The meeting was called to order by the Chair, D. Boettcher, at 8:45 a.m.  Members present were D. Boettcher, J. Brost, J. Dahl, L. Ludwigson, E. Rineck, and L. Willkom. 

Members absent were P. Licht.

Agency staff present were T. Lindsay (NRCS), J. Myers (FSA), G. Sazama (Corporation Counsel), M. Dahlby, D. Masterpole, L. Richardson, R. Yohnk, and J. Schemenauer - Recorder (LCD).

Others present were P. Taylor (Chippewa Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever).

Item #1 -Minutes/Bills/Plans/Contracts/Agreements.

The minutes from the 2/17/05 and 2/24/06 LCC meetings were presented.  Motion to approve the 2/17/05 and 2/24/05 LCC minutes, as presented: Ludwigson/Brost.  Motion carried.

The LCD program bills, Duncan Creek project bills, and Recycling program bills were presented.  Motion to approve bills: Rineck/Ludwigson.  Motion carried.

J. Myers presented certificates of appreciation to LCD staff members from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in recognition of services provided to landowners through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

Item #2 - Review Current Intergovernmental Agreement for Recycling Services Between Chippewa County and City of Chippewa Falls.

R. Yohnk distributed and the Committee reviewed the following material:

1.         Outline titled:  Exhibit A - Chippewa County Solid Waste & Recycling Responsibilities for the City of Chippewa Falls Contract.  The outline provides a summary of the contractual responsibilities to be performed by the County and by the City to administer the City of Chippewa Falls recycling program.

2.         Table titled:  Summary of Administrative Activities Conducted Under the 66.30 Intergovernmental Agreement Between Chippewa County and the City of Chippewa Falls, to Support the Recycling Contract Between Chippewa Falls and its Contracted Hauler, (3/17/05).  The table provides a summary of the dates and activities performed by the County to administer the recycling contract between the City of Chippewa Falls and its contracted recycling hauler.

3.         Chart titled:  Summary of Hours Expended to Conduct Responsibilities Under the Intergovernmental Agreement for Recycling Services Between Chippewa County and the City of Chippewa Falls, (LCC 3/17/05).  The chart shows that the number of hours expended by the County during the first quarter have exceeded the number of hours budgeted for 2005.

There was general discussion regarding the time that the County has expended to meet its responsibilities under the recycling contract with the City of Chippewa Falls.

There was general agreement that County Corporation Counsel, LCC Chair, and recycling staff meet with the City staff to review the contract and to discuss amendments which may be warranted to clarify roles and responsibilities, and future compensation.

Item #3 - Review 2005 Recycling Efficiency Incentive (REI) Grant Proposal Between Chippewa County and Barron County.

R. Yohnk distributed and the Committee reviewed a handout titled:  2006 Recycling Efficiency Incentive (REI) Grant Proposal Between Chippewa County and Barron County, (LCC 3/17/05).  The handout provides information regarding the State REI grant process as follows:

•Purpose of Grant

To reward responsible units (RU’s) that have made efforts to improve the efficiency of their recycling programs through intermunicipal cooperation.

•Background

            History of Chippewa County grant applications and awards (2003-2005).

Year	Efficiency Gained	Grant Award
2003	None - Automatic payment to existing RU’s.	$36,843.46
2004	Village of Lake Hallie joined the Chippewa Co. RU.	$39,348.01
2005	Cooperative Agreement between Chippewa Co. & City of Cornell to improve the efficiency of Special collection recycling events.	To be awarded 6/05. Depends on # of participants.

•Issue

For past three years, the LCC has sought and received annual REI grants.  It has then applied the short-term revenue to offset the County tax levy, historically used to fund the County Recycling Program. 

•Proposal

Apply for a REI grant for the year 2006.  Chippewa County and Barron County would enter a cooperative agreement to enable municipalities from the Chippewa County RU to deliver and process recyclable plastics to the Barron County Material Recovery Facility for no charge.  Under the agreement, the municipalities from Chippewa County would need to deliver the plastics.

*It was noted that the Bloomer Area Recycling Center is now paying $22/ton and bearing full transportation costs to process the recyclable plastic at other facilities.

In pursuing this proposal, the staff has requested:

1.         Authorization to negotiate a cooperative agreement with the County of Barron for the purpose of pursuing a 2006 REI Grant.

2.         Policy clarification of how the LCC would intend to use the grant (if successful) as part of its ongoing fiscal strategy.

There was general discussion regarding past REI grants and the 2006 REI proposal.

