Transcript

Event transcript
So we welcome you here today. 00:00:00
There's 2 Dean's serving Wisconsin. He is one of them so and we we've been working with him the last few months. 00:00:02
So thank you for coming today. 00:00:08
Thanks for having us. 00:00:11
And So what this is today is we've been working. 00:00:12
They've been working, I have been working on their work plans from the forum and from other other things. And today this is, this 00:00:15
is required of the MOU, the agreement the county has with extension. 00:00:23
So this is part of our contract and MOU. So that's what this is the role of the committee plays in this is essentially. 00:00:30
We are to evaluate the. 00:00:37
Strategic view or goals of the county. 00:00:41
In that what she says aligns with the county. So our discussion will focus on that and if you notice in your handout she is very. 00:00:44
Graciously put on the bottom of each one how this aligns with the county goals. 00:00:52
So go ahead, all right. 00:00:58
So appreciate this time to talk through this. It's a great opportunity for Dodge County as well as extension because you're the 00:01:00
first county that has went through this. So the materials that we're developing here is going on to a state team. I just want to 00:01:05
let you know. 00:01:11
So what we've learned here, we're learning even more and more to move forward. So next time we do this, we'll probably do it a 00:01:17
little bit differently just to enhance what we've done. 00:01:21
The educators really worked really hard to put these together and as well as our support staff to get it to so it looks like 00:01:26
Andrew said very high level, so it's understandable. Extension tends to write a lot. 00:01:33
So if you have questions when I go through these, I do have some questions for you, you know, please bring them up. 00:01:41
I'm going to start on the human development relationship. 00:01:47
Institute we went through and identified the top priorities. Now this was the with the Community Needs Forum. 00:01:51
As well as other assessments and it does say that in the MO U that will do the needs assessment or we call the community. 00:02:00
Needs for them as well as bring in other materials like state plans that really identified the issues in a human development 00:02:08
relationship. 00:02:12
From there you see. 00:02:17
What the priorities were and I'm not going to read through every single one. 00:02:19
We were asked by Cameron and Andrew to say what we are currently doing to address these needs and that is there. 00:02:23
And then the outcomes too. So OK, you're doing what's what, you know, what's the outcome for that. So that's also listed in there. 00:02:33
When we talked about. 00:02:44
Ways to expand our programming. We call it opportunities for expansion, and that's usually the yellow highlighted part. 00:02:47
In each one of these plans and it really talks about what they have done, but what are other opportunities to really? 00:02:54
Enhance what we've learned. 00:03:02
And the needs to address the needs in Dodge County. 00:03:04
And like Cameron said, we did talk about the alignment with the county priorities on each one of them. 00:03:08
In addition to that, just above that, we talked about the resources that were used to help develop this. The Community Needs Forum 00:03:15
was one piece, but there were other things to come in. 00:03:21
To it. I'm going to go on to the next thing, but if you have questions on this one. 00:03:27
Or do you want to save them? 00:03:32
I'll just keep talking. I'm a good talker. 00:03:34
But we get we can go back to any of them. 00:03:38
With the egg piece of it, both crops and dairy, they work together. They identified some needs. Now I just want to be very clear 00:03:41
that the needs that may have rose, I mean, are not the focus of crops and dairy now. It is a focus like the secession planning. I 00:03:48
don't really want to point that out there. We have a farm management state team that addresses that with Will and Manuel here. 00:03:55
Extension has always. 00:04:03
Great connector. They know what's going on. So if a farmer comes and says we need additional succession, we need succession 00:04:11
planning, Will and Manuel can direct them to the state's. 00:04:17
Opportunities. The state connection. 00:04:24
So the opportunity for expansion was just because they don't do it doesn't mean that that we don't do it as a state. 00:04:27
And then the same thing they talked about what the current programs that they were doing, the outcomes of that and the 00:04:36
opportunities for expansion. 00:04:40
It is aligned with the county priorities like all of our programs are. 00:04:44
I'm going on to the next one. 00:04:50
Youth development 4H. They talked about mental health, of course, the networks, youth education, which that's what we do. 00:04:53
And then? 00:05:02
Murray went through, talked about what they were currently doing. 00:05:04
And then at the same thing, the way to expand opportunities for expansion. 00:05:08
And she does have the alignment to the county priorities. 00:05:15
Is there any questions yet before I go to the next one? 00:05:20
OK, you'll notice I didn't send the community development piece. 00:05:25
One, it's not because that wasn't done and it was facilitated very well. We really didn't have the right people at the table. 00:05:30
We the mental health came to the top, which of course we know mental health is an issue, but the community development educators 00:05:38
focus is not just directly on mental health. The other we have other programs that work with that. So after talking to Andrew and 00:05:45
Cameron, we we decided that I think this would be a great opportunity to expand the community needs for him and to get get 00:05:52
disinvite those community folks to the table and Pat will work through. 00:05:59
Something similar but a little bit different. 00:06:07
To really. 00:06:09
Dig down deeper for what the needs are. 00:06:10
For Dodge County. 00:06:15
So that will come in time. 00:06:17
All right. Any questions before I ask you questions? 00:06:20
OK, so after reading through these pieces. 00:06:26
Did something come to mind, like what does this mean? Or you know, oh, I didn't know that. 00:06:32
This is this was an opportunity to have a discussion. 00:06:39
You know, not just me talking. 00:06:42
So was anything that? 00:06:44
You know, wow, I didn't know this. Oh. 00:06:46
I didn't know that or Oh yeah, I know this or what does this mean? 00:06:48
I used to be a teacher. I can go to each one. 00:06:57
Probably the most important one is youth spell and I think because that's the long range target to bring. 00:07:04
Good citizens into the community. 00:07:09
And my granddaughter's going to a charter school that's conservation oriented. 00:07:11
And they have an on site 30 acre farm. 00:07:16
And one just went to high school. 00:07:19
Is not of the same. 00:07:22
Mindset, let me say. 00:07:25
And she has a sharp contrast with what she left at 8th grade. 00:07:27
To what you saw in 9th grade. 00:07:31
So the youth development is key to long term for Dodge County. 00:07:32
Yeah. 00:07:37
I agree the hands on experience and you know, the projects are just the vehicles. It's those life skills that you talk about that 00:07:38
they develop and they I don't think they realize they're developing them through the project. So yeah, you're that's great. I 00:07:43
presented at her school a couple times and. 00:07:47
1st grade through 8th through all engaged. 00:07:53
They stayed after class to see more detail. 00:07:56
That's good. That's wonderful. 00:08:00
I didn't know. 00:08:03
And I'm on Human Services, so I'm like, OK, wow, I didn't know you had this program called We Cope for Early Childcare 00:08:04
Incarcerated populations. 00:08:09
And endogenous upon correctional. 00:08:15
With financial liturgy, literacy, and coaching, I. 00:08:18
I had no idea that thing existed. That's pretty cool. 00:08:22
That's good. 00:08:26
Any other insights that came up? 00:08:31
Overspending the youth. 00:08:36
Overspend on the youth. 00:08:38
Good, all right is. 00:08:43
Well, did you have anything else that you thought? Well, I didn't. I was surprised that this didn't come up or that didn't come 00:08:44
up. 00:08:48
Maybe just mentioned that food wise how it. 00:08:52
Oh, you got it. OK, sorry. I appreciate that. You want us to make a motion now? 00:08:55
I don't know. Do you have to make a motion? I think we want one. I think, I think, I think we do want a motion. So for what 00:09:00
purpose? We want a purpose. We want a motion to that we've reviewed the work plans and and we we want to approve the work plans 00:09:05
that they have presented, we've worked with them on. 00:09:10
It's a big deal in our contract because. 00:09:16
What has happened in other counties is the work plans were different than the county's objectives and we, the committee here, have 00:09:21
checked these work plans and they align with the objectives so. 00:09:25
Being the first county in the state doing this, Cameron and I and. 00:09:30
Thought in also I think you thought and extension thought it was just to make communication crystal clear and clean that the 00:09:36
county has checked these. 00:09:40
So I would be looking for a motion to approve the three work. 00:09:45
Plans presented. 00:09:49
Unless you want further discussion, but that would be the motion that we would be looking for from this committee. 00:09:51
I'll make that motion. 00:09:57
OK, Bill, we have a second. 00:09:58
I'll second it. Second, John, any further discussion on the work plans the three presented? 00:10:00
And we will do a separate one for the community needs that, she said. Because we have a new forum. 00:10:05
And we look at the and see how it lines up. 00:10:09
Those in favor signify by saying aye aye. Those opposed. 00:10:12
OK. Motion passed unanimously. Go ahead. Yeah. And I just want to build on that too. You know, these, that this work plan, you 00:10:16
know, we'll have these discussions throughout the year and report back on how things are going. Just so you know, it's just not 00:10:24
like a piece of paper that's going to be filed away. So we'll report back on here as well as in our electronic communication also. 00:10:32
I know Cameron, Andrew and I talked about food wise. 00:10:41
And just shared a little bit about what food wise is and why they didn't really have a work plan. 00:10:44
Their partners were invited, the partners that they were were invited and the many of them came a food wise is a federally funded. 00:10:50
Program. 00:10:57
It targets a very certain audience, schools that it's more of the income challenge folks that they work with. So they have a very 00:10:59
specific audience that they work with part of the grant. 00:11:06
So the objectives and the goals are all part of that grant and then they report back on on it. It's a great resource from 00:11:12
extension in the counties because there is no cost other than them being housed in the in the offices. So they work. 00:11:20
With youth very young and parents to help them. 00:11:28
Make good choices, healthy choices with eating. In addition to that, they work with the senior population and part of our neither 00:11:34
community forum talked about social isolation for the elderly. And they do. 00:11:41
Umm, strong bodies with the strength program. Or you know, light weights as well as they now have a new walking program for 00:11:49
seniors. 00:11:53
So it's a very specific audience. So it's not like we discounted them. They were at the table and they do share. 00:11:57
Food Wise does a great job with assessments, so they know because they have to report federally. 00:12:04
It's fine my. 00:12:12
One, thanks again for, you know, in a sense being the the pilot in the state for, you know, doing this work and and engaging with 00:12:14
us in. 00:12:18
Holding the the forum and. 00:12:23
You know, partnering on on these work plans. I do have a question. 00:12:26
You know, as Cindy mentioned, this will. 00:12:30
We're learning through this process, implementing this across the state. 00:12:32
Some interested in the format or other feedback about the process as well. I know many of you were at the forum. 00:12:36
Obviously been reviewing materials so if you have any. 00:12:45
Feedback on that as well. I'd be interested like the the. 00:12:49
The format that we provide. 00:12:52
Makes sense. Is that the right amount of detail? 00:12:54
Would you like to have seen? 00:12:57
More or less or any any feedback on that level? 00:12:58
I thought it was the right amount. 00:13:03
Can you just explain to me? 00:13:06
Like like sort of the next step because like you didn't get the. 00:13:08
Sort of. 00:13:12
Full feedback that you wanted. So you're going to do that again and then are you going to update this with that or is that 00:13:13
something, you know, you're updating this plan? Each one has their own plan. So community development will have their own plan. 00:13:18
There was a plan created. I mean, it wasn't like we do one. We didn't bring it forward because it really didn't address the 00:13:23
community. 00:13:28
Development PC, it was more of the mental health that kind of flowed into the other topics. So we will have that and then I'll 00:13:34
present on it. OK, sorry. No, no, that's not a problem. That's a good clarification. 00:13:40
And the plan is in June to hold a. 00:13:47
Specific meeting for that specific folks in to get more focused information. 00:13:50
And then this these, you know, since you proved them, we'll go, I'll go to the board, the full board and do a similar presentation 00:13:59
program with a PowerPoint. 00:14:04
Just to explain where we are in the process. 00:14:08
And I don't know if we'll have the community development one done by that time or not, but there'll be other opportunities. I know 00:14:12
we're we're gonna. 00:14:16
Do an annual report. We're a little bit behind on that because we've been very busy with this and you know, we could always bring 00:14:21
that to the full board also. 00:14:25
If you don't have any feedback now, because me, I'm a processor, I have to think about things. 00:14:33
You can always e-mail me. 00:14:38
Let me know you know, this is great because we're learning from you too. And I know next week. 00:14:39
Myself as well as his work team are actually going to present it. It's not a finished yet. 00:14:45
Presentation for. 00:14:52
All the other AE area extension directors and program managers, we want to highlight what's been done. 00:14:53
And it's still a work in progress. I mean, for us because well, that team is doing is developing a packet. So if I'm at AED, that 00:14:59
area director is going to need to do one of these. I have a packet that's pretty much all done. The templates are done, all the 00:15:06
feedback because a lot we are learning as we go. Example, we really need dedicated scribes instead of like Pat facilitated and 00:15:14
took notes at hers. That was difficult. 00:15:21
So that was one thing we learned. 00:15:28
You know, so that's in the notes to move forward some other pieces, maybe build a little bit more time in. 00:15:32
Bringing in other assessments to this was another area of improvement we saw. 00:15:39
But please. 00:15:44
You know, I know, Andrew. You do share openly, which I appreciate. Yeah. Yeah. The only thing I would say is. 00:15:45
It's hard. We invite all these people. They've made it like over 300 people. We don't know who's gonna necessarily show up. That's 00:15:51
the issue. And So what happened at the community forum table? 00:15:56
There was only one person at the table from path the all the rest were from like pave and all like social work which was all good 00:16:01
because we do support. 00:16:06
You know, non for profit organizations, but what we were looking for, what Cameron was looking for to meet our county's goals was 00:16:13
like the cities and villages and hey, how can we partner with like we did when Hustisford and we didn't have that. 00:16:19
So I don't know if we can follow up like call to make sure the mayor's come or that's who we would have. Pat's working on that. 00:16:26
She met with Cameron last week, OK. And I mean that's already because we know we want to do this relative. 00:16:31
Pardon me? It's in progress. Perfect. Yeah, but it is hard when you're putting out there all those invites. 00:16:37
But I. 00:16:43
Be very targeted, very specific. I know you did, but I'm just saying you don't know who's going to show off. 00:16:44
Direct. 00:16:52
So. 00:16:53
No, I thought. 00:16:54
For example, I had in human development. 00:16:57
I think he was a gentleman from. 00:17:03
One of the villages. 00:17:06
And he maybe would have been more appropriate at past, but he had really good things to say. And then some of the early childcare 00:17:07
professionals sat with my table. 00:17:12
Really good things to add. 00:17:19
To 42 youth development and so. 00:17:21
It was a great experience, but this is what I think Jeremy and Cindy are looking for. Like how can we make it even better? You 00:17:24
know what I mean? 00:17:28
You also don't want it too much longer. 00:17:33
That, you know, people don't want to give so and you don't want to do 4 different ones based on programs because you tend to 00:17:36
invite the same people and they're going to four different community forums. I mean, so you know, we've been trying to figure out 00:17:40
how to. 00:17:44
Not have this happen in the future so I'll be interested. There's two other counties that have already done this. 00:17:49
And then when we meet next week, we're going to learn from them too, like, oh, how did you do this and how did you do that? 00:17:55
So we can get up. 00:18:02
A. You know a good packet, that informational packet. 00:18:03
Because just because the MOU may not have been signed in other counties, it doesn't mean that extensions not going to do the 00:18:07
community needs for them. That is going to happen. 00:18:12
Regardless if they sign the MO U. 00:18:18
Or not. 00:18:21
All right, Any other feedback and if we get any, we can send it to you or if I hear anything, of course, I'll let you guys know. 00:18:24
And thank you for, I appreciate that UW extension. It's just not like going off on its own, but instead you're actually being part 00:18:31
of our county, part of our county plan. And I think you want to now have this process to ensure that that happens. And I, and I am 00:18:38
grateful for that. Thank you so much. And we can be better. So that's really got to help us. 00:18:45
We want to be better. 00:18:52
We do appreciate all the work. And I think Andrew, you've done a great job too, like kind of spearheading this. I feel like I'm 00:18:53
just kind of in the back of the canoe, like everybody's doing all the work. But we really appreciate it all the all the time 00:18:58
