The monthly meeting of the Rusk County Land and Forestry Committee was called to order at 9:00 A.M., Monday, July 12, 2010.

Present from the committee were: Phil Schneider, Bob Nawrocki, Roger Svoma and Tony Hauser.

Gene DuSell is absent due to failing health. Phil Schneider – Vice Chair ran the meeting.

Also present were Paul Teska, County Forest Administrator; Terry Tappon, DNR Forester.

Motion by Hauser to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, 2nd by Svoma , carried.

Motion by Svoma to adjust the agenda as necessary, 2nd by,Hauser, carried.

Public Copy Policy – Teska would like to come up with a uniform policy on how we charge for copies of maps. We have been getting requests for copies of our entire GIS (Geographic Information System) Road Maps. We have had 2 different requests for maps and we charged the people $50.00 for the disk. When the Forestry Dept. provides a CD with any GIS Information, the charge will be $50.00. When people want a copy of other GIS maps we have been just charging the copy cost of .25¢ each; we should charge $2.50 for the map. Discussion on the cost to the county, our GPS equipment that we have used to set up this information.

Motion by Svoma to set up a copy charge policy of $50.00 for a disk of the GIS Information and $5.00 + tax per 8 ½ X 11 page for any other Map. Also have the purchaser sign a waiver stating that they will not reproduce the maps or use them for profit.

2nd by Hauser, carried.

Island Lake Dam - The State had sent the County a list of things that needed to be done at the dam after their October 2009 Inspection. Last December we hired Morgan & Parmley to do an Interm Emergency Action Plan, and Dam Failure Analysis, Inspection, Operation and Maintenance Plan and a report on repairs that need to be done so Highway Dept. will know what to do. We need to get the Dam Failure Analysis done and the Highway Dept. to do their work. Cost estimate from Morgan & Parmley is $16,500 to $ 22,500.00 and for the Interm Emergency Action Plan $ 450.00. We do have the money budgeted. Nawrocki questioned putting this out on bids. There are standards for dams that not all engineers have.

Discussion on bidding process. Committee was in agreement that Morgan & Parmley has already invested a lot of time in this project already so we will not bid this project out, but future projects we should bid out. Discussion on the state starting to do other dam inspections.

Motion by Hauser to have Morgan & Parmley do the Final Emergency Action Plan, Dam Failure Analysis and then have the Highway Dept. do the needed concrete dam repairs based on Morgan & Parmley’s report, 2nd by Svoma, carried.

Forestry Dept Trucks – Teska had budgeted $9,000 for 2010 for a pick-up truck if we can get a 3-year lease program. We have bid trucks both ways, outright and with a lease. Looking for a ¾ ton extended cab, minimum 6 liter, trailer towing, skid plate. Replacing one of the ½ ton pick-ups.

Motion by Svoma to bid truck out and open the bids at the August Forestry Committee Meeting, 2nd by Nawrocki, carried.

2010 Campground Revenue report - Revenue is up a little from 2009. Discussion held.

Timber Sale Contracts Closeouts and Renewals -

Motion by Hauser to close out Contract # 2296 – John Hruby - Close out and Cancel Letter of Credit, 2nd by Svoma, carried.

Motion by Hauser to close out Contract # 2325 – Tom Hartwig Logging – Close out and return the cash bond of $11,049.52 when the wood is hauled, 2nd by Svoma, carried.

Discussion on Tim Vacho Sales, # 2217 and # 2326. Tim owes $17,544.00 total for timber stumpage on the two contracts. He has not paid on #2217 since March of 2010, owing

$7,700.00. Then moved into his summer job Contract # 2326 and now owes $9,766 and has not made any payment on this. We have sent him past due payments every month. Vacho has one other old sale. We had given him contract renewals with no increases until October 2010.

2010 Forestry Budgets –

Transfers: State Aid Forestry Budget - we had a carryover of $ 24,024.35 and Teska would like to use it in 2010 for Road Repairs. Teska would like to gravel the John Creek Road. He got prices from the Highway Dept of $7.00/yard $11,200.00. Brushing about 10 miles on the Weirgor & Betty Lk Roads $11,500.00. 200 - 300 Yards of Crushed Gravel on Hervas Road; Hwy Dept gave a price of - $20.84/Yard; Haas gave a price of $12.33/Yard; Olynick gave a price of $ 9.05/Yard.

Motion by Hauser to recommend to County Board to transfer the $24,024.35 carry forward,

2nd by Svoma, carried.

Motion by Nawrocki to bid out the two Gravel Projects and open bids at the August Forestry Committee, 2nd by Hauser, carried.

Motion by Nawrocki to put the brushing out on Bids, 2nd by Hauser, Svoma voted no, motion carried.

Motion to approve bills by Hauser, 2nd by Svoma, carried.

2011 Budgets - Committee went over. Discussion held.

Teska passed out a worksheet showing stumpage revenues and levy information for the past 14 years. Teska also passed out a worksheet showing timber volumes cut.

Discussion on Josie Creek Clubhouse. Park Development Budget; take $8,000.00 from the powerline fund along with $4,000.00 carry forward and create a line for Josie Creek Clubhouse/Playground Equipment in the amount of $12,000.00.

Motion by Hauser to approve the 2011 budgets as presented 2nd by Svoma, carried.

Next meeting is on Monday, August 9, 2010.

Motion by Hauser to adjourn at 12:20, 2nd by Svoma, carried.