Wisconsin
Association
of
Land
Conservation Employees
|
Wisconsin
Association
of Land
Conservation Employees |
WALCE Secretary P.O. Box 39 Durand, WI 54736-0039 FAX: (715)672-824 sstocks@co.pepin.wi.us Approved Draft 08-21-03
December 4, 2003 – WALCE Minutes
Madison, Wisconsin – WLWCA Conference
Board Members Present: Dale Olson, Tom Sweeney, Shawn Stocks, Mark Jenks, Steve Bradley for Dan O’Connell, Greg Baneck, Greg Cleereman, Bryce Richardson, Penny Pohle
Others Present: Pat Murphy – NRCS, DNR Representatives
Call to Order: Dale Olson welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Agenda Change: Motion made by Tom Sweeney to move the DNR Report after the Treasurer’s Report. Motion seconded by Greg Baneck. Motion carried by voice vote.
Approval of October 2003 Minutes: The board reviewed the minutes. Motion made by Penny Pohle to accept the minutes as written. Motion seconded by Greg Baneck. Motion carried by voice vote.
Treasurer’s Report: Tom Sweeney updated the committee on the register report and budget update. Motion made by Greg Cleereman to approve the Treasurer’s Report as stated and to add a new line item for Conference 2004 in the treasurer’s report and move the CD account from Anchor Bank to First Federal upon expiration of the WALCE CD. Motion seconded by Shawn Stocks. Motion carried by voice vote.
DNR Report: Ken Wiesner gave a brief history /background of the Basin Partnership Team Program. He told us that the goal was always for the Partner Teams to become self supporting. Greg Cleereman read the excerpt from the letter sent to us by the DNR that stated that the main reason for creating the Teams was to get local participation in DNR goal setting and management decisions. Greg pointed out that the goals of self sufficiency and management participation were at odds with each other. I also used the example of counties work on revising shoreland zoning using Lake Classification criteria and DNR’s work on revising NR115 areas where the Basin Partnerships should have been involved. These efforts would be more effective if coordinated and mutually supporting. Ken says there will be a team created in 2004 to look at the future of the Partnerships. We are invited to participate.
Carroll Schall, DNR Lakes Team Leader, provided a brief update on the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership and DNR Lakes Program. Carroll attended for Jeff Bode, who had originally been invited. Greg Cleereman had requested that Jeff Bode attend the meeting to discuss opportunities to work together on lakes related issues, especially given that county reorganization and consolidations are putting LCD’s in the mix of zoning and Land Use regulation. One suggestion was to bring LCD, County Zoning, DNR Water Reg., Zoning, and Lake Program staff together at some future date to discuss areas of opportunity. Other possibilities included a web based collection of the latest scientific research on water quality issues for use in educations materials, and creation of materials publicizing projects and successes of lake groups and LCD’s in protecting water quality or habitat.
Planning Committee Update: Mark Jenks is working very hard to getting information together on the breakout sessions for the February Conference. Titles and bios are coming together and will have registration materials ready by the end of the next week. Will forward them to Shawn and she will add hotel accommodation materials and e-mail to Don Houtman so he can send out to all employees and agencies through out the state. Shawn will send out hard copies to all counties after that. Everything is going good and is coming together.
AB665 “Job Creation Act” letter: See attached - a joint letter went out from WALCE and WLWCA dated December 1, 2003.
NR115 Update: See attached sheet. Dale Olson is sending out to all counties encouraging them to send a letter on their own to elaborate on this issue.
NR151 Cost Analysis Update: See attached sheet. Dale Olson went on record with the Land and Water Board opposing the budget in the LWB packets. DATCP attempted to summarize all of the annual accomplishments turned in through the SWRM annual reports from counties. If this is an annual report WALCE would like to be a part of this in the future. – noted.
Open Discussion of DATCP Funding Allocation Proposals: Nick Neher is requesting a letter from Dale Olson on the funding allocation proposals from DATCP. Motion made by Steve Bradley to have Dale Olson send a letter to DATCP requesting that as DNR priority watersheds close and funding is transferred to DATCP, all transferred funding shall be retained in full for County Land Conservation Department Staffing Grants. Motion seconded by Tom Sweeney. Motion carried by voice vote.
Reorganization Structure and Timeline: Nominations will be sent out on Friday for the President and Vice President position for WALCE. These positions are up for re-election at the Annual WALCE Conference in February. A draft agenda will be put together for the WALCE Business Meeting. Time will be set aside for short area meetings after the business meeting in order for members to be selected to represent their areas on the new committees.
NRCS: Pat Murphy told the committee that Dale Konkel is no longer available for Sitcom. Sitcom is idle right now until we get back on track. Kevin Erb will be going to different areas for the certification training process. A bulletin went out changing the rules for engineering job approval. It is much stricter for the younger soil conservationists to receive engineering job approval. A letter of policy (Conservation System - HEL) from NRCS meeting “T” with ephemeral Erosion – 1 year to comply so you can receive FSA Benefits.
Any Other Business – Discussion Only: It is requested that Tom Sweeney have a 2003 Budget and a 2004 proposed budget ready for the January 15, 2003 Meeting. A letter from Dale Konkel resigning from Sitcom was read by Dale Olson. NACD Conference – not sure anyone will be available to go to Hawaii for this – Dale Olson would be a possibility for this and will get back to us.
Adjourn: Motion made by Shawn Stocks to adjourn the WALCE Board Meeting. Motion seconded by Tom Sweeney. Motion carried by voice vote.
Respectively Submitted By: Shawn Stocks, WALCE Secretary –
Approved Draft 1-15-04.