you've put in. 00:19:02
And it's. 00:19:07
You know, Andrew and I have talked numerous time and I shared with them, I said this relationship. 00:19:09
Doesn't happen. 00:19:15
In all counties so heaven where I get to sit down with Andrew and Cameron on a regular basis. 00:19:17
Is huge for this success in this partnership that that doesn't happen in every county. 00:19:22
So we're very fortunate here, I believe. Well, that's wonderful, OK. And the other I think. 00:19:30
All right. Well, thank you very much. 00:19:37
Update about extension other than this. Oh you can sure go ahead. 00:19:41
I just wanted to let you know a couple things. I know Cameron and I have talked in regards to space in the county. And so what's 00:19:44
going to happen and it's going to be down the road and the staff already know this that we're going to actually. 00:19:51
Have housing come join us in the extension office. So we're looking at. 00:20:00
You know, maximizing the space that we have, you know, we're going to talk about it. 00:20:05
A little bit more in our staff meeting today and I, you know, I have a floor plan and so that's going to be coming down, down the 00:20:09
road, which is a great opportunity. 00:20:14
Utilize resources a little bit better and then I just want to let you know too. 00:20:19
Our 4H assistant after evaluating the budgets and stuff coming up, that position has been eliminated from our office. It's not 00:20:25
going to cause. 00:20:31
An issue. 00:20:37
But it is something that is you know, for effectiveness and budget wise. 00:20:40
That's what happened. The great news is that terror that has been in this position, she just got a different job within the 00:20:45
county. 00:20:50
So she's still gonna stay. And I mean, there was not nothing about her, her skills, she's phenomenal. It's just, you know, we have 00:20:54
to reevaluate things. 00:20:59
In our offices, so. 00:21:04
Just want to let you know. 00:21:06
So when you say you're moving housing like that doesn't immediately pop up, is that some subdivision within extension housing? 00:21:07
What what does that mean? 00:21:12
It's just the department. 00:21:16
Of housing. 00:21:17
From the county, from county, OK yeah. And that's not like, you know there what may not be some interaction, you know, because a 00:21:19
community development does do housing, you know, looks at, you know housing such so there may be. 00:21:25
You know, some collaboration, I just don't know. It's just more of the space utilizing the space. We do have a great space I know 00:21:31
with. 00:21:35
We have Will and Manuel and myself. We all have three offices. We're here maybe, what, once? 00:21:39
Or something so we can, you know, shrink that footprint for extension. So let's just maximizing the space and then they need. 00:21:45
Room also. 00:21:53
It's good, the Housing Authority. 00:21:55
Thank you. I think it's not like housing Department of Housing Authority. All right, that makes sense to me. Thank you. 00:21:57
It's a little bit on hold right now be. 00:22:06
Technical issues and things that. 00:22:10
Things that they need. 00:22:13
But. 00:22:15
Plan is for today. OK, All right, thank you. Right day. That's what I know, Cameron said so we're. 00:22:16
We're proactive, we got a lot of things to pack up and move around and do some stuff, so we think. 00:22:22
It'll be here before you know it. 00:22:28
OK. All right. Thank you. Thank you. 00:22:32
I guess Will you're up. 00:22:36
This doesn't. 00:22:39
Work doesn't. Oh, it does a little bit. All right, Green light, the green light on. Yeah, the green lights. OK, Should be good. 00:22:40
Good morning. 00:22:43
So today on the schedule I was going to share with you. 00:22:47
The results from one of the studies that we've been working on with farmers across the county. 00:22:52
And a colleague who is a much better statistician than I am has been working on that, her families from Mayville, and so she was 00:22:57
supposed to get that to me on Friday and she had other things to worry about. So that report I did not send along. 00:23:04
And because it did not receive it, which makes total sense to me. 00:23:12
So. 00:23:17
Instead, I'm going to talk a little bit about some of the work that we've been doing. 00:23:18
On podcasts that I run. 00:23:22
Working with some farmers in Dodge County on a couple episodes in the larger. 00:23:24
Project across the state looking at boosting our resources for for small grains production. 00:23:30
In the state and also kind of drawing on some of the work that we've been doing here in Dodge County as well. 00:23:37
Is that all right with everybody? 00:23:43
Yeah, OK. 00:23:45
So. 00:23:46
I've talked about this podcast that I run for extension in the past. It's been a while since I've talked about it. 00:23:47
It's a monthly podcast. 00:23:54
Called Field Notes. 00:23:57
I used to have a Co host who has now moved on from extension and so I'm kind of in flux with that but I'm still hosting it every. 00:23:59
Every month, and this is a podcast in which we cover a variety of different subjects in production agriculture. 00:24:06
And it's usually with a farmer. 00:24:12
On the episode in either a crop consultant. 00:24:15
Or a specialist within the extension at the state level or another county based. 00:24:17
Educator. 00:24:24
Together on that podcast to talk about. 00:24:25
The practice or whatever it is that we're discussing in that moment from both the farmers perspective, elevating that farmer voice 00:24:27
and then also providing some of that kind of more research based perspective from from the university. 00:24:33
The most recent episode that we did was with Charlie Hammer, who farms just outside of Beaver Dam, farms a lot of wheat and we 00:24:39
were talking about. 00:24:43
And with his crop consultant Bill Stengel. 00:24:47
And that episode was about how do we avoid dockages at the elevator with wheat. Wheat is a food grade. 00:24:50
Grain, unless it's kind of otherwise based off the markets, which is a little bit different than most of our soybeans and our 00:24:56
corn. 00:25:00
And so quality standards come into play there. 00:25:03
And so it's something that a lot of farmers are, you know. 00:25:06
In the kind of flux of. 00:25:10
Farming's corn and soybeans. The quality stand quality parameters of wheat. Kind of. 00:25:11
Are not as emphasized. 00:25:17
And so trying to think about. 00:25:18
Some farmers might not be interested in farming wheat, even though from a conservation perspective it's a great crop to grow 00:25:20
because they get docked at the elevator. 00:25:25
And so thinking about how can we make sure that we're getting that full price that we want with our wheat crop? 00:25:29
How can we make sure that we're meeting those quality parameters? 00:25:34
And so the episode was about how do we avoid those dockages? How do we make sure that we're meeting the size? 00:25:37
The test weight that we want for our wheat crop. 00:25:42
And how do we manage that intensively as well? How can we boost their yields? Dodge County is the has been the number one or #2 00:25:45
wheat producing county in the state. 00:25:50
For the past several years, think maybe not last year, The year before it was the highest yields as well. 00:25:54
Average of 99 bushels, which is pretty Dang Dang high. 00:26:00
But we can also push that further. 00:26:04
And so part of that was talking about the Yield Enhancement Network project that they've been working on with farmers across the 00:26:06
upper Midwest, even into Ontario where their growing season is shorter, pushing 12140, even 160 bushels on their wheat, which is 00:26:12
really high. 00:26:18
And how can we integrate this crop so that we're building in our farms? 00:26:24
That we have, you know when soybeans are low. 00:26:29
Corn is low that maybe we have another market there and that we're accessing that. So that was a lot about what that episode was 00:26:32
about again. 00:26:35
This is a project I do monthly. 00:26:39
And have had several farmers on from Dodge County. 00:26:41
Dale, you know you're in the docket there somewhere. You're coming up. 00:26:44
But Jeff Gasca is another one that we've done one on, on a project he's been working on. 00:26:48
And interceding covers into into standing corn and grazing that off. So trying to elevate some of the farmer voices from Dodge 00:26:52
County. 00:26:56
And it gets used to be played on WBEV here, but with kind of the shake up. 00:27:00
In that radio station, it was number. It's no longer broadcast. I'm still working on getting that out over the airwaves as well. 00:27:05
At a farmer. Tell me that. 00:27:11
It was playing in Monroe Cap, not, you know, in Monroe, WI. When he was driving through the other day, he had heard his own voice 00:27:13
on the radio, which is just kind of weird, So and I wasn't aware of that. So sometimes it just gets tossed around and played in 00:27:17
random places. 00:27:22
But trying to elevate Farmers Voices and also get that research, research based perspective. So that's most recent episode that 00:27:27
we've done. 00:27:31
And small grains is kind of. 00:27:36
A slight focus of mine because we do produce so much of it here in the county. 00:27:37
In like comparison to the rest of the state. 00:27:43
And it is a place where there's not a lot of resources from research dollars going. So it's an area where I think that there could 00:27:46
be more emphasis made. 00:27:49
And so at the state, we're trying to gather resources that we have, right, new resources on small grains, looking at fertility, 00:27:54
looking at. 00:27:57
You know, management perspectives from disease. 00:28:01
And how can we meet those quality standards and also potentially other markets as when we reach these low margin years for 00:28:03
farmers, people start to look around and be like, OK, what other markets are there for some of our products that maybe we could 00:28:07
capture more value? 00:28:12
On some of those food grade markets might be. 00:28:16
Might be interesting. And so we're building out this whole site actually on the extension website that has never existed 00:28:18
previously. 00:28:21
Focused on small grains, I've been helping to shepherd that effort. 00:28:25
So that when farmers are like, you know. 00:28:28
What asking questions about that? They have a host of resources that have a specific home for that. 00:28:30
Across the state, not just here in Dodge County. 00:28:36
So that's a little bit about what I've been working on. 00:28:39
Questions for me. 00:28:43
I have a couple of questions. One of them is. 00:28:45
We grow weight to, you know, a bit of acres actually and. 00:28:49
You mentioned about the quality, you know deductions. 00:28:53
I've learned as we also we would use Grive for cover cookies a lot. 00:28:57
And we have discovered, and I don't know if you've found out. 00:29:02
Some of the right. 00:29:06
Seems to sit in the soil and not grow that first year. 00:29:07
And then now what's coming in our wheat field, we get all this rye in the wheat. 00:29:10
So. 00:29:15
Is there going to be quality deductions from rye mixed in with the wheat? Because that could be a big problem. Yeah, it can be, 00:29:16
you know, depending on the percentage. 00:29:20
And so I mean, that's like. 00:29:25
Contamination technically in the wheat said there could be dockages for that. So I mean, that's a great thing to think about. 00:29:27
Probably something that we should have resource on is like what percentages when we lookout into field and we're like. 00:29:33
Huh. There's some rye plants out there in the wheat. 00:29:38
Should we be controlling those? Should we be thinking about? 00:29:41
No cleaning what? You know, you're not really gonna clean that out, but. 00:29:44
Especially when we're going into these conservation systems we're pushing. 00:29:49
You know, our cover crops later and later where they might be heading out and producing some sort of viable seed maybe or it's 00:29:53
sitting in the ground. How can we avoid if we're putting rye in these rotations? 00:29:57
Getting that. 00:30:02
Seed into the weed seed bank and coming up in our weed. 00:30:03
So we don't have a resource on that currently, but I think that's a great thing to add to the docket. So can the rice sit for two 00:30:07
years before Germany's? I mean, that's my main question, Right. Well, it the seed was contaminated. Yeah. Here's all this rye in 00:30:11
the wheat. 00:30:15
It could have been that. 00:30:20
You had plants. 00:30:22
I think if you planted and sat in the soil it would have it wouldn't have sat there for two years and then germinated. It could 00:30:24
have been carried by birds coming off of other. 00:30:27
I gotta feel the want to show you yeah, it's a pretty contaminated. It's pretty bad, OK, and it's. 00:30:31
I can't explain it, maybe you can help explain it. Yeah, it could also be where. 00:30:37
Cover crops went to seed even though you killed them. 00:30:42
You know that they escaped that herbicide. 00:30:45
Application. 00:30:49
And did go to end up going to seed. 00:30:51
OK. The other question about unrelated to this. 00:30:54
I just recently did a survey. 00:30:57
Just a couple days ago from professor Polzine. I don't know if I'm seeing as Leonard polls in yeah from Michigan State University. 00:30:59
Oh different guy OK Michigan State University and conjunction with USDA and. 00:31:05
I was kind of blown away by the. 00:31:12
Questions because? 00:31:13
The survey was based on. 00:31:16
Reducing carbon in the atmosphere so for this climate change in a severe weather and how farmers can help doing that by doing no 00:31:18
till and cover crops. 00:31:22
And what blown me away was. 00:31:28
They were talking about a lot of questions where. 00:31:30
What would $9200 payment to a farmer Encourage them to do this and they can. 00:31:32
That's a sizable payment. The paper seeing a payment would come from private sources plus government. 00:31:38
Have you heard anything about what what they're studying and is there anything coming down the road about this, about Michigan 00:31:44
State's particular thing? I don't know. We're just doing a survey as you're doing a survey USDA. So I don't know if they're doing 00:31:50
it for USDA or so part of those part of those climate smart commodities grants that are kind of. 00:31:56
You know, being turned. 00:32:02
Being phased out was payments for those types of practices. 00:32:03
Now there are also private companies that have invested in that type of carbon offset. 00:32:08
Where they pay farmers, for example United Airlines. 00:32:14
They want to make that so they're reducing their emissions overall. They'll pay a farmer to do a certain practice. 00:32:17
If I were put in the practice, it reduces. 00:32:22
That science says. 00:32:29
Reduces carbon emissions to the atmosphere. That means if United Airlines is paying the farmer, they're reducing their emissions. 00:32:31
Pretty much United Airlines is buying that farmers carbon. 00:32:37
And saying, OK, now we've reduced that emission as our airline, we are lower carbon airline. So that's how private industry can 00:32:42
get into it unless it's part of their supply chain. Well, I've heard a lot of those cover programs before, but nothing to the 00:32:48
extent of like $100.00 an acre, right. And it could be both working together, it could be USDA. 00:32:53
But I it's not, it wouldn't be direct payments for the USDA, it'd be probably USDA evaluating. 00:33:01
The science of it. 00:33:08
Coming from a private company, for example, Organic Valley does a lot of in settings, so they're paying farms to do certain 00:33:09
practices so they can say that their milk is lower carbon emissions. 00:33:13
So that's where you can get kind of into those higher values is when it's not this like. 00:33:18
Offsetting thing, but when it's internal because then you're capturing that throughout the whole supply chain. 00:33:23
Is like because the cows, you know, the cows are grazing on this pasture and it's newly, it's a new pasture and it's storing 00:33:28
carbon according to that science then. 00:33:33
That milk is lower carbon, which then Organic Valley sells it as a lower carbon milk. 00:33:38
Increases the price of it and then that price that the. 00:33:44
Consumers paying that's increased because they want to buy that milk goes all the way back down the value chain. 00:33:47
So is there any? 00:33:54
Information out how much carbon can be saved by doing these practices and I've never seen it. 00:33:55
Yes, the science is all over the place. 00:34:00
Unfortunately, because it really depends on where you're doing that research. 00:34:04
At Arlington, for example, it's going to be very different than the Kellogg Biological Research Station. 00:34:07
In Michigan, because it's different soils and that's a huge part of it, we've got really productive soils at Arlington, as 00:34:12
everyone knows. 00:34:16
The plan of loans. 00:34:19
There are old Prairie soils, so there are. 00:34:21
Very high in organic matter, so trying to add more organic matter to those soils is really difficult because you've already got a 00:34:24
lot there. 00:34:28
Whereas at the Kellogg station in Michigan, it's really Sandy. 00:34:32
Soils, so it's it's a just lower threshold. So adding a little bit goes a longer way, so to speak. And so you're seeing more of an 00:34:36
ability to make additions in those soils. It's also super climate dependent as well. 00:34:42
In dry, drier environments like Oklahoma, it's actually easier to add organic matter because you don't have as much precipitation 00:34:48
there. 00:34:51
And it's things aren't as active. 00:34:55
In those soils. So that's another reason why. 00:34:58
And for example, a lot of the research done at Arlington shows that. 00:35:01
These. 00:35:04
Kind of production agricultural systems. These annual cropping systems are really difficult to add carbon to. 00:35:05
In really, really productive soils. But for example, Michigan State's research is showing, well, actually. 00:35:12
You can do it. 00:35:17
It also depends on how deep you determine that. 00:35:18
You could be adding additions of organic matter to the surface, but taking them from further down below. 00:35:21
Because it's increasing biological activity. 00:35:26
So overall it could be a net. 00:35:28
You know 0. 00:35:32
Versus a net gain depending on what percentage of the soil you're looking at. 00:35:33
It's very complicated and it really depends on who is choosing which science to. 00:35:37
Scientific study to base their modeling off of. 00:35:44
And that's kind of the issues with some of the models that we have is they're not capturing the full extent of everything. 00:35:47
And new science is coming out saying, oh, over here you could storing carbon under these systems. Over there it's not. 00:35:53
