D. Masterpole distributed and the Committee reviewed correspondence from S. Humrickhouse (DNR), (2/13/06), to the LCC.  The correspondence thanked the County for its contributions to the McCann Creek Wild Lakes Partnership (S. Lewis Project), and invited members to participate in a ceremony to inform the public of the project.

Item #2 - Discuss Establishment of Conservation Fund Endowment Through the Chippewa County Foundation.

D. Masterpole distributed and the Committee reviewed a handout titled:  A Conceptual Overview of a Proposed Community Conservation Fund, (LCD 2/15/06).  The handout outlines a proposal which could be used to provide an opportunity for corporations and members of the public to make charitable donations toward land conservation projects in Chippewa County.

1.         Purpose.  The purpose of the conservation fund is to preserve natural areas for scientific study, resource protection, and public use through direct land purchase or through permanent conservation covenants.

2.         Method.  In order to achieve this purpose, the County would establish an agency based “donor advised endowment” through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, Inc.  As proposed, this endowment would be segregated into two parts:

A.        A Community Acquisition Fund.  To accept and distribute community donations to support  future land or easement acquisitions.

 

B.         A Land Management Endowment.  To accept community donations and to distribute the interest from those donations to land trusts and nonpoint conservation organizations for the purpose of property management and oversight.

There was general discussion regarding the proposed conservation fund.  Discussion focused on:

1.         The role/responsibility of LCC in relation to that of the Community Foundation trustees.

2.         The appropriate linkages and/or separations from public funds (i.e. County Stewardship Fund).

3.         The establishment of criteria or guidelines for the dispersal of funds to private nonprofit organizations.

4.         Opportunities which could be explored to provide options for earmarked donations (i.e. for specific projects, projects types, or geographic areas).

Motion to support and advance the concept of establishing a community-based conservation fund through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, Inc., for the purpose of preserving natural areas for scientific study, resource protection, and public use through direct land purchase or through permanent conservation covenants: Dahl/Willkom.  Motion carried.

Item #3 - Set 2006 Annual Grant Criteria; Chippewa County Stewardship Fund.

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

1.         Map titled:  Location of Conservation Easements and Parcels with Public Access Acquired by Municipalities and Nonprofit Conservation Organizations Using the Chippewa County Stewardship Program, 2000-2005, (L/CD 11/05).  The map shows the location of conservation easements and public land acquisitions which have been purchased using the Chippewa County Stewardship Fund from 2000-2005.

2.         Revised handout titled: Year 2006 - Chippewa County Stewardship Grant Program Establishment of Annual Criteria for Evaluating and Selecting Project, (LCD 2/10/06). 

In presenting the material, it was noted that:

1.         The Year 2006 grant criteria, as proposed, are similar to the Year 2005 grant criteria with some additions.

2.         Proposed changes to the annual grant criteria are shown on the handout as highlights (additions) and strikeovers (deletions).

The proposed 2006 grant criteria were presented as follows:

                        A.        Priority will be given to:

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

                        -Applicants who have not previously received a grant.

                        Additional language was added to the criteria as follows:

                                                “1.        Priority will be given to:

                                                                        c.         Non-profit Organizations or municipal governments (cities, villages, towns), that request up to $50,000 for:

                                                                                                iii.         Acquisition of conservation easements to protect areas of farmland which have been identified in an approved Town land use plan, and which has been subsequently zoned for “Production Agriculture” with an established density of no more than 1 residential unit per 35 acres.

                        B.         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).

                        C.         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 2006 grant criteria. 

Discussion focused on:

1.         The inclusion of  “conservation easements to protect areas of farmland” as a consideration for grant funding. 

2.         The deletion of “Applicant’s in-kind services”, which was previously included under local expenses that could be considered as part of the applicant’s 10% hard contribution.

Motion to adopt the proposed 2006 Chippewa County Stewardship Grant Program Criteria: Michels/Dahl.  Motion carried.

Item #4 - Review Compliance Status of Bars and Restaurants; County Recycling Ordinance.

A. Wellnitz distributed and the Committee reviewed the following material:

1.         Charts titled:  Chippewa County Business and Institutional Assessment Project Compliance Status of Bars & Restaurants.  Two charts were shown with the following information:

•Chart 1 - Bars and Restaurants Assessed.  The chart shows the bars and restaurants assessed from 2001-2006 that are in compliance (166) and businesses that are not in non-compliance (10).         

•Chart 2 - Status of Non-Compliant Bars and Restaurants.  Of the ten (10) which were previously not in compliance, six (6) are now in compliance and four (4) are working toward compliance.

2.         Table titled:  Chippewa County Business and Institutional Assessment Project, Compliance Status of Bars & Restaurants, (LCC 2/16/06).

There was general discussion.

Item #5 - Review Draft Working Agreement for Shared Services with Eau Claire County to Implement Stormwater Education Program.

D. Masterpole distributed and the Committee reviewed a working draft agreement titled:  Storm Water Management Public Education and Outreach Cooperative Agreement, (2/15/06).  The content of the  agreement is as follows:

1.         Parties of the agreement.

2.         Term of Contract.

3.         Purpose of Contract.

4.         Program Summary.

5.         Scope of Services.

6.         Liaisons.

7.         Notices.

8.         Insurance.

9.         Mutual Indemnification.

10.        Waiver of Breaches.

11.        Applicable Law.

12.        Section Headings.

13.        Non-Assignment of Agreement.

14.        Modifications to Agreement.

15.        Integration of Agreement.

There was general discussion.

Discussion focused on:

1.         Using the agreement as a means to develop a joint education/outreach program and to evaluate institutional mechanisms which could be used to implement that program to meet requirements of

            NR 216.07.

2.         Adding a termination clause to the agreement.

Item #6 - Review Results of DNR Program Review; Implementation of Agricultural Performance Standards (NR151).          

D. Masterpole distributed and the Committee reviewed correspondence from J. Pfender (DNR) to D. Masterpole (LCD), (2/9/06).  The correspondence summarized the positive results of a NR151 Program review conducted 2/2/06.

There was general discussion.

Item #7 - View Video; S. Lewis Project.

The Committee reviewed a video broadcast on the Wisconsin Public Television show “In Wisconsin”, (1/06).  The video highlights efforts in Chippewa County to conserve land through the McCann Creek Wild Lakes Partnership Project (S. Lewis project).

Item #8 - Closed Session.

Motion to adjourn the regular session at 10:35 a.m.: Willkom/Michels.  Motion carried.

Motion to go into closed session according to WI Statutes 19.85 to consider employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data on any public employee which the government body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility: Willkom/Michels.  Roll call called.  Voting yes:  D. Boettcher; J. Brost, J. Dahl, P. Licht, P. Michels, E. Rineck, and L. Willkom.  Motion carried.

L. Willkom left the meeting.

Motion to come out of closed session at 11:30 a.m.: Dahl/Michels.  Roll call called: Voting yes:  D. Boettcher; J. Brost, J. Dahl, P. Licht, P. Michels, and E. Rineck.  Motion carried.

The next LCC meeting was scheduled for Thursday, March 16, 2006, at 8:30 a.m.

Motion to adjourn: Michels/Rineck.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:20 a.m.