Motion to:

1.         Authorize staff to pursue negotiations with the County of Barron and to submit a Year 2006 REI grant.

2.         Apply the 2006 grant revenue (if received) to temporarily offset the 2006 County tax levy, with the understanding that if this grant is not received in 2006, that the tax levy will be returned to the historic levy allocation used to fund the recycling program before it was first deferred using REI grants in 2003:

Willkom/Ludwigson.  Motion carried.

Item #4 - Report of Status of County Wetland Mitigation Bank Proposal.

M. Dahlby distributed and the Committee reviewed a handout titled:  3/17/05: Report on Status of Wetland Compensatory Mitigation Bank Project.  The report is an activity schedule which outlines steps in an administrative process that must be used to establish a wetland mitigation bank, and the status of an effort by the Highway Dept. to establish one. 

The Highway Department has requested assistance from the LCD to identify a potential mitigation bank site, and to seek DNR approval of the site.

There was general discussion regarding the status of the project, issues which remain to be addressed, and a tentative timeframe for completion.  

Item #5 - Set “Annual Criteria” for Year 2005 Chippewa County Stewardship Program Matching Grant Applications.

D. Masterpole distributed and the Committee reviewed a revised handout titled: Year 2005 2004 - Chippewa County Stewardship Grant Program Establishment of Annual Criteria for Evaluating and Selecting Project, (LCD 3/11/05 11/20/03). 

In presenting the material, it was noted that the Year 2005 grant criteria, as proposed, is identical to the Year 2004 grant criteria.  Guiding elements of the grant application criteria are as follows:

1.         Primary consideration will be given to:

            -Applicants who propose projects that will be matched by other grant sources.

            -Applicants who have not previously received a grant.

2.         All project requests will be evaluated based upon standing criteria, as established in the Chippewa County Stewardship Fund Policy and Procedures for Program Administration, (LCD 12/7/99).

3.         Additional matching guidelines include:

•Preference will be given to projects that propose use of combined funding (applicant match + County match) as a local match toward other State or Federal grant programs.

•Hard contribution from the applicant must be at least 10% of the amount of County funds requested.

            •Local expenses, which may be applied at 10% hard contributions, are as follows:

                        -Property appraisals.

                        -Survey costs.

                        -Recording fees.

                        -Donations toward an endowment for custodial management.

                        -Applicant’s in-kind services.

            •Gifts of land value may be used for local match but may not be applied to 10% hard contribution.

There was general discussion regarding the 2005 grant criteria.  Discussion focused on the “10% hard contribution” requirements.

Motion to:

                        1.         Adopt the proposed 2005 Chippewa County Stewardship Grant Program Criteria, and

                        2.         Review each individual stewardship grant application, as it is filed with the County:

Brost/Dahl.  Motion carried.

Item #6 - Review Applicants for County Stewardship Grant; Lyberg Wildlife Access.

M. Dahlby introduced P. Taylor, representing the Chippewa Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever, Inc. (CVPF).

M. Dahlby presented and the Committee reviewed the following material:

1.         A GIS based presentation illustrating the location of the Lyberg Wildlife Access in proximity to the Hwy. 29 corridor and to residential areas in the Village of Lake Hallie and the Town of Lafayette.

2.         Map titled: Lyberg Wildlife Access (March, 2005).  The map shows the location of the Lyberg Wildlife Access in proximity to a landlocked 80 acre parcel owned by the DNR.

3.         Handout titled: Pheasants Forever, Inc., Lyberg Wildlife Access; Project Budget Review.  The handout is a budget from the County Stewardship Local Match Grant Application, submitted by Pheasants Forever.

P. Taylor presented an overview of the grant application as follows:

                                                            •Project name:               Lyberg Wildlife Access

                                                            •Location:                                 T28N, R8W, Section 21

                                                            •Budget & Grant Request:         $5,220 (CFPF) - 68%
                                                $3,250 (LCC  ) - 32%
                                                $8,470

                                                            •Size and Use:                           20 acres; wetlands, sedge meadow/cattail marsh.

                                                            •Future Management:                Wildlife management and public hunting.  To be managed by a private nonprofit organization or deeded to DNR.

There was general discussion regarding the merits of the proposal.  It was noted that the property would be contiguous to a corridor of open space in an urbanizing area, and would offer permanent public access to an 80 acre parcel, owned by the Department of Natural Resources, which is currently landlocked and unaccessible. 

Motion to award a $3,250 grant to the Chippewa Valley Pheasants Forever, Inc., as administered through the Chippewa County Stewardship Fund Year 2005 grant cycle, for the purpose of implementing the project as proposed: Dahl/Brost.  Motion carried.

The next LCC meeting was scheduled for Thursday, April 21, 2005, at 8:45 a.m.

Motion to adjourn: Willkom/Rineck.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:45 a.m.