Sorry for like the. 00:36:02
Difficult answer. 00:36:04
I say caution. 00:36:06
2 questions. 00:36:08
This private sector like Boeing, kind of like the wastewater fosters trading. Exactly. It's the exact same concept. Great. And 00:36:11
then? 00:36:15
How do I say this? Do you see that program potentially? 00:36:25
Being able to stay if it doesn't use the word climate or do you see that? 00:36:29
Program being defunded because the climate smart commodities one it is already says climate, right? Yeah, it is. 00:36:33
It's I think it's on a case by case basis. I know there are some. 00:36:41
Institutions that have received those grants that I've had. 00:36:45
Not have that funding continue, whereas others are continuing. 00:36:48
And it's really it's on a case by case basis and there are some of those dollars in Wisconsin. 00:36:52
And but are some terminated or is it exactly as it's been? Or has some been terminated? 00:36:57
I think some have been terminated. Yeah. I haven't kept up with the exact rollout of that. Yeah, kind of in flux. Yeah, it's in 00:37:03
flux. 00:37:06
So second thing is, are you? 00:37:10
You got a lot of balls in the air, so. 00:37:15
It's fine if you're are you familiar with the potential research? 00:37:17
On the Dodge County Airport farm. Are you, are you, have you been? Yeah. We're in those discussions with me and John and Dave and 00:37:21
Cameron. So we're trying to figure out what is that, what is the best solution from a. We'll talk about it later. Right. OK. No, 00:37:27
that's fine. I just was hoping you'd were involved in. Absolutely. I'm good. Thanks. 00:37:33
Other questions? 00:37:40
Any other questions from at me? 00:37:42
I'm here for it. 00:37:44
Thank you, Will. I think we're. 00:37:46
We're done for now. Are you gonna stay for 12 for when we talk about the farm? OK. Be great. Thank you. 00:37:48
OK. 00:37:54
Would agency reports then. 00:37:57
Sawyer. 00:38:00
Hello everyone. 00:38:05
Morning. 00:38:07
Morning. 00:38:08
A few things to report on. 00:38:10
So between Dodge and Fond du Lac County we actually had 25 pre approved conservations stewardship program. 00:38:13
Applications. This was the highest in the southeast area, so I'm happy with. 00:38:21
How that actually shook out. 00:38:26
Within the office, we have till July 2nd to obligate those to become official contracts. So that's kind of the main workflow for. 00:38:29
June, you could say. 00:38:38
Also, we have about roughly. 00:38:41
40 Farm Service Agency random wetland and highly erodible land compliance checks to complete. 00:38:44
Umm, we had some pretty good weather for planting a couple weeks ago, but not everyone's in yet. Rightfully so. 00:38:50
I think some people are wishing they weren't in on some acres with. 00:38:59
You know the weather and temperature and. 00:39:03
Everything else going on. 00:39:06
So letters have been sent out to land owners so they're aware, as well as operators because a lot of these acreages are rented 00:39:08
land. 00:39:12
And June is typically the month we'll get those site visits knocked out. 00:39:17
We have to have those checks completely finalized by the end of the fiscal year, so that would be September 30th, so. 00:39:21
Also, our local work group meeting is scheduled for June 12th. 00:39:29
Time and places to be determined that's. 00:39:34
Every local workgroup across the state so dodges in the Drumlin Marine workgroup. 00:39:38
Which is partnered with. 00:39:43
Fond du Lac, Washington, Ozaki and Sheboygan, those like 4 counties we get our own separate funding for. 00:39:45
Our equip program and some of our CSP dollars as well. 00:39:53
Basically, these meetings are designed for land owners to request. 00:39:58
You know, certain practices that haven't been getting cost share, they can try to prioritize and. 00:40:02
Bring awareness to. 00:40:08
People higher than us. 00:40:10
Kind of. 00:40:12
As well, possibility of additional funding for our Environmental Quality Incentive program is being talked about. 00:40:15
This is kind of like, well was talking about some of our like. 00:40:22
Funding that use the word climate is going to be. 00:40:26
Hopefully restructured and re advertised through something else. 00:40:29
Each week we learn something new on that. 00:40:35
Also. 00:40:38
Kind of over our heads right now there's. 00:40:40
Rumors of like reduction in force and restructuring plans. 00:40:42
This week possibly we're going to hear stuff on that so. 00:40:47
If I'm not here next month, something happened. 00:40:51
But. 00:40:54
Other than that, any questions on funding? 00:40:55
Anything else related? 00:40:59
OK. Thank you. Yep, thank you. 00:41:05
OK, Matt. 00:41:07
Hey, good morning, everyone. 00:41:14
I saw you said we're. 00:41:17
Back in the office after the lovely weather last week, doing well as far as that goes. 00:41:19
The only thing really new for FSA is last Monday they announced the CRP sign up. 00:41:25
It's going to be a batch process for both, continuous in general. 00:41:32
The batch is going to 1st batch is going to close on June 6. 00:41:37
So we've got a very short window to get. 00:41:42
Signups in and done. 00:41:46
So. 00:41:48
Looks like. 00:41:50
If there's any acreage available after? 00:41:51
June 6th batch. They'll continue to take continuous signups only. 00:41:55
So that would include CREP and. 00:42:00
Stuff like that. So. 00:42:02
We are diligently working on that to try and get as many of the. 00:42:04
Possibly interested people signed up before it closes. 00:42:09
Otherwise, that's all we've really got other than. 00:42:14
Next week is the start of crop reporting for us. 00:42:18
Pretty heavy so. 00:42:22
Any I have a question. So like if you had to use a percentage roughly? 00:42:24
With 100 being full capacity for the batch on June 6. 00:42:31
What percentage would you say is? 00:42:36
Already in. 00:42:38
For applications like in terms of total availability, 50 percent 1090. 00:42:39
You mean you're across the state or for Dodge County? Dodge County. 00:42:45
Umm, we probably. 00:42:49
I mean of the ones we have interested, we maybe have two signed up. 00:42:51
Though I would say we're on the low side of the percentage right now, like 20%, if that. OK. And so how? 00:42:54
How do we? 00:43:04
Increase that. 00:43:06
Think that's, you know, so frustrating. Yeah, that's the frustrating thing. 00:43:07
The problem with CRP is. 00:43:13
Is it's not something you can rush through and when they give us these short windows. 00:43:16
Without any warning that it's coming, there's not a lot we can do to increase it at this point. 00:43:23
I see. 00:43:29
Me and John have talked before. You know when we know CRP is coming and we can have a window we can do a lot of. 00:43:30
Drumming up a business? OK go into specific areas and offer programs. 00:43:37
But doing all that work? 00:43:42
And then not getting a sign up. 00:43:44
It really turns guys off. 00:43:46
So yeah, right now we're kind of stuck. 00:43:48
In we don't have a lot of re enrolls, which is good. We don't have a lot of contracts expiring. 00:43:53
So. 00:43:58
We have a guys throughout the year that we'll take down names that says, hey, if this there's a sign up, I'm interested the ones 00:43:59
that we reach out to and. 00:44:03
Hit the doors on. 00:44:07
There's a few farmers that always. 00:44:10
Especially after the last couple years and say, hey, if we're there CRP, I want to put this wet ground in that I can't get in. So 00:44:13
we kind of track those guys and work our way through that so. 00:44:18
But yeah, in general. 00:44:23
To get our county up. 00:44:25
In CRP it would be nice if. 00:44:27
We as an agency could set more of a. 00:44:29
Stringent timeline, like, oh, we're going to have CRP sign up every year at December and then we can work. 00:44:32
To get guys lined up to do that. 00:44:38
But they haven't done that yet, so it's not consistent. 00:44:41
No. So you never know when it's coming, right? We weren't even sure we were gonna have a sign up this year. 00:44:44
So was there a period where it was consistent? 00:44:49
It seemed like it to me, but at the beginning of this farm bill they tried to write it as we were going to have a 2 month window 00:44:52
pretty much every December for CRP sign up. 00:44:58
That made it 2 cycles. 00:45:04
And then it fell apart. 00:45:06
Too bad SO. 00:45:08
It's CRP has always been frustrating. Every administration's got their. 00:45:10
Viewpoint of CRP. Some really like it and some don't. 00:45:15
So I think this administration with the fact that. 00:45:20
We are on the extension of a farm bill. 00:45:25
Gave us CRP. I don't know if see where CRP is gonna fall in the next farm bill. OK, so that's the other big question is what's 00:45:30
gonna look like. 00:45:35
Interest is down. 00:45:43
For this, not necessarily down, there's a pretty decent list of interested land owners, but rental payments. 00:45:48
Like the per acre payments went significantly down from. 00:45:55
Say, even four years ago. 00:45:59
So to juggle. 00:46:02
What they could get for renting the land from an operator. 00:46:05
Maybe those the dollar values not lining up with? 00:46:10
What they want, sure, you know, everybody wants the wildlife. 00:46:14
Impacts, but they also want the money to shake out too, so. 00:46:17
Thanks. 00:46:22
So any other questions for me? 00:46:24
Appreciate the time. Thank you. 00:46:28
OK, next on the agenda is Rock River Flood Group presentation request for funding. 00:46:34
This is a. 00:46:39
From umm. 00:46:41
An item from the November meeting, a motion to a certain time to. 00:46:42
Delay the discussion to get updated information and so we'll be. 00:46:46
First getting updated information. 00:46:50
You want to come up and give us updated or? 00:46:52
You were emailed on. 00:46:55
Was that Friday morning Friday? 00:46:57
The from Montgomery Associates. 00:47:00
So we'll let you go ahead and. 00:47:05
Please give us the update in your funding request. 00:47:07
Excuse me? 00:47:09
Try to bring up some of the people that are new on the committee. 00:47:11
Back in. 00:47:15
2021. 00:47:17
Tim Cargill and. 00:47:19
That contacted Rob Montgomery and. 00:47:21
Asked for his help and. 00:47:25
In investigating. 00:47:27
Increased amount of flooding. 00:47:30
Yeah, down in our area of the Lebanon. 00:47:33
As Japan area. 00:47:35
On the Rock River and. 00:47:37
And the duration. 00:47:39
And. 00:47:41
We've been. 00:47:42
Working with. 00:47:43
Rob. 00:47:45
Since then. 00:47:46
We've gotten. 00:47:49
Municipalities along the corridor between. 00:47:51
Hustisford and Watertown involved with us. 00:47:57
And. 00:48:00
Amount of time and the amount of resources that Tim and I have spent. 00:48:03
Trying to. 00:48:07
Not eliminate the flooding, but but drop the. 00:48:10
Duration and the amount of flooding. 00:48:13
You know, it's been quite a bit. 00:48:17
We really appreciate. 00:48:19
The county. 00:48:21
For helping and financial support. 00:48:22
Of the gauge, the USGS gauge. 00:48:25
That we. 00:48:29
Of fell through some of the studies was well needed in the town of Lebanon. 00:48:31
You know when we started this? 00:48:38
We weren't even on the map. 00:48:40
And, you know, there were roads that are underwater for 11 months down there. 00:48:42
We're on the map. 00:48:48
It's on the Internet, It's live. 00:48:50
And we can tell exactly. 00:48:52
Where things are at down there? 00:48:55
We we missed the deadline. 00:48:58
To ask for resources last fall. 00:49:00
And. 00:49:04
We was decided by the group that. 00:49:05
We had started with. 00:49:09
Partially a citizens group. 00:49:11
And partially. 00:49:13
Quite a list here. That's on the. 00:49:16
On the towards the end of this, of people that are involved. 00:49:18
That we've had several meetings over the last couple of years. 00:49:22
And. 00:49:26
Are gaining some momentum. 00:49:27
Making some difference. 00:49:29
Identified problems. 00:49:31
And. 00:49:33
You know, we're trying to work towards. 00:49:35
A solution. 00:49:37
You know this. 00:49:39
This isn't just. 00:49:40
People in Lebanon and Exonia and. 00:49:42
Town of Eustisford problem at. 00:49:46
Really, the waters come, you know, everything comes downhill. 00:49:48
And. 00:49:52
You know, even north of the marsh. 00:49:53
Up there. 00:49:55
You know, there's water that leads into this watershed. 00:49:56
And uh. 00:49:59
You know, we haven't asked anybody up there because it directly is affecting us down there. 00:50:01
A little bit of background. 00:50:07
The Rock River. 00:50:09
Has a very, very low pitch. 00:50:10
About 1%. 00:50:14
In our area. 00:50:16
You increase water flow. 00:50:17
Out of these dams of. 00:50:19
Of you know, the **** at. 00:50:22
The federal marsh. 00:50:26
The. 00:50:27
Boricon Dam. 00:50:28
Hustisford Dam. 00:50:30
And. 00:50:31
More than 500 cubic feet per second, which is just a trickle. 00:50:32
And. 00:50:37
Over a short period of time, it'll exceed the banks of the Rock River. 00:50:38
As we said. 00:50:44
Of you know the last few times. 00:50:46
The amount of flooding down there is greater than the. 00:50:48
Area of the Horicon Marsh when it exceeds. 00:50:52
About 12:50. 00:50:55
And there's pictures in the. 00:50:57
Back of this that Rob's provided. 00:51:00
One thing to note. 00:51:03
Is. 00:51:05
You know you can see. 00:51:09
Back prior to October 1 and 23, there was 10 feet of difference in water flooding down in the town of Lebanon between then and. 00:51:11
And. 00:51:20
And, well, actually in July. 00:51:23
June was over 10 feet there. 00:51:26
From the. 00:51:30
From the low and. 00:51:31
July and August. 00:51:35
On his last picture of diagrams. 00:51:39
You know this, you can kind of see this started back in the 80s. 00:51:42
You know, that's kind of the. 00:51:46
The median deal and. 00:51:48
And here in the. 00:51:50
10s in the 20s. 00:51:51
You know how high it's gotten down there? Exceeding. 00:51:53
You know the 2000 cubic feet per second. 00:51:56
So it you know it's it's been a problem. 00:52:00
It's continuing to be a problem. We're making progress. 00:52:04
And. 00:52:08
You know, we're asking going to ask for some financial support to help us because it is a county problem. 00:52:09
Both here and Dodge. 00:52:15
And in Jefferson County. 00:52:17
Some of the activities that we've done, Rob is listed. 00:52:21
I think a important one on the first bunch. 00:52:25
Is coordination with the US Weather Bureau. 00:52:29
For technical and analysis, we've got a meeting scheduled here in May. 00:52:32
To work along with them. 00:52:37
You know the the goal here is management. 00:52:40
It's not, you know, getting away, but it's management of the water. 00:52:44
And its coordinated effort between these dams. 00:52:48
And. 00:52:51
We had this. 00:52:52
Plan put together after several meetings with meeting with dam operators. 00:52:54
And we had a little resistance out of the. 00:52:59
Out of the Horicon Marsh. 00:53:01
And uh. 00:53:03
The DNR. 00:53:05
The last meeting. 00:53:08
We had the. 00:53:09
And she's listed in here the gal that is. 00:53:12
The Directors Secretary from the DNR at our meeting. 00:53:15
And she's taking that back and we think we're going to have a resolution. 00:53:19
So that we continue can continue. 00:53:25
Doing a coordinated. 00:53:28
Raw down of water. 00:53:30
So that we can use the. 00:53:32
Existing operating orders. 00:53:35
For the dams. 00:53:38
To have some storage opportunity. 00:53:41
For precipitation. 00:53:44
Any drainage or so forth here next spring? 00:53:47
Hoping that that will help. 00:53:51
Manage the water that you know that comes down. 00:53:53
And, umm. 00:53:56
Rob Montgomery. 00:53:58
Has gotten a couple of grants for us. 00:54:00
They've got a couple of students, doctoral students and graduate students that are going to help analyze the data and see if that. 00:54:05
You know was going to work for. 00:54:14
For this long term. 00:54:16
You know how the? 00:54:20
The the operating orders at that time. 00:54:21
We may have to go back because we are working with the DNR and they set them. 00:54:24
You know, to change laws. 00:54:29
But this is. 00:54:31
You know, trying to work within the system. 00:54:32
To see if these operating orders that are. 00:54:35
You know, probably 75 to 100 years old. 00:54:38
On the books. 00:54:41
For operating those dams. 00:54:42
Are relevant. 00:54:44
So. 00:54:46
You know our anticipated costs. 00:54:53
He laid out here what was left on 25 and in 26. 00:54:55
A roughly 25 grand. 00:55:01
Split between the. 00:55:04
The two years. 00:55:06
And. 00:55:07
I know that that. 00:55:11
I would hope. 00:55:14
That the county. 00:55:15
Would would. 00:55:17
Be interested in helping with this. 00:55:19
I know that the county has a lot of money invested in Harnischfeger Park. 00:55:22
And that's in the town of Lebanon. 00:55:26
That's half a mile up from where I live. 00:55:28
Between Tim and I and that like I said with that flooding. 00:55:31
Umm. 00:55:36
Tim and I started this. 00:55:40
Back in 2021. 00:55:41
And about a year ago. 00:55:45
We stepped back. 00:55:47
From financially supporting this and this is. 00:55:49
Continuing through the effort of the townships. 00:55:53
And and other private parties. 00:55:56
And. 00:55:59
You know, we believe that this is a. 00:56:02
This is a. 00:56:04
A, you know, municipal. 00:56:06
Colony issue that needs to be taken up now we've started it. 00:56:10
We've made a lot of progress. 00:56:15
Back in the. 00:56:17
In the 90s there were several meetings with the DNR down in the town of Lebanon and. 00:56:18
And, and really nothing came out of that. 00:56:25
And I think that we've. 00:56:28
Been able to. 00:56:30
To work with Montgomery, the engineering firm. 00:56:31
And provide. 00:56:34
Critical studies of the water there. 00:56:36
And the floor. We figured out that the. 00:56:40
The dams and Watertown. 00:56:43
Are not holding water back. 00:56:45
At Pipersville there is a land and stone ledge. 00:56:47
Of they're under the Rock River. 00:56:51
And because of the pitch and because of that ledge. 00:56:54
Water, you know, won't flow fast. It's a very. 00:56:58
Slow moving part of that. 00:57:01
And. 00:57:03
You know, there's a lot of it. We're still. 00:57:05
Disseminating information to residents. 00:57:08
A lot of them feel that. 00:57:11
The water. 00:57:12
Dams are holding water back and it isn't true. 00:57:14
And we've proved that. We've got the reports. We've provided you with the reports, you know, showing. 00:57:18
That by dropping that Upper Watertown dam. 00:57:24
That the. 00:57:28
Water, it's insignificant and its flow there. 00:57:29
So it really is. 00:57:33
Uphill, that is, you know, they're their coordinated effort. We think we can get some. 00:57:35
Relief. 00:57:41
On that water. 00:57:43
