WAUPACA COUNTY
LAND AND WATER
CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA
April
29, 2014
Courthouse,
Waupaca
Chair
Federwitz called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
Present: DuWayne Federwitz, Pat Craig, Bob
Ellis, Walter Strebe, Dale Trinrud, and Dick Rohan (Lee Much was excused).
Also Present: Roger Holman, Brian Haase, Lisa Neuenfeldt and
Dave Heideman
Federwitz gave
the open meeting statement.
Motion by Craig,
seconded by Ellis to approve the agenda.
Motion carried.
Motion by Craig,
seconded by Ellis to approve the April 7, 2014 minutes. Motion carried.
Federwitz called
for nominations for Chair.
Motion by Ellis,
seconded by Strebe to nominate Federwitz.
Federwitz called
for nominations three times.
Motion
by Craig, seconded by Ellis to close nominations for Chair and cast a unanimous
ballot for DuWayne Federwitz. Motion
carried.
Federwitz
thanked the Committee.
Federwitz
called for nominations for Vice Chair three times.
Motion
by Craig, seconded by Strebe to nominate Ellis for Vice Chair
Federwitz
called for nominations three times.
Motion
by Craig, seconded by Trinrud to close nominations for Vice Chair and cast a
unanimous ballot for Bob Ellis. Motion
carried.
Ellis
thanked the Committee.
Federwitz
opened the meeting for public comment.
There was none.
Haase
gave new members the Waupaca County Land and Water Resource Management Plan,
list of acronyms, WLWCA Booklet, and Chapter NR151. Haase explained what the Land & Water
Conservation Department does and gave a brief review of the documents
Lisa
Neuenfeldt introduced herself and explained her role with NRCS. Neuenfeldt stated that they still have not
been given direction on EQIP even though the Farm Bill passed in February. They are waiting for funding on the Honey Bee
application with 16 applications. Pigeon
River sign-up continues until May 30th for the second round. The
earlier signup has not been able to showcase completed projects which often
time encourages signups. To date, there
is a lower sign-up then in the first round.
Neuenfeldt handed out and reviewed a summary of the Farm Bill.
Dave
Heideman introduced himself and his agency FSA.
Heideman noted that due to retirement he will now be covering Outagamie
County. Heideman handed out and reviewed
information on the Disaster Programs offered by FSA, including the Livestock
Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), noting
that ELAP covers livestock and crop losses due to adverse weather not covered
by LIP or LFP. Heideman explained TAP, which provides cost share for
rehabilitation or reestablishment for weather related losses to fruit and nut
trees, vines, such as grapes and Christmas trees and nurseries.
Federwitz
thanked Neuenfeldt and Heideman for their reports.
Haase,
Federwitz and Ellis reported on the April 25th LWLWCA meeting in
Neshkoro. The main topic was presented
by DNR on the nutrient trading bill. Haase
discussed the issue of phosphorous management and the limits that need to be
met by municipalities to meet state standards.
The bill would allow municipalities to shift money for a municipal
treatment plant upgrade to the Land & Water Department for farm practices
in the watershed to address phosphorous removal.
Ellis
attended the Wisconsin Lakes meeting in Stevens Point. Ellis noted that the work to protect water
goes down to the grass roots. Discussion
occurred on the impact of the Pigeon River project on the Pigeon River Lake
District and pond.
Haase
reported on the status of Waupaca County’s Nutrient Management Plan list. Out of 94 plans on the submittal list all but
20 have been received to date. Of the 20
missing plans, 12 are required by ordinance or program contracts. Staff will continue to pursue the completion
of those plans.
Haase
reported on the progress of the Farmland Preservation Plan. Several towns have completed their
comprehensive plan amendments. The last
town is scheduled to be done on June 2nd. Afterwards the county will have to go through
its own amendment process. Haase and
Ryan Brown are still hoping for a late summer completion.
Haase
reported that the LWCD has received the new ¾ ton pickup truck. The annual tree sale will be April 30th
to May 3rd. There is a tentative date of
June 18th for WLWCA to hold a training session in Oshkosh for new
committee members or any others that wish to attend. The purple loosestrife root dig will be on
May 6th at South Park. School
Section Lake is now on the EPA 303d list.
RC&D has had to cut hours to several employees due to a loss of DNR
grant funding which may impact AIS services to the county. Additionally, Haase is working with DNR on
possible Notice of Intent to issue a Notice of Discharge (NOI/NOD) for the Mork
farm in St. Lawrence and the Gonzalez farm in Lind.
Holman
reported that the Management Team is starting the process to address the
strategic questions developed by the County Board during the planning process
held in September of 2013. Holman
reviewed the top options. Holman
reported the team is working on Department Head evaluations and started
discussions on the 2015 budget.
The
next meeting was set for June 2 at 9:00 a.m.
Motion
by Strebe, seconded by Ellis to adjourn.
Motion carried.
Meeting
adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
Submitted
by,
Roger G. Holman