town comprehensive plans and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) not accepting Agriculture and Woodland Transition (AWT) planned areas into farmland preservation.

Osterberg reviewed Public Participation Plan and the duties of the Steering committee.  Discussion occurred on lack of public interest and timing of FP planning vs comp planning.

Osterberg discussed mapping procedure for towns and suggested that the town planning commissions meet with Osterberg and Haase present as soon as possible.  Osterberg also suggested that towns create only one mapping category for Farmland Preservation.  Discussion occurred to clarify.

Chairperson Beyer called for a 10 minute break.

Haase handed out survey on Land Resource Goal Development to give everybody a chance to prioritize their goals.  Discussion occurred regarding subdivisions and non-farmers.

Osterberg noted that 3 “experts” will be added to the Steering Committee by next meeting.

The next meeting was set for July 25, 7:00 p.m. in Manawa.

Beyer opened meeting to public comment.

Motion by Richardson, seconded by Marx to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.  Motion carried.

Submitted by,

Jim Biddison, Secretary