The things that we're asking of the group. 00:57:45
Of Patricia Cicero, that is. 00:57:49
Counterpart in Jefferson County is extremely interested in. 00:57:53
Water storage. 00:57:57
And. 00:57:59
I think the gentleman that was just up here talking about CRP, I've been involved in CRP for. 00:58:00
2530 years on some of our properties. 00:58:07
But you know, I think. 00:58:10
A situation of holding water or storage of water along the river basin. 00:58:13
Maybe something that could be added on to that, that may be at the county level could figure it out with with other government 00:58:19
entities. 00:58:23
You know, I think long term. 00:58:27
You know that. 00:58:30
Could help. 00:58:32
The situation. 00:58:33
You know, the Rock River here is a unique situation with how it lays in there and in the water, the increased amount of water. 00:58:34
The reason we have? 00:58:44
The Weather Service involved is because of the. 00:58:45
Difference in precipitation that we've had over some of the last years. 00:58:48
They have prediction models. They're going to look at this information. 00:58:52
With the. 00:58:57
The graduate students and try to. 00:58:58
You know, come up with. 00:59:01
Finer. 00:59:02
Prediction models for this basin. 00:59:03
And. 00:59:06
You know, see if that will help also. 00:59:08
In operating the dams accordingly, depending on. 00:59:10
Precipitation. 00:59:14
But we're, you know, we're asking if. 00:59:15
That couldn't be a consideration there in the water storage. 00:59:18
And uh. 00:59:22
And then helping with some of these costs. 00:59:23
You know to do this. 00:59:26
Rob included the. 00:59:36
The people on here which? 00:59:37
As part of the group. 00:59:39
You know, we have the US Fish and Wildlife Service at work on marsh. We have. 00:59:41
Patricia and. 00:59:47
The other. 00:59:48
People from Jefferson County, we have John. 00:59:50
From Dodge County. 00:59:53
We have the Wisconsin DNR. 00:59:55
Shelley Ulnis is the directors secretary or the Secretary's director. 00:59:57
That that's involved. 01:00:02
I will discern Eric Kilbourg. 01:00:04
Run the. 01:00:08
Dam up at the city of Oregon. 01:00:09
We have the village of Eustisford involved, We have the town of Lebanon involved, of which. 01:00:13
Of Tim and I. 01:00:20
Were asked to represent. 01:00:23
The the town of Lebanon. 01:00:26
And. 01:00:28
We were sworn in to do that, so I guess I'm here as. 01:00:30
As a citizen, but as part of the town of Lebanon. 01:00:33
We've been. 01:00:39
We've had Barbara Dietrich to a number of our meetings. 01:00:40
Tom Reese that runs the. 01:00:44
The Watertown dams. 01:00:46
Has been. 01:00:48
Pretty well all of the meetings. 01:00:50
And. 01:00:53
When we have the people from the University of Wisconsin. 01:00:54
Through the grant program. 01:00:58
And then the other. 01:01:00
Citizens and stakeholders. 01:01:02
But you know, with that I will. 01:01:05
To open it up if you have any. 01:01:10
Questions or comments and? 01:01:12
I appreciate any consideration on this. 01:01:14
The Montgomery approach is very solid. 01:01:19
And it's very cost effective. I'm surprised. 01:01:21
You can do it for that amount of money. 01:01:24
It's basically the Rob's time and a little bit of other engineering time. 01:01:26
This impacts the DNR Dadcap DLT in the county. 01:01:31
So they should all have a stake in this. They are stakeholders. 01:01:35
So as he goes up to Horican. 01:01:39
He's gonna find highways that need to be. 01:01:41
Modified, revised, whatever. 01:01:45
For waterfall. 01:01:47
Again, it's a solid plan and it should be supported. 01:01:49
What I do see though is. 01:01:53
It goes to 2026. 01:01:55
So permitting 2027. 01:01:57
So the first time you turn over some dirt is 2028. 01:02:00
Are there opportunities? 01:02:04
Between now and 2028 that can be taken advantage of as he finds those. 01:02:06
Could you know? But we haven't. 01:02:11
Stepped out of that. 01:02:15
You know that element, I mean that you know that's things that could be added to it. 01:02:17
So Shelley, illness is the right person to be your point person there. 01:02:21
DNR and the silo management system. 01:02:25
And the permitting and the water quality may not talk to each other about this. 01:02:29
Until Shelley gets them involved, so if she is given the authority as a facilitator. 01:02:34
That's very important for your project. 01:02:39
Then we just got her involved. 01:02:43
30 days ago. Well, yeah, take advantage of her tech expertise, sure. 01:02:45
Chapter 31 once you start looking at the different. 01:02:50
Opportunities. 01:02:53
Any rise over .005 feet. 01:02:54
You get into the extended Chapter 31 program. 01:02:57
And that's going to require. 01:03:01
Municipalities. Producers. 01:03:04
Everybody be on board for that from hurricane down to Lebanon. 01:03:06
And that's why we initially stride to stay. 01:03:11
In the operating orders, which is half a foot. 01:03:14
And we? 01:03:20
Tried to. 01:03:21
Tried to stay within that and. 01:03:22
You know, there was quite a bit of screaming from the people in Sennissippi. 01:03:25
Or several of them. 01:03:29
You know this winter. 01:03:31
Todd Tessman drew down and in Sinnissippi to the half a foot. 01:03:32
We were trying to get this between December and the end of February. 01:03:37
You know, to be able to determine what would happen in the spring. 01:03:43
Where we had the issue, so we only got half of the drawdown. 01:03:46
We had a little bit more drawdown in the city of Horcon because there's a hole in the dam. 01:03:50
And and yeah. 01:03:57
And. 01:03:59
Had some problems from the people running the Horicon Marsh. 01:04:00
Do the do the salamanders and other issues there and you know that we're going to have to deal with in the next 60 days. 01:04:04
To try to get everybody on board, but we're hoping Shelley can. 01:04:13
Help us with that. 01:04:17
That will be critical to get them on the same page because of salamander, because water quality wildlife. 01:04:18
They all have a say in it. 01:04:24
And they manage my committee. 01:04:25
And but that's the problem. 01:04:27
We dealt with the people that were operating the dams and they were all on board until they they want to start doing it and then 01:04:29
the other. 01:04:33
Other groups. 01:04:38
You know, push back on it. So. 01:04:40
We got about half the drawdown that we really were looking for. 01:04:42
And. 01:04:46
We're hoping that we can. 01:04:47
Reinstitute this at you know, these people have all been to the meetings and they've all agreed to it, and we feel that with 01:04:50
Shelley's. 01:04:54
Of influence on that, that we can make that come together. 01:04:59
And then we can really determine. 01:05:03
If within the operating orders. 01:05:05
You know this will be a good management deal. 01:05:08
Along with with people at the Weather Service. 01:05:11
You know, helping with the prediction models of precipitation. 01:05:15
You know how that can be managed along the corridor? 01:05:19
I mean, we're not going to do away with flooding. We get that. 01:05:22
Mean Helen in. 01:05:26
In. 01:05:28
Back in 1980. 01:05:31
Personally, my family has owned the property that I'm on since the 70s. 01:05:33
Every five years down there. 01:05:38
There would be some flooding in the fall. 01:05:40
Every five years. Once every five years. 01:05:44
When we started this project back in 2000. 01:05:47
It was. 01:05:51
Every year, 11 months of a year, we were. 01:05:52
Damn near flooded out down here. 01:05:56
And it and yes, there was more precipitation during the window in there for a few years. 01:05:58
But. 01:06:05
It wasn't. I mean, this is progressively gotten worse. 01:06:06
I personally put it to the Horicon Marsh. 01:06:09
Because of 19. 01:06:13
80 I was in college. 01:06:14
And that was the last of the bad cholera. 01:06:17
Outbreaks up there. 01:06:21
And I clearly remember, as if it was yesterday, listening to the news. 01:06:23
And the management people at the Horicon? 01:06:27
Claimed that they were going to do a better management job. 01:06:30
Of the water up there. 01:06:34
And. 01:06:36
You know, since then we've we've had more precipitate, more water down here, more flooding and. 01:06:37
You know. 01:06:43
Probably right before we started that it was 11 months of water down. 01:06:44
In my I mean, I'm at the very South end of the county. 01:06:48
Steve. 01:06:52
I just want to throw a little bit of background quick. 01:06:53
Just so people who haven't been here. 01:06:55
Shortly after they got together. 01:06:58
You know, they talk to us. 01:07:01
Me and I'm like, wow, you guys have done a lot of work. You're just two private citizens and this is a pretty huge problem. 01:07:04
And then they came to the county. 01:07:12
And we're asking for funding. 01:07:14
The two of them and the county said. 01:07:16
Why are we doing it all? 01:07:18
Who else is involved? They're like, Oh well. 01:07:20
We're talking to people. 01:07:23
They're like, well this isn't 100% accounting issue, right? 01:07:26
So they went back and now they're coming to us. 01:07:29
With. 01:07:33
Saying it's not just a county issue they've got. 01:07:34
They got free. 01:07:37
Services from UW, Wisconsin. 01:07:39
They've gotten grants. 01:07:42
They've gotten on board with. 01:07:45
This whole list of. 01:07:48
Counties and as well as the US Wildlife Service and the different town of Lebanon town of. 01:07:51
Exonia, they've gotten commitments for financial commitments from all those other communities, which is exactly what. 01:07:58
This board said, well, before we get all in, you got to get other people in. And you know, I'll never forget. You said you're 01:08:06
like, yeah, well, how do I get them in if the county is not in because the county is too big? And this committee said that's your 01:08:11
problem. 01:08:15
Essentially. 01:08:20
And they did it. And so now they're back. And I'm just saying now they're back and they're saying we. 01:08:21
Essentially have done. 01:08:28
What this committee told us to do. 01:08:29
The very first time they came here and asked for money. 01:08:31
It was kind of an oral presentation and, you know, it was good, but there was nothing on paper. And we're like, you know what, if 01:08:35
it's not like $100 donation, we kind of need to see what you're doing. 01:08:41
We need something organized. 01:08:47
And they've given it to us, so I would. 01:08:49
I would strongly support the project because it's clear. 01:08:53
That it's not a one shot deal. 01:08:58
And you're they've got a lot of moving pieces. It's a multi year project and they're going to learn from it and we should support 01:09:01
it. 01:09:04
We should support the funding. 01:09:10
Past this was correct that storage can be an important part of this. 01:09:12
But at some point you have to address that. 01:09:15
I think it's a that's a longer term. 01:09:18
Deal. I mean, that may take 10 years. Oh. 01:09:20
He's struggling getting CRP sign up. 01:09:22
But I think that's going to take a county slash. 01:09:25
Federal government type deal. 01:09:30
But I think it could be, I mean, this is a unique corridor here with with, you know, the low pitch and that in this river, but. 01:09:32
I think there's an opportunity. 01:09:41
And like I said, you know, Pat Cicero is all in on that. I mean, she's. 01:09:44
She's driving that and I think that, you know, we're gonna. 01:09:48
Strap the leash, stir and help her, you know, as best as we can, but you know, try to have her lead that charge and and hopefully. 01:09:53
You know that'll come to fruition. 01:10:01
One last comment for Dodge County, you probably won't land in zoning to be involved with somebody. 01:10:03
Because that's the first permit you're going to ask for. 01:10:09
OK. So somebody at the land zoning will need to be involved? 01:10:12
So you get the land and zoning, then DNR permit and core. 01:10:15
Just goes down line. 01:10:19
I'll mention that to. 01:10:22
So. 01:10:27
This land that's getting flooded? 01:10:28
Does he ever get So it's all floodplain obviously, right? 01:10:32
Along the river that's getting flooded? I don't know. I don't think so. 01:10:35
I think in my and I'm speaking for myself, I have 250 acres there. 01:10:39
And, umm. 01:10:45
The area that the canal backs into a drainage ditch is. 01:10:46
All along the river I've had half of the pasture. 01:10:52
With. 01:10:55
Trees that are 5 feet in diameter that are dead. 01:10:56
Along the river, you know that isn't flood plain. 01:11:01
You know, and that's the frustrating thing is this stuff didn't get. 01:11:03
That big? 01:11:09
You know, in its lifetime. 01:11:10
And this stuff's all dying because of the flooding. 01:11:13
So I mean, I think, I think part of it is and. 01:11:16
A good part of it isn't. 01:11:18
But I can't speak for the, you know, the total. 01:11:21
The biggest thing is that the duration has gone up. 01:11:25
And the amount of flooding since the 80s and. 01:11:29
This year we were talking prior to the meeting here. 01:11:35
You know it's it's. 01:11:38
Probably half of what it is. It's probably 5 or 6 feet down in my estimate. 01:11:40
Of what it was last year. 01:11:46
Where it goes over the road next to me. 01:11:48
This Monroe Rd. north of Asher Pen. 01:11:50
That been under underwater 11 months a year. 01:11:53
Where Tim lives. 01:11:56
And the guys that are? 01:11:58
That are carp shooting at night with their boats. You know they're launching off off the town Rd. 01:12:01
Not often. 01:12:08
That's so deep. 01:12:10
But it isn't only by us though. I mean, it runs. 01:12:13
Bound through. 01:12:16
Of town of Axonia. 01:12:18
And further up north? 01:12:20
You know, The thing is that we we lose. 01:12:22
Focus that there's a lot of their water, a lot of the river tributaries that are coming into the Rock River. 01:12:26
That. 01:12:32
Really due to due to the amount of cost study into that, I mean we use the main. 01:12:33
Rock River for our initial large study. 01:12:39
And well, that's a 49 page report that I've provided to the group. 01:12:42
That. 01:12:47
Identified that it was mainly water that was let out a Hustisford and Eustisford needed to let the water out because when Horacon 01:12:48
adjusts their gates in Mississippi gets too high. 01:12:54
So. 01:13:03
Got a couple things. 01:13:04
So this is just a two year requesters we're going to be I understand that it you know what we can request is for 26. It's not a 01:13:06
two year request. I correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're saying that 2025 costs are covered, right? 01:13:13
Well, as best as we can, as best as you can. But like. 01:13:20
For the committee's benefit, are you requesting? 01:13:23
24,500 Are you requesting 14,300? We felt all we could. We wanted to show you what we missed this year and we wanted to show you 01:13:26
the 26th and I figure 26 is all we can request. 01:13:32
OK. 01:13:39
Because it was mentioned both ways, so just. 01:13:41
Yeah, clarifying that. So you're requesting? 01:13:43
To 26. 01:13:47
You just haven't given us. 01:13:48
Final like number. So I'm I'm confused right? 01:13:50
All right. 01:13:54
OK. 01:13:58
Has Kim. 01:13:59
Dave, if I can ask, has Kim weighed in on this at all? 01:14:01
The court council, can we do this or not, or? Kim has weighed in. I sent her. 01:14:05
I didn't get home until. 01:14:10
Friday or Saturday evening. So I saw it in my e-mail the. 01:14:13
The proposal I forwarded to Kim on Sunday. 01:14:18
And she reviewed it yesterday afternoon, then got back to me last night. 01:14:22
She obviously she didn't have much time and it was a Sunday. 01:14:26
She only did a very informal legal opinion. 01:14:30
If you want a more thorough opinion, we'll have to have. And she couldn't be here today. She had a. 01:14:33
Personal thing that she's not good, she could not be here. Previous commitment. 01:14:39
If we want a professional or her more in depth, she can do that and then we could have that at a later time just because of 01:14:44
timing. 01:14:48
Initially here, she said her overall opinion has remained the same. She said she in her opinion, things had not changed. 01:14:52
Since the November meeting. 01:14:58
And that her opinion is still on not not to fund this. She said that we could still support it. 01:15:00
And the county can support it in coordinating efforts and doing all the work that John's department was. 01:15:07
But her concern was the. 01:15:13
The organization giving it to that organization, and I'm not going to speak for her. I'm not a lawyer. So that that is her. That 01:15:17
is her. 01:15:21
That is her opinion. 01:15:26
Is there a structure she would recommend that would allow it to be funded? 01:15:28
I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna speak for Kim. I'm just giving you, I'm just giving you a very informal. 01:15:33
Opinion I got on a Sunday afternoon. I think it is informal and the statute she recommends talked about this committee S ability 01:15:40
to find. 01:15:44
Flooding projects. 01:15:50
And it didn't mention it once. 01:15:52
It mentions it 3 or 4 times. 01:15:53
Just black and white, right? I'm not interpreting. 01:15:58
Not trying to give some meeting that's not stated. It's black and white. 01:16:02
Funding projects and. 01:16:07
In the November meeting as well as now, I wish I had seen that report. That would have been nice. But if it's the same statute 01:16:10
she's referring to, last time I even said, like so, Kim, which part of supporting flooding does not relate to supporting flooding? 01:16:18
Like I just don't. 01:16:28
I have no understanding. 01:16:32
Right. Like this is not a complex. It's got it's, it's not a complex, vague, ambiguous statute. It's really direct and it says it 01:16:34
over and over and over. 01:16:40
And so. 01:16:45
If there was something in there that she said, well, this statute says this, but that statute. 01:16:47
Doesn't allow the committee to do it because of this reason. Now we have a conflict and I understand that. 01:16:54
But when we have a statute that says this conservation committee. 01:17:01
Has the authority. 01:17:06
To to. 01:17:08
Projects for flooding. 01:17:10
Three or four times in the same paragraph. 01:17:14
That is clearly authorization. 01:17:18
To do this. 01:17:21
Clearly, I don't think Lisa, the the issue is that it's not funding products. We can fund projects and we coordinate products and 01:17:23
we have shown that we've done that. So I don't think that's the issue. The issue is the organization's a private, it's a private 01:17:28
organization. 01:17:32
And the issue is, is these can we give money to an organization that primarily. 01:17:37
Is for and they I know that you're not. I mean, you're for the whole, you've changed the whole county. 01:17:45
But also and I will tell LSID's position in just a moment. 01:17:51
