WAUPACA COUNTY

LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

August 5, 2013

                                                                                                                                    Courthouse, Waupaca

Chair Federwitz called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Present:  DuWayne Federwitz, Bob Ellis, Darrell Handrich, Lee Much, Pat Craig, and Walter Strebe

Also Present:   Lisa Neuenfeldt, Dave Heideman, Brian Haase, and Roger Holman

Federwitz gave the open meeting statement.

Motion by Ellis, seconded by Craig to approve the agenda.  Motion carried.

Motion by Handrich, seconded by Much to approve the June 3, 2013 minutes with the addition of Ellis/Much adjournment motion.  Motion carried.

Federwitz opened the meeting for public comment.  There was none.

Heideman reported that the crop reporting deadline was August 2, but this year, due to changes in reporting deadlines, no late fee will be assessed until after Sept. 15.  For 2014 all perennial forage and fall seeded small grain crops must be reported by Nov. 15, the deadline for spring planted crops will be July 15, Direct and Counter Cyclical program (DCP) sign-up has been extended to Sept. 15, 31 offers were received during CRP general sign-up 45, with 27 (412.8 acres) having an Environmental Benefit Index (EBI) high enough (>208 pt) to be accepted, with these contracts beginning Oct. 1 and there were 7 new CREP/Continuous CRP contracts.

Neuenfeldt stated that NRCS received 4 applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program, all will be funded.  Sign-up statewide was less than previous years.  Neuenfeldt noted that NRCS will be developing CRP plans for all approved contracts (27) plus six Continuous CRP contracts.

Neuenfeldt and Haase reported on the applications received for the Pigeon Lake National Water Quality Initiative.  Over 30 applications were processed totaling over one million dollars in cost share funds.  Included in those applications were practices that involve correcting agricultural waste problems at five different sites.

Discussion followed on all the programs.  Federwitz thanked Heideman and Neuenfeldt for their reports.

Haase, Much, Handrich and Strebe discussed the LWLWCA summer tour held in Waupaca in late July.  The tour focused on the use of foundry sand as a beneficial reuse product.  Sites toured included Waupaca Foundry Plants 2 & 3 as well as Swan Park and Breezy Hill Dairy, LLC.

Holman reviewed the 2014 proposed LWCD budgets.  Holman noted that the budget has a 0% operations increase and has funding available for an Agronomist Tech position.

Discussion followed on the position, the contracted position, and how a contracted position could be changed to a full-time position to meet the needs of the new Farmland Preservation Program and Nutrient Management Plan review.  Haase reviewed the duties of the position.

Motion by Craig, seconded by Ellis to recommend the creation of an Agronomist Tech position to be filled August 1, 2014, providing funding is available.  Motion carried.

Discussion occurred on moving the Water Quality position into the main budget.

Motion by Ellis, seconded by Much to move the Water Quality position into the main budget while continuing the Water Quality program under the main budget.  Motion carried.

Motion by Much, seconded by Handrich, to recommend a Land & Water Conservation Department budget of $773,358.46 expenditures and $520,953.00 revenues, with a tax levy of $262,405.46.  Motion carried.

Haase reported that the preliminary Farmland Preservation Plan and maps had been sent to DATCP in Early July and some initial feedback had been issued to the Planning and Zoning Department.  P & Z and Land & Water will continue to work on the plan.  The DATCP grant for Farmland Preservation is also being worked on for reimbursement of time spent on the FP plan.

Holman reported the Management Team is working on CIP, department head evaluations and the 2014 budget.

The next meeting was set for Sept. 4 at 1:00 p.m.

Motion by Craig, seconded by Handrich to adjourn.  Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 AM.

                                                                                    Submitted by,

                                                                                    Roger G. Holman

                                                                                    Recording Secretary