They are regarding the dam orders and so there is a, it's a very, very controversial. 01:17:56
Issue and I will tell you because we were doing updates here, I just gave you a legal. 01:18:01
Update, We're doing updates and then I'm going to ask Cameron for funding update. I think we just get we're the motion we made. 01:18:07
Was that we would relook at this and look at all the updates as to what changed. I want John you to give us an update too. 01:18:13
That we're looking at the updates. That's all this is. 01:18:18
If the committee wants a more in depth legal opinion, we can get that. She offered that, but she couldn't do it yesterday. 01:18:21
On a Sunday afternoon. 01:18:28
I guess I'm confused. What? 01:18:30
More in depth would mean. 01:18:32
Like the exact reasoning in cases. 01:18:34
Details. If you want that, that would be. 01:18:38
That that can't be done. She only got this yesterday morning. 01:18:41
And I appreciate what you're saying. And I get that we can move on because we're not. So I misunderstood because I, I. 01:18:46
I, I misunderstood the concept of this because from the agenda, I thought we were talking about funding it. There's, there's two 01:18:54
things here. According to the request, they are asking for support. 01:19:00
Which I think. 01:19:06
We've already given. I don't know if you need that. We've already given. They have two, two requests here. Funding is 1 and 01:19:07
support from the county is the other. They have two requests here. 01:19:11
What is support like? I mean, I understand John's doing agendas. 01:19:16
It says here they said they're requesting author bullet use. Doc Steve, we're asking for Dodge County to work with Jefferson 01:19:20
County on the storage issue. 01:19:24
And you know, that's a long term deal. You know that ain't gonna help short term. 01:19:29
And it's going to have to figure out. 01:19:34
Funding and all the particulars to put that together and kind of study how much potentially you could get. 01:19:37
You know, along the corridor of that. 01:19:44
But you know. 01:19:46
Technically the town of Lebanon. 01:19:50
Has been the go to. 01:19:52
You pay the town of Lebanon for the gauge. 01:19:54
Lebanon disseminates the bills on everything is going to the town of Lebanon. It isn't going to a private group. Thank you. For 01:19:57
what it's worth, I didn't think anything privately was being funded to my knowledge, including the gauges. So. 01:20:03
Umm, you're raising your eyebrows. So if you know I'll talk when I talk. There is more to the story. You have a partial 01:20:09
information. Well, I wish I would and I and I will talk last night. My at my turn. I will, but I'm we're going around by just 01:20:15
someone asked John asked for legal. I answered the question. That's it. Can I ask you you could forward that to me after the 01:20:21
meeting. She just did. It's just an informal e-mail to me. I don't I don't feel that's appropriate. Well, since you're publicly at 01:20:27
a public meeting referring to that document. 01:20:33
I don't think I'm referring to a phone call with the follow phone call I had with her last night. You acted like you had a report 01:20:39
there. 01:20:43
I do not have a report, she said. She did not have an in-depth report. I said that immediately. 01:20:47
Well, I thought you so there's nothing on paper she's given. 01:20:52
There is no formal doc. She didn't do a formal review, no. 01:20:55
Like you, you never got a sent even I was going back and forth with her. That is correct. 01:20:59
In the end, when at the end of our conversation. 01:21:06
Talking with her, we were not going to present anything formally in writing. 01:21:09
Just giving her an update on a Sunday afternoon. That is what that is. What was this? When we we went back and forth e-mail, I 01:21:14
couldn't get ahold of her. 01:21:17
I did get a hold of her last night and that that, that is the like the end. 01:21:21
That's all I did. 01:21:25
I can get a formal review from Kim if you would like, if that is something this committee wants. But let's let's hear the other 01:21:29
parts of this Chair. That's just one part. 01:21:33
Sure, OK. 01:21:37
John, would you like to weigh in on this? You're the conservationist. What is your opinion and recommendations for this committee? 01:21:41
Because we are not experts and you are. 01:21:45
Since last November, I've talked to several different. 01:21:50
Counties, my counterparts and other counties. 01:21:54
Explaining the scenario to them and asking them what. 01:21:57
They would do if it was in their county. 01:22:01
None of them. 01:22:05
Said they would do any more than I currently am doing right now. 01:22:06
I've also talked to Mike Sorgi from the DNR. 01:22:11
You know, OK. 01:22:16
What? 01:22:18
More can. 01:22:19
I be doing within the county. 01:22:21
Or what? 01:22:23
Are some avenues I should be looking at within the county? 01:22:25
That would help alleviate this problem. 01:22:29
And. 01:22:33
He really didn't have an answer for me. You know, we had the Beaver Dam River watershed. Should I be looking something like that 01:22:34
on? 01:22:38
On Rubicon River, on Wildcat Creek, well, we've already got our land and water plant in NATO. 01:22:42
Nike Element. 01:22:48
Plan with Wildcat Creek. 01:22:49
So I didn't get any. 01:22:51
Anymore help from him than what we currently are doing? 01:22:53
So. 01:22:58
Based off of those conversations. 01:22:59
I don't. 01:23:03
I don't have any. 01:23:05
I I don't believe we should be supporting anything more than what we currently are doing. 01:23:07
Can I ask, did you talk to Kurt in Columbia? 01:23:11
Yes. Umm. 01:23:13
And he said the same thing. 01:23:14
Yeah, I talked to Columbia, I talked to Jefferson, I talked to. 01:23:16
Somebody up in Winnebago County, even further north with lake issues because of the ice damage that that occurred this year versus 01:23:20
drawdowns. 01:23:25
And yeah, I'm I'm getting. 01:23:30
Answers that yeah, you're already doing what you should be doing. 01:23:36
So that would include funding the station and continuing the funding of the station, right? They were shocked that we were doing 01:23:41
that. 01:23:44
Yeah, because they did that a while not even be funding the stations. 01:23:48
So what support is Jefferson County giving? 01:23:54
Right now. 01:23:56
Because they're on your list as being part of the part of the group. 01:23:58
And she's very, very interested in the storage part of it. 01:24:02
So they haven't committed nothing either then for this point? 01:24:07
Other than she's been a. 01:24:11
President at every meeting. 01:24:12
So similar role, probably what John's providing you. 01:24:15
For Dodge County. 01:24:18
John's per Surviving a touch more touch Mark. 01:24:20
Because the agendas, right? 01:24:25
Does he do the agendas? 01:24:27
Yeah, OK. 01:24:28
Robert Montgomery actually does the agendas. I just sent him out and coordinate the meetings. Oh, OK. 01:24:30
Thank you. 01:24:35
I have a question for Cameron. 01:24:38
Cameron, tell us about the funding for the 26 budget. How does the county view this? 01:24:40
This request how? 01:24:45
For conservation, are you getting any more money for conservation? Is this where it would be or is it? Would it be a different 01:24:48
department or where would this money come from? 01:24:51
I would consider this if this was to be a project. 01:24:56
It is. It's a, it's a conservation project. 01:25:01
And it wouldn't be allocated anywhere else. 01:25:04
That I can think of anything. 01:25:06
Yeah, the statute is for this. 01:25:07
I can tell you it would be. 01:25:12
When we have outside, outside. 01:25:15
Making requests. 01:25:18
Let me back up. 01:25:22
Depending on. 01:25:25
On how the dollars are used and the specific things that they will be used for. It could also be considered as a capital item, but 01:25:26
it would be a. 01:25:30
Could be an outside request. 01:25:34
And it would not have promised you over any of the other internal requests. 01:25:35
For fun. 01:25:40
OK, very broad. 01:25:43
All right. I would like to go ahead. At the Land and Water conference, there was a breakout session on some flooding in Dane 01:25:48
County. It wasn't the same. 01:25:53
It was. 01:25:58
Due to high grind water, groundwater and by a lake. 01:25:59
And some houses were flooded, some roads were flooded. And what Dane County did was they actually purchased the land. 01:26:03
From From the individual. From the individuals. 01:26:11
John and I just attended the southern area. 01:26:14
Association meeting. 01:26:17
Umm, Dane County, Amy was saying. There's. 01:26:20
Probably been there for 200 years, right? This farm on a place where no farm should ever be. Like, it's just horrible. Everything 01:26:25
runs into the river. 01:26:30
It's terrible. 01:26:34
And as soon as that place, if ever, becomes available, the county is going to purchase that as well. 01:26:36
I know the problem with this is though, there's 25,000 acres, right? I've said it's not. I'm just showing that the county does get 01:26:44
involved. 01:26:48
Ah, like this counts as that I call this a project, right? 01:26:53
Purchasing land isn't even referenced in the statute. 01:26:58
But. 01:27:03
Projects are. 01:27:04
I'd like to say some things from LSID. I serve as a commissioner, LSID and LSID with. 01:27:09
Has would like you guys to come and work with them. The up to this point there has not been a representative from your group and 01:27:15
LSID. LSID is trying to get caught up. They put out an open records request from all. 01:27:20
Entities that have been working with you and they found that your your organization does not have open records and was unable, 01:27:26
they were unable to get the records from your organization official records. There is no such official records. 01:27:32
Did we get 148? 01:27:39
Documents from the DNR. 01:27:41
And I think there was some other other organizations that we got some documents from. 01:27:43
The issue that LSID members just so the people in this room. I'm sorry, what is LSID? 01:27:47
LSID is the Lake District, Lake Sinnissippi the district. Thank you. I am a commissioner on it as part of this organization. It is 01:27:54
also in my district, District 9. 01:27:58
In Dodge County, it's about 700 homes on the lake. 01:28:04
There in town Hubbard Mobile. Smithson Town Hubbard. 01:28:09
The the issue here for if this is a very, very controversial. 01:28:12
Politically charged subject in the dam orders. Because what we're talking about here is changing. 01:28:18
The level of the lake. 01:28:25
For the people that live on the lake, as you probably could imagine, is very controversial. 01:28:26
Except can I make one comment? 01:28:32
Go ahead. We've stayed within the operating orders, OK. That's this whole project trying to determine that. So the the, the, the. 01:28:35
The people at in the LSID and LSA, the the other organization over there, their concern with shoreline erosion, the ice. 01:28:44
The recreational use of the lake. 01:28:54
And the view of the lake. 01:28:57
And the dam orders were changed within the within that range to have an earlier drawdown and and it it was not not. 01:28:58
It did not work well. 01:29:09
So the LSID. 01:29:10
Because worked with the village. 01:29:13
And John, you were at some of those meetings with the village of Hughesburg? Hughesford is over the dam. 01:29:15
Operating operating the dam. 01:29:21
And within the DNR. 01:29:23
I think it's 1952. You refer to that yours tonight. It's really old. He is correct in that. 01:29:26
But there, there it, it was not. It did not go over well changing the damn orders to having the the drawdown earlier. So the LSID 01:29:31
members made a a formal recommendation to the village of. 01:29:37
Houston spurred to change the orders within that range to be later in the year, in February, in February 15th. 01:29:44
The village? I'm confused. The village board passed the orders recommendation from LSID to February 15th, changing the lake level 01:29:51
at a later time. 01:29:56
So the other concern that LSID has so you know, is that, um. 01:30:02
We in our meeting last week was 2 village. Two people from the village were there. We had three other people from LSA. 01:30:08
The big concern? 01:30:15
From actually these people are actually afraid. 01:30:17
They're afraid that this group. 01:30:20
Well, strong arm, the DNR. 01:30:22
To manage the dam. 01:30:24
For their area when they don't have a say in it. 01:30:27
Umm, so that that that is the concern. So you have an organization that has no open records. 01:30:30
You have an organization that is trying to change, that is promoting politically to change the dam orders. 01:30:37
And then we're asking this county to submit money. 01:30:43
To support a political position. For that I understand there are other efforts. I am in support of their their first request very 01:30:47
much so. 01:30:51
But as an LSI D Commissioner. 01:30:56
Umm, it would be outrageous for me to support any group. 01:30:59
That is trying to politically. 01:31:03
A change. 01:31:06
The the operating orders to benefit people outside of the LSID area because these people and I do understand the flooding is 01:31:08
downstream, but dams are not designed and correct me if I'm wrong, John. 01:31:15
Dams are not designed to benefit the flooding or what is it? What is their purpose? Lake and Horican dams were not built to be 01:31:22
flood control dams. 01:31:28
There's a difference in their structure, whether they're a flood control or. 01:31:35
And operating control for they were originally built to run some mills or hydropowers and things like that. 01:31:40
If I were to vote for this today, I would be recalled by this afternoon. 01:31:47
No question. 01:31:51
I'm not sure why you're saying it's political. This sounded like a project that has been based on research. 01:31:53
And I know you just shook your head no, but it's based on research. 01:32:00
And scientific studies based on gauges we gave them, right? So this isn't like we just like, hey, let's do whatever. Like I don't 01:32:05
know what it's not Republican or Democrat. It's a it's a scientific. 01:32:11
They've been doing studies. Montgomery's an engineer. 01:32:18
And just remember that. 01:32:22
I'm no expert, but water law right is different. 01:32:24
You know 1. 01:32:28
Entity that owns water. 01:32:30
Also cannot decide because we want to put our boats here. 01:32:33
Thousands of acres downstream are going to get flooded and we're going to prevent that, right? So the whole point that I heard him 01:32:38
say was to get. 01:32:42
And maybe. 01:32:47
The Lake District needs to get included, but I didn't hear him say they were going to change the water, I heard him say throughout 01:32:48
his presentation. 01:32:52
We are doing this without changing the water. 01:32:55
The order, water dam, the order, we're not changing it. So there's like a disconnect between your meeting, like this group's going 01:32:58
to change us water and he's saying I'm working within the water. 01:33:03
So. 01:33:08
That's a communication issue. I don't disagree. I think maybe they need to be more informed or maybe they could go to a meeting, 01:33:09
but that's just completely incorrect. 01:33:14
It's incorrect. 01:33:20
They're saying they are working within. 01:33:21
The damn order. 01:33:24
And I believe him. 01:33:26
I've known inverters for years, but he's never said anything that I found to be untrue. That is, that is correct. They're working 01:33:28
with the damage, but there is flexibility within the damn order. And that is that is where the controversy is. And part of that 01:33:36
flexibility, right, is not just for the 70 how many homes, 707 hundred homes in one area, right? Because there are. 01:33:45
Other people in Dodge County. 01:33:53
Thousands, right, not just 700 that are getting affected by severe flooding. So I'm not saying that one side should prioritize the 01:33:55
other side. 01:34:00
But to say we're not going to try to even work together. And if you join a group that is trying to manage these different 01:34:05
interests, if you even join that group or listen to them, we're going to vote you out of office. 01:34:11
It's that's incomprehensible to me. This is a. 01:34:17
Multi jurisdictional problem. 01:34:21
And not no one jurisdiction can say this is what we want and screw the rest of you. 01:34:24
He can't do that. 01:34:30
Right. The difference is Beard and Lake has the same thing. I've been on that district. I was for 10 years, right. 01:34:36
Fishermen and the skiers want the lake up to here. 01:34:43
Other people want it drawn down for here. Actually the fisherman wanted to drawn down because it created better fishing. But. 01:34:46
You get my point Like. 01:34:53
This is not a one entity problem, it's multi jurisdictional. There's a lot of people. We don't represent just Sinnissippi, we 01:34:55
represent the whole county. 01:35:00
How can? 01:35:06
We say, well I have to do what my my section wants. 01:35:07
But I'm not going to care about the rest of the people in the county who are getting flooded out. 01:35:13
I'm not saying it's one versus the other, but it sounds like we're not going to do this, We're going to shut it down. 01:35:18
They haven't read this report. 01:35:25
They haven't read the reason. I guarantee you those folks have not read it. 01:35:27
But they're happy to say. 01:35:31
That they're not going to support somebody. 01:35:33
Who's going to what was the word? You just push them, force them. 01:35:36
They can't force Sinnissippi to do. 01:35:40
Anything. 01:35:43
Your comparisons be Brand Lake. 01:35:44
That means 7 inches. 01:35:46
Their damn motor was 2 feet. 01:35:48
And that's it. Makes a huge difference. 01:35:51
So the existing dam order. 01:35:53
And fluctuate 2 feet over there. 01:35:55
That is significant. 01:35:57
Beaver Dam Lake Order used to be much different in seven inches, so it's it was much greater and it got reduced. 01:35:59
I just, I'm just asking that we try to keep an open mind. 01:36:05
To do what's best for. 01:36:09
And I represent Beaver Dam. That doesn't mean I'm going to say that my district gets whatever they want. 01:36:12
If it negatively impacts more people outside of my district. Otherwise, how do we function as a committee for all of the people in 01:36:18
the county? 01:36:23
OK. Is there any other discussion on the? 01:36:33
Black River Group presentation request for funding. 01:36:36
Has there been, with all this flooding going on, obviously there's got to be something coming in there and losing some of your 01:36:40
capacity too. 01:36:44
Is that correct or I don't? 01:36:48
Believe. 01:36:51
I don't believe. 01:36:53
But we haven't looked at that. 01:36:54
I mean the the main. 01:36:57
Celting is in Sinnissippi from what I understand. 01:36:59
You know, and I think that's why there's raging. Yep, there's complaints up there because. 01:37:03
You know that I thought I heard that there was. 01:37:09
4 feet of water. 01:37:12
Now that that came from somebody that was on our group from up in that area. 01:37:14
I would like to make. 01:37:19
Not a rebuttal, but a comment to your open records deal. 01:37:21
On the on the. 01:37:25
Request. 01:37:26
At the Town of Lebanon meeting. 01:37:27
When we gave them an update 60 days ago. 01:37:29
I requested from the attorney. 01:37:33
That is on the group. 01:37:35
His comments on that? 01:37:37
I have a letter that I'll provide you to take back to Santa Sippy where he recommends that it is. You know, they weren't closed 01:37:39
meetings, they were open. 01:37:44
Open meetings that anybody can come to. 01:37:49
They were just looking for records, that's all. 01:37:53
Right. 01:37:55
They should have asked the people that were involved, they could have them all. 01:37:57
Fairly quick they can go down, they can probably get the last two years where the records down at the town of Lebanon if they 01:38:02
requested because they've all been. 01:38:06
Been sent to the chair, the clerk. 01:38:10
So John, the upper Rock River is like 2300 miles of. 01:38:14
Streams and creeks under what conditions with DNR assigned somebody and support this? 01:38:17
Financially. 01:38:23
So it's mostly counties you're talking about, Fond du Lac. 01:38:25
Dodge Jefferson. 01:38:28
Columbia. 01:38:30
A little bit of Washington, not much. 01:38:31
I don't know. That's another conversation with Mike Sorghi, I guess. 01:38:36
But maybe it shouldn't be the burden in two counties, it should be spread over. 01:38:42
Bigger swath. 01:38:47
Spread over what? A bigger? 01:38:49
Bigger number of counties, the bigger have the state look at it. 01:38:51
So you're not hampering one group or individuals. 01:38:54
Have to look at it holistically. What's the whole upper record we're going to look like? 01:38:59
20 years from now. 01:39:04
Well, I think that's what the UW Madison students are going to be. 01:39:05
In the two studies they're doing, that's what they're going to be looking at. 01:39:10
The state involvement. 01:39:15
Involving the state, the UW Madison students are going to be doing what that's what they're going to be looking at what what what 01:39:17
is going on with the Rock River and what is the future of it? 01:39:22
Yeah, I want to make it clear that I am very supportive of the county doing anything it can. 01:39:28
To help with the flooding of not only your properties, but any of the properties and and I am very supportive of the efforts that 01:39:37
John has done. 01:39:42
Supportive of you using our facilities. I'm supportive every way I can. I am personally I'm just not supportive of giving money to 01:39:47
a particular group. But far as like supporting like the gauge yes, I am supportive of things like that so that that is my position 01:39:55
as far as LSID they would like to work with with you and and and hoping that someone would maybe. 01:40:03
Come to our meetings and work with us. They would like that the. 01:40:11
Village of. 01:40:16
Hustisford has done that now. They sent the liaison to improve communications as the Lisa's point. I concur that there needs to be 01:40:18
an increase in communication. 01:40:22
So. 01:40:27
That is my position so. 01:40:29
Any other discussion on this? 01:40:31
Request for funding. 01:40:33
I guess I would. 01:40:34
Like to hear from Kim a little bit more? 01:40:37
On this and. 01:40:39
I kind of like to know what other municipalities got. 01:40:41
For teeth in the game too. 01:40:43
There's other money flowing in. 01:40:45
Or if there's a way that we could work together? 01:40:47
And getting some money and I this is a motion to a certain time. I don't know Robert's Rules. Can we go again? 01:40:49
Camera, do you know that? Can we go again? This is a motion to a certain time. The reason you put it, pushed it off to this month 01:40:56
is we're too late in the budget cycle last year. 01:41:01
So you wanted to get. 01:41:06
Decision made before the budget cycle started. 01:41:08
So if that's your choice, you want to talk to Kim next month, I mean that's you're still within the budget cycle. 01:41:12
So. 01:41:20
No, it's not OK. 01:41:23
So are you making a motion then? 01:41:24
I just got a question first. So is this funding for a group or for a project? 01:41:26
And I think that's what we need to get clarified. 01:41:33
With Kim. 01:41:35
And how it's gonna work? 01:41:36
OK, it's ton Lebanon's you're put through the way you're talking to. Everything's going through the town of Lebanon, everything, 01:41:38
and they're just something. 01:41:41
So can I address your question on the groups? 01:41:45
We figured out. 01:41:49
Originally, uh. 01:41:51
How much flooding were in these municipalities? Lebanon has the most it's in the 30. 01:41:52
Percent 30. 01:41:59
High 30% range. 01:42:00
Exonia is just a touch below that. 01:42:03
The town A huge town of Houston's Bird. 01:42:07
At the village. 01:42:11
Is the third one. 01:42:12
Asher Pins got about a percent or two. Not, you know, not very much the village. 01:42:13
Of the city of Hustisford as a percent or two. 01:42:18
To give you an idea. 01:42:22
We did. They disseminate. Lebanon disseminates the bills that come in and splits it out by a percentage. 01:42:23
Town of Lebanon holds. 01:42:31
The funding and and spreads it out when. 01:42:33
The bill comes for the USGS gauge. 01:42:37
They disseminate a bill out to all the parties involved. So you're seeing like village of uses Ford pays for some of it the town 01:42:39
Larry ladies 1% but out over those groups are paying against it, yes. 01:42:45
I have one last thing and then I'll be done, But 9207 is the Land Conservation Committee powers. 01:42:53
I've already. 01:42:59
Talked about flood prevention, flood prevention that's already in there. I'm not going to read that, but assistance is a separate 01:43:00
one and it's subsection 7. 01:43:04
Each land conservation committee in the name of the county. 01:43:09
May cooperate with. 01:43:12
Enter into agreements with. 01:43:14
Or furnish technical. 01:43:17
Financial. 01:43:19
Planning. Umm. 01:43:20
Or other assistance to any agency 1 governmental or. 01:43:21
Otherwise. 01:43:27
This is an otherwise or any landowner or land user. 01:43:29
Within the incorporated or unincorporated parts of the county in carrying out resource conservation operations and here's the key 01:43:34
works of improvement for flood prevention. 01:43:41
Or for the conservation. 01:43:48
Development, utilization and protection of soil and water resources within the county. 01:43:50
That's black and white. 01:43:58
So. 01:44:01
I can do a report on that, but that's the statute. 01:44:04
And I I don't understand why she's saying that we can't. 01:44:06
Because this is saying. 01:44:10
We can. 01:44:12
OK. So John, back to you. Do you want to make a motion then to a certain time? 01:44:15
Having waiting for a thorough analysis from Kim yes, I'll just saw move that we just. 01:44:20
Don't act on the funding part of this request. 01:44:27
Till next month, till we get. 01:44:30
Chance to talk to Kim one more time. 01:44:31
Then that way we can understand her. 01:44:33
Her reasoning? Lisa can. 01:44:35
You know. 01:44:38
We can get Lisa's opinion on it and. 01:44:39
And everything else and then I can't promise you'll be here that date, but we'll. 01:44:42
We'll try to get her here, but we won't have it until she's here. 01:44:47
You know, until kids here. Hopefully she can make it work. OK. OK. Do we have a second? 01:44:51
I'll second, OK Ken, second OK. Any any further discussion on we are making a motion to next month. 01:44:55
And we are asking Kim to give us a thorough analysis of the legality of of giving money to this. 01:45:02
Group of her opinion is the current structure does not allow this to happen. 01:45:08
For the county. 01:45:13
Under what organizational structure would she allow it? 01:45:14
You'll have to ask her that. I wouldn't. I can. 01:45:17
I think we'll just have to wait till she comes. Like I said, I'm not a lawyer. I am not. 01:45:20
I've never claimed that, so I'm just. 01:45:24
OK. Is any other discussion? 01:45:27
OK, all those in favor signify by saying aye aye those opposed. 01:45:29
OK. 01:45:33
Thank you, Steve. I guess we're coming back. I don't. I can't promise it'll be next month. Well, John, if you could put a request 01:45:34
in to Kim. 01:45:37
Just send it over there today and we'll put it on the agenda and see. But I don't want, I don't want it. If she's not here, she's 01:45:40
got to be here physically here. 01:45:44
If we could just, you know, either Rob Montgomery or I get notice. 01:45:48
Yes, yes, yes. I appreciate your people's time today. 01:45:52
I know it. 01:45:56
A little bit of a long discussion, but. 01:45:57
You know our groups. 01:45:59
And at this a long time and we're just. 01:46:01
We're trying to. 01:46:04
Solve a problem. 01:46:06
So thank you. OK, thank you. Thank you. 01:46:07
OK. You still wanted to land water video or is that OK? Everybody OK with that? 01:46:12
On farmland preservation update. 01:46:20
We've said that on the agenda last month, yeah. 01:46:23
OK. 01:46:33
We've been receiving our nuclear management plans of checklists and our our. 01:46:35
Annual payments. 01:46:41
For them so far. 01:46:42
So we've got 90% of the nutrient management plans in so far. So we're doing really good with that. 01:46:44
One question Lisa had last month she wanted to know. 01:46:50
Since our new land and water plan was rewritten and approved in 22. 01:46:54
How many more acres we have increased or decreased from farmland preservation? 01:47:00
We have increased 3565 acres since the land and water plan was rewritten in 22. 01:47:05
3001. 01:47:14
3565 acres. Thank you. 01:47:15
And our. 01:47:18
Land and water plan. 01:47:21
Specifically, does not. 01:47:23
Have a goal of increasing farmland preservation acres participation not perform the preservation our our annual. 01:47:26
Our annual work plan does. 01:47:36
Yeah, but not. 01:47:38
The the land and water plan, Are you sure that talks about increasing? 01:47:39
Cover crops increasing nutrient management plans and increasing. 01:47:45
Conservation. 01:47:50
Practices, but not necessarily fundament preservation. But our annual work plan always has a. 01:47:51
A goal of 2000 acres. Every year we change that to a percentage. 01:47:59
We had this discussion and we were like, well, what is 2000? And then we look, we talked about a percentage and my vague 01:48:04
recollection, I totally could be wrong. I think it was 10. 01:48:09
Maybe 15? 01:48:13
But it was not less than 10. 01:48:15
And I don't remember what plan it's in. Yeah, I'll look through them again, see if I can come up with. 01:48:17
You can just search for 10%. 01:48:23
It's my that's my recollection. 01:48:25
OK, Do you remember that? 01:48:29
Mr. Chair. 01:48:32
Vaguely like the percentage. 01:48:33
Yeah, So your goal, Lisa? 01:48:35
Prominent preservation for new demands and plans. 01:48:38
Because they don't have to go hand in hand. 01:48:41
I don't see why we wouldn't encourage both, right? They both relate to conservation. 01:48:44
I would encourage both. 01:48:49
I mean. 01:48:52
You have to have the nutrient plan to get the tax credit right. 01:48:53
Yes, they have to have that to get the tax credit. So I wouldn't think so. Farmland preservation already, everybody has to have a 01:48:57
nutrient management. So there's quite a big overlap. 01:49:02
But some they may have a plan and not belong to family preservation. I mean they may have. 01:49:08
Uh-huh. 01:49:14
My guess is you're less likely to file follow a plan. 01:49:14
And then not be in farmland preservation. Like if you got a plan and you're following, why wouldn't you want to get money for 01:49:20
that, right? Yeah. Otherwise you just do the plan, right? So. 01:49:24
Some people are anti government, you know. That's the only reason, OK. 01:49:28
Is there, can I ask John, is there any, any discussion on the funding of farmland preservation that you're aware of? 01:49:32
As far as less is our legally less funding for 26 or no that I believe that was that was approved in statute. So the payments now. 01:49:40
They're going to stay there until. 01:49:50
They potentially update the statutes are revising. 01:49:53
It's not, it's not a budgeting. 01:49:57
How many acres do you do you think, I think in your long term plan didn't you have a then you say like how many acres we how many 01:49:59
acres total do we have in farmland preservation? 01:50:03
There's roughly 360,000 acres of cropland. 01:50:08
In Dodge County. I'm sorry, how many? 01:50:14
360,000 Ballpark figure. 01:50:16
And just under half of that, we're at about 130,000 that is in farmland preservation. 01:50:21
So. But we've also got. 01:50:29
Townships that are not zoned, so they're not eligible for the program to begin with. 01:50:32
Two years ago. 01:50:38
We. 01:50:40
Did AG enterprise? 01:50:42
Zoning change for the Town of Westford. 01:50:44
And that allows them to be environment preservation, but they have to sign a 10 year contract. It's not a year to year like. 01:50:48
If they're already zoned from the preservation, it's a year to year thing. 01:50:55
You mean the individual landowner, right? OK. 01:50:59
Yeah. 01:51:01
OK. 01:51:05
Anything else on farmland preservation? 01:51:07
What is your number the 3565? Was that farmland preservation specifically or was it something else? 01:51:11
Farmland preservation, yeah. 01:51:16
The only two things that Dodge County has that requires A nutrient management plan is farmland preservation. 01:51:18
And our animal waste ordinance. 01:51:26
So if somebody has. 01:51:28
Nurse storage structure that was built under the ordinance. They're not in farmland preservation, not in a Township that zoned for 01:51:31
farmland preservation. 01:51:35
They still have to have a new two management plan because of the ordinance. 01:51:38
So our increase from 22 to 25 was less than 1% of our total acreage. 01:51:45
So. 01:51:51
It's just. 01:51:52
I don't know how, I don't have any answers, but it's just it's a very very small amount. 01:51:54
You know, I think talking with our staff members, I said it's the kind of thing you can't just e-mail. You have to go out in 01:51:58
person and sell it. 01:52:03
Yep, right. That it takes labor is what it I went to a conference and I sat in on that session specifically and the presenter was 01:52:07
phenomenal and he didn't sell anything. 01:52:13
Sorry, he didn't sell anything. He went there and he got to know the person. He asked about how many kids they have. 01:52:19
And just chitchatted and it's, I agree, it's extraordinarily time consuming. You know, I go in there and try to sell something, 01:52:26
they're going to flip me off like it's if it's building the relationship. 01:52:32
And offering resources and it's super time consuming. 01:52:39
But yeah, you're right if you go in and want to start selling. 01:52:44
Might as well have an Amway salesman, right? Go away. 01:52:48
Or Jehovah's Witness. 01:52:51
Can I offer some? Sorry. 01:52:55
There's some of that too where people are just anti government that OK, somebody's going to be watching me over every move I make 01:52:57
and they don't want to be controlled by that or whatever, so. 01:53:01
You're not gonna. 01:53:07
Yeah, I think it's. 01:53:10
Umm, kind of. Where are we along the adoption curve with some of these things? I mean, compared to like cover crops? 01:53:11
Nutrient management planning is way a higher percentage of land in the county. 01:53:18
Or across the state. 01:53:23
And. 01:53:25
Eat with cover crops and those things. It's all about like, OK, you've got your early adopters, you've got your middle adopters, 01:53:26
and then how do you get people beyond that? It gets increasingly difficult. 01:53:30
To to push beyond that, unless you're not saying that it should be required by any means. But then you get into things we're like, 01:53:34
OK. 01:53:38
You know there needs. 01:53:41
It's really hard to keep on pushing that percentage up year after year after year of adoption unless there's major changes made in 01:53:43
the way that these are all ruled out. 01:53:47
I saw it to Andrew on my way into work this morning. There are three fields that were that were hay fields that were just turned 01:53:53
over with mobile plow. 01:53:57
Just in the last couple of days, so. 01:54:02
What are those major changes? 01:54:04
Like you have the experience and. 01:54:06
I mean. 01:54:08
It's interesting because seeing the different programs, you know, I, I don't work a ton with nutrient management planning. That's 01:54:10
more kind of the conservation office. But like looking at what are the, the programs and what are the different ways that we can 01:54:15
get different conservation practices on the landscape, cover crops, no tail, blah, blah, blah. 01:54:20
Money is one way to do it, cost sharing, but I feel like we have also reached a bit of a plateau with that. I mean in our program 01:54:26
working with the. 01:54:30
Farmers group, it's often the same people year after year. 01:54:34
Or it's like one more, it's not this, you know, flushing people. It's so it's, is it not enough money? Is it 90 to $100.00 an acre 01:54:37
for carbon? 01:54:41
Things. That is the incentive that people need. 01:54:46
I mean, it's how people view the practice. It's like, well, I'm deriving a benefit from myself. A little bit of money doesn't 01:54:49
help. I'll do it. 01:54:53
If the people don't see the benefit in it, it needs to be a lot more money or it needs to be required, which I'm not saying that 01:54:57
it should be, but that's the type of thing that then pushes it further beyond the people that see the benefit for themselves in 01:55:01
that. 01:55:05
Education could be one way of. 01:55:10
You know, be teaching about how is this benefiting people. 01:55:13
But then that education is self selecting, right? If I host a workshop on the benefits of a nutrient management plan, who is going 01:55:16
to come? 01:55:19
The people that already have nutrient management. 01:55:23
And maybe one other person that would be that 1% that you're talking about. 01:55:26
And I can't force that education on people that don't want it, right. And so it's. 01:55:30
Part of it is how can we have those conversations? It's a one to one thing. But John going and having, you know. 01:55:36
A several week long conversation that convinces that one person to do that nutrient management plan over the year is that 1%. We 01:55:43
don't have enough staff. We don't have enough staff for that. So unless we have. 01:55:48
You know, even Dane County, who has tons of staff upstairs, well, for me, it's upstairs. 01:55:53
In their land and water program. 01:55:59
You know, it's a similarly sized county. There's more people, it's not that much more farmland. 01:56:01
But they have 20 people there and there's, you know, they have good coverage. They have a lot of land that's under county. 01:56:07
Ownership, They have a lot more money as a county, but still they struggle. 01:56:12
To do this because they don't have enough staff to push that further. 01:56:17
So that 1% is those individual conversations at this point? 01:56:20
Thank you. 01:56:25
Education and motivation. 01:56:27
To get people to go ahead and do the conservation practices. 01:56:29
So it's pretty sure 50% for nutrient management. 01:56:33
Between the association and district at Beaver Dam, there's 16 commissioners. 01:56:36
Three of the 16 have buffers on their property. 01:56:42
18%. 01:56:45
So they're educated into the purpose of the buffers. 01:56:47
They just have been motivated to do it. 01:56:51
Yeah, it's it's no different with lake people versus farm people are people. You know, you can, you can preach all you want, but. 01:56:53
Some you're just not going to hit no matter what you do. 01:57:02
OK. Update on tree sales. 01:57:08
OK. I just run through the financials. I sent that to you in your packet. Basically the net gain this year was $7882. 01:57:11
We don't do this as a fundraiser. 01:57:21
And every year is different depending on the cost of trees and how many trees we sell. 01:57:24
This does not include staff time or anything like that. 01:57:29
Never has. I mean, we've, we've been as low as around $3000 in some years so. 01:57:35
Is there like farmland preservation? Is there a way? 01:57:42
That we could try to increase that or how would we do that? Because you mentioned other counties a similar size, so a lot more 01:57:45
trees is there? Well, I know Columbia County sells little over twice what we sell, but they've got a lot more forested land. 01:57:52
In Columbia County than we do. 01:57:59
Well, that makes a difference. There's there's several counties that sell, they're happy to sell 5000 trees. 01:58:01
You know, so I, I think we're doing pretty good. 01:58:07
I could go back in and and look to see how we started out. I think when we initially started we were in that 5 to 8000 trees when 01:58:11
we first started in 1920 years ago. 01:58:16
Oh, we're staying around that 2022. 01:58:21
It bounces up and down every year. 01:58:26
Just as a highlight I we bought some trees about. 01:58:30
Probably 1520 years ago as. 01:58:33
And now they're 20 feet 30 feet tall. 01:58:36
Yeah, if you can get them out of the reach of the deer, they all do pretty good. 01:58:43
We're selling a lot more tree tubes too. I mean, this year we sold over 4600 tree tubes this year. 01:58:48
That makes me just been doing that. This is our third year I think. 01:58:55
Yeah, that makes sense. 01:58:59
So OK, discuss possible research projects on Dodge County. 01:59:00
Airport Farm. 01:59:06
OK, as Will said earlier, I. 01:59:08
We sat down and just had some more conversations. 01:59:13
Dave, Trolley and Cameron. 01:59:17
And these are some options that we've come up with on the farm. Umm. 01:59:19
It's a. 01:59:28
Difficult situation, I know. 01:59:29
It came about because we did the farm the county tour down Rock County and Rock County's got a. 01:59:32
Very long term experimental farm, research farm going on down there, but they have all the equipment they need right there. 01:59:40
UW had invested in that equipment many years ago, and it stays right there. 01:59:48
To do something like that up here. 01:59:55
We're struggling with how that would work, so these are some options that we kind of discuss. 02:00:00
To get our feet in the door with the project and then we can always adjust it down the road. 02:00:05
First one, status quo crops. 02:00:13
Cover crop plant in good faith. 02:00:15
Lease agreement, land bid, bid it out, you know, continuing on what we're doing right now. 02:00:18
Second options turning into a demonstration farm. I'll have a lease agreement. 02:00:24
Land is put out for bids. Farmer must use certain conservation practices where we would dictate you have to do this, you have to 02:00:29
do this. 02:00:33
Sauk County does that on some of their. 02:00:37
On some of their county farm. 02:00:40
Third option. 02:00:44
Demonstration farm with control plots. So he put out on these lands, put out on bids. Farmers have to use certain conservations. 02:00:45
And then we would still have. 02:00:53
Part of it would be conventionally tilled, part of it would be would would be no till with cover crops. 02:00:56
And then we would do the research out there. 02:01:02
For long see the long term changes on the soil. We also had conversations of. 02:01:07
Would the operator be willing to open up his financial records for that farm? Do we put that in the lease as a requirement? Is 02:01:12
that going to restrict who is willing to? 02:01:17
Put a bid in on F. 02:01:23
Why do you need that again for the research? 02:01:24
Well, I don't understand why if you're promoting, if you're promoting no till and cover crops, what is the resistance? Why doesn't 02:01:27
John Krause want to do no till and cover crops? 02:01:32
Is it a financial reason? 02:01:37
Well, let's show the financial. 02:01:39
Let's open the books up. 02:01:41
What did it cost? 02:01:42
What was your? What was your inputs? What were your outputs? 02:01:44
Do you need that for the research or it's help? It's one part of the research, OK, It's an often an economic argument is like 02:01:48
well. 02:01:52
Why would I plant cover cots that cost me money? I don't know anything from it. 02:01:56
So let's just show that it's financially umm. 02:01:59
Beneficial. Well, I just did show what is it? 02:02:02
Rather than trying to promote it, it's like, OK, if this is an argument, like what is the research show based off the economics of 02:02:05
it, That's proof of whether or not that's benefit. 02:02:09
That's not a necessity, but it helps to. 02:02:15
Give the fuller picture. 02:02:19
Yeah. 02:02:21
And to what extent would that look like, would it be the farmer needs to open their books? Maybe not, but keep a record of the 02:02:22
cost of of it for that specific farm. OK, that makes more sense. Right. Yeah. Yeah. I just missed the farm. I wasn't talking. 02:02:28
All the books I'm like, I don't get away. 02:02:34
Because it was confusing. You said open all the books. How much did you pay for that refrigerator? 02:02:40
The next proposal is. 02:02:51
Option 4 is to call for proposals. OK, put it out there. 02:02:55
To where? 02:02:58
This lands available. 02:03:00
You put a bid to us. What are you willing to do? What do you want to showcase if you're operating this farm? 02:03:01
We would have to reserve the rights to refuse all proposals. 02:03:10
If we did that. 02:03:14
I don't know what we would get if we went that route. 02:03:17
Yeah, get somebody willing to come in there, do something. How are you advertising this? 02:03:21
I'm just saying like these are just. 02:03:26
We're not even at that phase. No, no, but it matters, right? Because if you're just going to put something in for Dodge County #4 02:03:28
won't ever work, right? So like. 02:03:32
If you get somebody who's. 02:03:37
Well, they have to use their own equipment because we're not buying equipment, so. 02:03:39
You can't get somebody far away. Not necessarily. It would be just for farmers in Dodge, right? 100% right. OK yeah, for farmers 02:03:43
that have no one would come in from even if they own land in Dodge County. 02:03:49
You know, Scott Schultz on the Dodge County Jefferson board, there's not going to drive all the way up to Juneau. 02:03:55
I just, I don't know, I mean. 02:04:01
I guess like you say that. 02:04:04
You could do it if you could refuse. 02:04:06
And I think part of this. 02:04:10
Option. The appeal of it is. 02:04:12
Then we're not requiring things. 02:04:14
In the lease, it's the farmer submitted. Farmers come up with the ideas themselves, so it's grassroots. 02:04:17
Rather than us saying this is what you should be doing. 02:04:23
And so people can get creative with it, OK? 02:04:26
And I think that we could have this process before we would normally go out for. 02:04:29
What the timing is forbid. So if it's we don't get anything good out of this. It's all. 02:04:34
Not. 02:04:39
Great. We like OK, none of this works. We can then put it out for business, but you would have normally done. I see. 02:04:40
Yeah. So it's not. It's in addition. Yeah. So and it would supersede the original call for bids in that way the farmer would put 02:04:45
together. Here's how much I'm willing to pay for this. And here's my idea for what I would do with this land. 02:04:52
And then if it's like, OK, that's great, it's 180 bucks an acre, They're gonna do all these control plots. Look at weed management 02:04:59
in this space. 02:05:04
Then the farmers. 02:05:10
Proposing this themselves, they're much more likely to do it. 02:05:12
Than if we're like dictating. 02:05:15
And then that is also in the lease that would be drawn up. 02:05:17
So I personally think that this is a really interesting option. 02:05:20
Never heard of anyone doing it like this before. 02:05:23
Especially with that land. 02:05:26
With like county owned land. 02:05:28
But it could also fall apart. 02:05:31
But we have a backup. 02:05:33
The other stuff. 02:05:35
The other stuff. 02:05:36
And then the last option is the county. 02:05:39
Would just manage a farm and then. 02:05:42
Everything that needs to be done, you'd have to hire somebody to do it. 02:05:46
So I'd have to hire somebody to come in and plant it, have to hire somebody to come in and spray it, have to hire somebody come in 02:05:50
and. 02:05:53
Harvested. 02:05:57
It was a lot in betweens 2. There's a lot in between and I don't know if you're gonna fear. 02:06:00
Paying custom rates for all this stuff, I don't know if you're going to make any money. 02:06:06
Doing that, yeah. 02:06:10
So those are the options that we come up with so far. 02:06:12
Cameron and Dave have not seen this yet, so we need to sit down with them again and see. 02:06:16
So is that a goal? To make money? 02:06:21
Well. 02:06:24
It's nice if you can, I mean. 02:06:25
Wouldn't this be in addition to other plots? Wouldn't this be in addition to other stuff they have? 02:06:28
What do you mean other stuff they have? 02:06:34
Like this wouldn't be their only farm. 02:06:36
Right. I think they're gonna have 10, right? 10. The goal was to have 10 when we went to that this last summer wasn't her last 02:06:39
year, 10 what? 1010 different farms, right? Was these? 02:06:44
All what what they're she's asking that there's other farms that do other things. You know that's what she's asking. No, I was 02:06:49
saying the person that buys this obviously has other. 02:06:54
Property. Yeah, yeah, yeah. OK. Because they would have to have all the equipment. If they don't have any property, they don't 02:06:59
have the equipment, they're not gonna run it. All right, Yeah, OK. This would be in addition, this would be farmland that they 02:07:02
would be running in addition to their farm. 02:07:06
Right. 02:07:10
And. 02:07:12
I think that there's. 02:07:14
Especially this number four option. It doesn't have to be the whole farm. 02:07:16
Right. It could be differently structured. We could pull out 2040 acres of that we had initially designated as this is going to be 02:07:20
the farm. 02:07:24
And then also do separately for the for the other parts of the file. OK, so that could be an option as well. 02:07:28
Or if it's more enticing for the farmer. 02:07:34
To say we're going to do this 2040 acre piece right along the highway. 02:07:37
Outside of the. 02:07:43
The airport. 02:07:44
That's where I'm going to do these experiments because it's right there, it's visible. 02:07:46
And then the rest of the farm, I'm going to run it. If that's the enticement for them to be able to do the research, then you know 02:07:50
that's also an option too. 02:07:54
There's a lot of flexibility in that number four option that I think is really interesting. Dave came up with the idea. 02:07:58
My thing about option 4. 02:08:04
I'm accusing you. I like option 4 too, but I do think you should have a earlier deadline for that exactly. If anybody you can go 02:08:08
to a different one. 02:08:11
That is that. 02:08:15
I did send this to you, David Cameron, I think. 02:08:17
Last week, OK, yeah, yes, this same thing. Yes, exact same thing. It has not changed. 02:08:20
100% that is the idea. So when would this normally go out for bids? 02:08:25
This land probably July be posted. 02:08:31
I'm guessing yeah, for next year, yeah. 02:08:33
Yeah. So we would do this beforehand. 02:08:37
Trying to wrap up this process or. 02:08:39
What's that? I like option four. I think it's gonna be too hard to do something with 1-2 and three. 02:08:43
The one you wouldn't have no hard time, but two and three definitely be hard and. 02:08:48
I mean, I'd even consider 5. 02:08:52
Yeah, I think 5 is doable, yeah. 02:08:55
I think doing through your out in my opinion. 02:08:58
Oh, interesting. 02:09:01
I think we I think 1/4 and 5:00. So we also have, you know, we also have a really strong farmer LED group. 02:09:02
And those, those guys aren't poor, right? And so. 02:09:09
They might very well. 02:09:13
I mean, am I off that one of those guys might be interested in being part of a research project because? 02:09:15
At this point, it's not just about money. I mean, like that's their huge pet project and one of them could just jump in on that if 02:09:21
they want it. But. 02:09:25
It's going to be time, but the point is like limiting factors. I agree with you but we don't say it's out. We make an option to 02:09:29
whichever one of these on top. We make option 2 if you want to start with. 02:09:34
I don't know. 02:09:41
I you know more about this than I do, I don't know. 02:09:43
If I had to put forward a recommendation, it would be. 02:09:45
Start with option 4, see what we get. 02:09:49
Make sure we wrap that up with enough time to put together the other option as a backup. 02:09:51
And then it's either. 02:09:56
I'm not saying I'm not comparing Dodge to Dane County, but Dane County owns land and they rent it out with stipulations. You have 02:09:58
to do cover crops and no till. 02:10:02
And that is a lot of land in the county is run like that. 02:10:06
A lot of that is then transitioned over into. They put it into permanent cover eventually, but some of that is always wrong as 02:10:10
farmland. 02:10:13
So that would be option. 02:10:18
To not saying that that's what we have to do here. Other counties do do that though. 02:10:20
We want to make a decision on this today. Is that correct? 02:10:24
No, this is where we're at right now. Fine. 02:10:27
So it would be not this July, the following July or would it be this? No, this is just coming July. We'd have to make a decision 02:10:31
so. 02:10:35
We would have to come up with which option we want here and then we'd have to meet with the highway department. 02:10:39
Present it to them because currently they're the ones that put it out on bids. 02:10:45
Well, the prospective renter want to know what the soil conditions are of the property. 02:10:51
I believe we have a nutrient management plan from. 02:10:58
24. 02:11:03
Last couple of years maybe. 02:11:07
How long are the leases? 02:11:10
Five year, last one was 5. 02:11:12
Yeah, yeah. 02:11:14
And it doesn't have to be by the stock meal that. 02:11:18
Something else? 02:11:24
I would say 3 minimum though, yes. 02:11:25
Yeah, to get someone to commit to do all this, it should be at least three. 02:11:33
Yeah. 02:11:37
Because it'll be a big commitment. 02:11:39
Depending. Yeah. Like you're just gonna roll and slam bam and in and out. 02:11:42
You know nobody wants that. 02:11:46
There's a few of them out there that do that. 02:11:50
Yeah. And Lisa, to your point of? 02:11:53
That farmers group, it's also depending on where they are in the county. Right, right. Like it's really going to be the people 02:11:57
right around Juneau. Exactly. Yeah, that. And there have been some that have expressed interest, but we're also, you know, trying 02:12:01
to think who would do this, you know, obviously. 02:12:05
Proximity is really important. Yeah, it is. So Dale is not going to roll down the road with his equipment. 02:12:10
Nope. 02:12:15
It would be funny. 02:12:19
OK. Any other discussion on the Dodge County? 02:12:23
Farm Airport. 02:12:26
Timetable. When do you want to make these decisions? I mean next month? 02:12:29
Yeah. So we'll sit down, talk some more. 02:12:36
Bring a recommendation to you guys next month and. 02:12:40
See what you think. 02:12:42
OK. 02:12:44
OK, update on conservation projects. 02:12:46
All righty, I've had. 02:12:49
Doing some workout, the county fairgrounds, they get that drainage just going down through. 02:12:52
So we put a couple Rock Line crossings to go through that so they can drive equipment through there when they're mowing and stuff 02:12:57
so they don't have to go all the way around. 02:13:01
So that's been going on. 02:13:05
Had one Well that's been abandoned so far. 02:13:08
We're currently working on two different grazing plans. 02:13:13
Three different critical area seatings. 02:13:17
And three different waterways. 02:13:22
Got a couple other well abandonments that were in conversations with one other Contract signed on. 02:13:24
And then working on a feed leachate. 02:13:30
Runoff system, I don't know how much we're going to be involved, but there's a been a farm that had a runoff complaint and the DNR 02:13:33
got involved, they got issued an nod so. 02:13:38
We've been working with them to help come up with solutions out there on that site. 02:13:43
OK, Committee reports. 02:13:55
For the Lake Districts. 02:13:58
Lake Sinnissippi met last week. 02:14:01
513. 02:14:04
The most important discussions were regarding the lake management plan. We. 02:14:06
Discussed and unanimously approved. 02:14:11
Vendor called Hay and Associates. 02:14:13
For the Lake Santa Sippy survey, that's been in our plan for. 02:14:15
And that. 02:14:21
That phases 1 and 2 will be done before annual meeting and then the final phase will be done next, next after that after annual 02:14:23
meeting in August. So that that's a big deal. 02:14:27
We received an update on the feasibility study for the lake inland dredging and that that would be up near Oxbow Marine and we're 02:14:33
getting a study with estimates and costs and engineering and we'll have that at our annual meeting. 02:14:40
That that's something we worked on for a while too. 02:14:47
The our our group, as I had reported a few months ago, we had paid for the USGS water monitoring equipment to be installed on 02:14:51
different parts of the lake or to get different measures of the lake level because the only official lake level was at the houses 02:14:57
for dam. 02:15:03
So we have different ones anyway. The USGS once now has one. 02:15:08
In I think it's right near the dam. It even has a camera on it. They showed it a live view kind of cool. So that that's installed. 02:15:13
We'll be looking at for our fish stocking. We're going to be changing our mix to include this next year on the fall northern Pike 02:15:23
and walleye. 02:15:26
And fewer bluegill to change that up. 02:15:30
Trying to get some game fish in the lake. 02:15:34
And Chris reported that we did. We paid for a. 02:15:37
An addition 16 foot addition to one of the docks is called the Spearhead Dock and that was installed. 02:15:43
That's that's really. 02:15:50
Most of what was in the. 02:15:51
Beaver Dam. 02:15:54
Of the Dean Our fishery group will present a multi year plan to the lake on May 29th. 02:15:56
This is after the past year or so going through with them and. 02:16:02
The Carp in Buffalo management. 02:16:06
In support of that, we have received a permit for the unlike exposure. 02:16:10
The warden, the permit specialists, water quality specialists and fish biologists have agreed to. 02:16:17
The placement in the construction. 02:16:22
It's currently out for a 30 day notice. 02:16:24
The Lake districts have collaborated. 02:16:28
And put together a. 02:16:31
Long term plan. The county is going through that analysis now. 02:16:34
And we have recommendations for presented to Nate Will Nate Olson. 02:16:39
What we'd like to see for lakes in the open waters. 02:16:44
One of the initiatives, for example, is. 02:16:48
Along the. 02:16:51
Town of Fox Lake we are three trial areas to put native plants. 02:16:53
So the area by Beaver Dam Lake is any wetland. 02:16:57
That currently has just turf grass going from the road. 02:17:02
Into the. 02:17:06
Turf grass and then into the wetland. 02:17:08
So we're looking to take a couple 100 feet of that out. 02:17:10
Put native planning in there, which gives you deeper roots. 02:17:13
And it avoids grass cutting. 02:17:16
By the town. 02:17:19
So it'll be a benefit to hopefully cut costs for the future for them. 02:17:20
Every 10 years, burn it out and receded. 02:17:25
And then at the same time allow the deeper roots to manage the water flow into that wetland. 02:17:28
We did have. 02:17:36
Nate Feel, the Beaver Dam town manager. 02:17:38
City Manager. 02:17:41
Notice gave his notice last week. That's very unfortunate. 02:17:43
He's been transitioning from the mirror. 02:17:47
To the. 02:17:49
Executive Staff Group over the past year and a half. 02:17:51
And he'll be sorely missed. 02:17:55
The Dodge County water specialists were DNR Francesca Sanchez. 02:17:57
Has been reassigned for different county. 02:18:01
And we'll get a new water specialist starting in June in Dodge County. 02:18:04
That we have had over the past three years a. 02:18:08
A number of people through that position. 02:18:11
And it requires us to help them learn the county. 02:18:14
And learn the different waterways here because each permit requirement. 02:18:18
Is a little different. 02:18:21
Tomorrow we have the NRC engineer, Mr. Glassmaker, joining us. 02:18:25
Looking at 2 point sources on the West side of Beaver Dam Lake. 02:18:29
1 is a culvert. 02:18:33
That leads into the lake. 02:18:34
Draining a couple of farming fields. 02:18:37
And we have a clap stitch way we like to see his input on to give us some ideas of how to correct them. 02:18:39
So. 02:18:46
You deal. 02:18:48
Fox League meeting took place. 02:18:51
Not sure when but I did not attend. I was too busy planning. 02:18:54
So. 02:18:58
I missed the meeting. 02:18:58
There has been some emails that I've read though the city of Fox Lake. 02:19:00
Has approved a week full ordinance. 02:19:04
So because of that. 02:19:08
That district has. 02:19:10
Ordered signs so they're being made as we speak. 02:19:12
And they also wanted to give a monetary thank you. 02:19:16
To John Richter and the Wilderness Alliance for all the help that they have done. 02:19:20
OK, going to upcoming events. 02:19:29
John, you got dairy breakfast at June 1. 02:19:34
That'll be out at the. 02:19:37
Lemon Dust Gary up by Fox Lake. 02:19:39
I'm not sure where the Agri business. 02:19:43
Dairy brunch. 02:19:46
Yeah, trying to think what the name of the road is, but it's just just east of Walmart. 02:19:52
OK. And then our Southern area tour will be in Jefferson County in September this year. 02:19:58
September 4th, you said yes. 02:20:07
OK, next meeting. 02:20:14
Scheduled for June 23rd 830. Everyone OK with that? 02:20:15
I probably won't be here. Basketball camp. 02:20:20
Basketball camp that week. 02:20:22
Maybe on vacation? 02:20:24
We want to change the meeting. 02:20:26
Committee. 02:20:28
Yeah, we can. We can, they were thinking. 02:20:30
I can do the following Monday. 02:20:37
30th the 30th I can't do the prior ones. 02:20:39
I'm OK with that. 02:20:48
John. 02:20:51
Would check the room. You think it would probably oh, it should be open. Is that something? Sure. It's a 5 Monday month, right? 02:20:52
Yeah, So it's kind of unusual. So I would think it would be open. 02:20:57
OK. OK. Is a consensus of the committee to meet on the 30th, is that OK? 02:21:02
Then is that going to work for you? Then that should be fine. 02:21:06
Lisa that there everybody network. 02:21:09
30th. 02:21:11
OK, so the next meeting will be? 02:21:12
30th OK. Any future items on that agenda? 02:21:16
We already have two. 02:21:20
From today's meeting, can you just say what they are? 02:21:21
The two are we're going to relook at the flood group and we are going to discuss the. 02:21:23
Farm the research farm. 02:21:30
Those are the two items that came that we said we're going next month. 02:21:33
I have a question about the private wealth study. Is that is that guy gonna come and brief us? 02:21:37
I'll get ahold of him, he. 02:21:42
I would think he'd have it ready by next month. 02:21:44
Because we have to do that this summer, right? That to find out, decide what we're going to do. Yeah, that'll be part of the 02:21:48
budgeting. So, yeah. 02:21:51
Yeah, I'll get ahold of. 02:21:55
Of Kevin so if we can have him come we're gonna have him come here 1st and then we're gonna have him go to the county board right 02:21:56
that was to give up the. 02:22:00
The year, the trends. 02:22:04
Any other future agenda items? 02:22:07
OK, hearing none, I call the meeting adjourned by completion of the agenda. 02:22:10
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Transcript

Event transcript
So we welcome you here today. 00:00:00
There's 2 Dean's serving Wisconsin. He is one of them so and we we've been working with him the last few months. 00:00:02
So thank you for coming today. 00:00:08
Thanks for having us. 00:00:11
And So what this is today is we've been working. 00:00:12
They've been working, I have been working on their work plans from the forum and from other other things. And today this is, this 00:00:15
is required of the MOU, the agreement the county has with extension. 00:00:23
So this is part of our contract and MOU. So that's what this is the role of the committee plays in this is essentially. 00:00:30
We are to evaluate the. 00:00:37
Strategic view or goals of the county. 00:00:41
In that what she says aligns with the county. So our discussion will focus on that and if you notice in your handout she is very. 00:00:44
Graciously put on the bottom of each one how this aligns with the county goals. 00:00:52
So go ahead, all right. 00:00:58
So appreciate this time to talk through this. It's a great opportunity for Dodge County as well as extension because you're the 00:01:00
first county that has went through this. So the materials that we're developing here is going on to a state team. I just want to 00:01:05
let you know. 00:01:11
So what we've learned here, we're learning even more and more to move forward. So next time we do this, we'll probably do it a 00:01:17
little bit differently just to enhance what we've done. 00:01:21
The educators really worked really hard to put these together and as well as our support staff to get it to so it looks like 00:01:26
Andrew said very high level, so it's understandable. Extension tends to write a lot. 00:01:33
So if you have questions when I go through these, I do have some questions for you, you know, please bring them up. 00:01:41
I'm going to start on the human development relationship. 00:01:47
Institute we went through and identified the top priorities. Now this was the with the Community Needs Forum. 00:01:51
As well as other assessments and it does say that in the MO U that will do the needs assessment or we call the community. 00:02:00
Needs for them as well as bring in other materials like state plans that really identified the issues in a human development 00:02:08
relationship. 00:02:12
From there you see. 00:02:17
What the priorities were and I'm not going to read through every single one. 00:02:19
We were asked by Cameron and Andrew to say what we are currently doing to address these needs and that is there. 00:02:23
And then the outcomes too. So OK, you're doing what's what, you know, what's the outcome for that. So that's also listed in there. 00:02:33
When we talked about. 00:02:44
Ways to expand our programming. We call it opportunities for expansion, and that's usually the yellow highlighted part. 00:02:47
In each one of these plans and it really talks about what they have done, but what are other opportunities to really? 00:02:54
Enhance what we've learned. 00:03:02
And the needs to address the needs in Dodge County. 00:03:04
And like Cameron said, we did talk about the alignment with the county priorities on each one of them. 00:03:08
In addition to that, just above that, we talked about the resources that were used to help develop this. The Community Needs Forum 00:03:15
was one piece, but there were other things to come in. 00:03:21
To it. I'm going to go on to the next thing, but if you have questions on this one. 00:03:27
Or do you want to save them? 00:03:32
I'll just keep talking. I'm a good talker. 00:03:34
But we get we can go back to any of them. 00:03:38
With the egg piece of it, both crops and dairy, they work together. They identified some needs. Now I just want to be very clear 00:03:41
that the needs that may have rose, I mean, are not the focus of crops and dairy now. It is a focus like the secession planning. I 00:03:48
don't really want to point that out there. We have a farm management state team that addresses that with Will and Manuel here. 00:03:55
Extension has always. 00:04:03
Great connector. They know what's going on. So if a farmer comes and says we need additional succession, we need succession 00:04:11
planning, Will and Manuel can direct them to the state's. 00:04:17
Opportunities. The state connection. 00:04:24
So the opportunity for expansion was just because they don't do it doesn't mean that that we don't do it as a state. 00:04:27
And then the same thing they talked about what the current programs that they were doing, the outcomes of that and the 00:04:36
opportunities for expansion. 00:04:40
It is aligned with the county priorities like all of our programs are. 00:04:44
I'm going on to the next one. 00:04:50
Youth development 4H. They talked about mental health, of course, the networks, youth education, which that's what we do. 00:04:53
And then? 00:05:02
Murray went through, talked about what they were currently doing. 00:05:04
And then at the same thing, the way to expand opportunities for expansion. 00:05:08
And she does have the alignment to the county priorities. 00:05:15
Is there any questions yet before I go to the next one? 00:05:20
OK, you'll notice I didn't send the community development piece. 00:05:25
One, it's not because that wasn't done and it was facilitated very well. We really didn't have the right people at the table. 00:05:30
We the mental health came to the top, which of course we know mental health is an issue, but the community development educators 00:05:38
focus is not just directly on mental health. The other we have other programs that work with that. So after talking to Andrew and 00:05:45
Cameron, we we decided that I think this would be a great opportunity to expand the community needs for him and to get get 00:05:52
disinvite those community folks to the table and Pat will work through. 00:05:59
Something similar but a little bit different. 00:06:07
To really. 00:06:09
Dig down deeper for what the needs are. 00:06:10
For Dodge County. 00:06:15
So that will come in time. 00:06:17
All right. Any questions before I ask you questions? 00:06:20
OK, so after reading through these pieces. 00:06:26
Did something come to mind, like what does this mean? Or you know, oh, I didn't know that. 00:06:32
This is this was an opportunity to have a discussion. 00:06:39
You know, not just me talking. 00:06:42
So was anything that? 00:06:44
You know, wow, I didn't know this. Oh. 00:06:46
I didn't know that or Oh yeah, I know this or what does this mean? 00:06:48
I used to be a teacher. I can go to each one. 00:06:57
Probably the most important one is youth spell and I think because that's the long range target to bring. 00:07:04
Good citizens into the community. 00:07:09
And my granddaughter's going to a charter school that's conservation oriented. 00:07:11
And they have an on site 30 acre farm. 00:07:16
And one just went to high school. 00:07:19
Is not of the same. 00:07:22
Mindset, let me say. 00:07:25
And she has a sharp contrast with what she left at 8th grade. 00:07:27
To what you saw in 9th grade. 00:07:31
So the youth development is key to long term for Dodge County. 00:07:32
Yeah. 00:07:37
I agree the hands on experience and you know, the projects are just the vehicles. It's those life skills that you talk about that 00:07:38
they develop and they I don't think they realize they're developing them through the project. So yeah, you're that's great. I 00:07:43
presented at her school a couple times and. 00:07:47
1st grade through 8th through all engaged. 00:07:53
They stayed after class to see more detail. 00:07:56
That's good. That's wonderful. 00:08:00
I didn't know. 00:08:03
And I'm on Human Services, so I'm like, OK, wow, I didn't know you had this program called We Cope for Early Childcare 00:08:04
Incarcerated populations. 00:08:09
And endogenous upon correctional. 00:08:15
With financial liturgy, literacy, and coaching, I. 00:08:18
I had no idea that thing existed. That's pretty cool. 00:08:22
That's good. 00:08:26
Any other insights that came up? 00:08:31
Overspending the youth. 00:08:36
Overspend on the youth. 00:08:38
Good, all right is. 00:08:43
Well, did you have anything else that you thought? Well, I didn't. I was surprised that this didn't come up or that didn't come 00:08:44
up. 00:08:48
Maybe just mentioned that food wise how it. 00:08:52
Oh, you got it. OK, sorry. I appreciate that. You want us to make a motion now? 00:08:55
I don't know. Do you have to make a motion? I think we want one. I think, I think, I think we do want a motion. So for what 00:09:00
purpose? We want a purpose. We want a motion to that we've reviewed the work plans and and we we want to approve the work plans 00:09:05
that they have presented, we've worked with them on. 00:09:10
It's a big deal in our contract because. 00:09:16
What has happened in other counties is the work plans were different than the county's objectives and we, the committee here, have 00:09:21
checked these work plans and they align with the objectives so. 00:09:25
Being the first county in the state doing this, Cameron and I and. 00:09:30
Thought in also I think you thought and extension thought it was just to make communication crystal clear and clean that the 00:09:36
county has checked these. 00:09:40
So I would be looking for a motion to approve the three work. 00:09:45
Plans presented. 00:09:49
Unless you want further discussion, but that would be the motion that we would be looking for from this committee. 00:09:51
I'll make that motion. 00:09:57
OK, Bill, we have a second. 00:09:58
I'll second it. Second, John, any further discussion on the work plans the three presented? 00:10:00
And we will do a separate one for the community needs that, she said. Because we have a new forum. 00:10:05
And we look at the and see how it lines up. 00:10:09
Those in favor signify by saying aye aye. Those opposed. 00:10:12
OK. Motion passed unanimously. Go ahead. Yeah. And I just want to build on that too. You know, these, that this work plan, you 00:10:16
know, we'll have these discussions throughout the year and report back on how things are going. Just so you know, it's just not 00:10:24
like a piece of paper that's going to be filed away. So we'll report back on here as well as in our electronic communication also. 00:10:32
I know Cameron, Andrew and I talked about food wise. 00:10:41
And just shared a little bit about what food wise is and why they didn't really have a work plan. 00:10:44
Their partners were invited, the partners that they were were invited and the many of them came a food wise is a federally funded. 00:10:50
Program. 00:10:57
It targets a very certain audience, schools that it's more of the income challenge folks that they work with. So they have a very 00:10:59
specific audience that they work with part of the grant. 00:11:06
So the objectives and the goals are all part of that grant and then they report back on on it. It's a great resource from 00:11:12
extension in the counties because there is no cost other than them being housed in the in the offices. So they work. 00:11:20
With youth very young and parents to help them. 00:11:28
Make good choices, healthy choices with eating. In addition to that, they work with the senior population and part of our neither 00:11:34
community forum talked about social isolation for the elderly. And they do. 00:11:41
Umm, strong bodies with the strength program. Or you know, light weights as well as they now have a new walking program for 00:11:49
seniors. 00:11:53
So it's a very specific audience. So it's not like we discounted them. They were at the table and they do share. 00:11:57
Food Wise does a great job with assessments, so they know because they have to report federally. 00:12:04
It's fine my. 00:12:12
One, thanks again for, you know, in a sense being the the pilot in the state for, you know, doing this work and and engaging with 00:12:14
us in. 00:12:18
Holding the the forum and. 00:12:23
You know, partnering on on these work plans. I do have a question. 00:12:26
You know, as Cindy mentioned, this will. 00:12:30
We're learning through this process, implementing this across the state. 00:12:32
Some interested in the format or other feedback about the process as well. I know many of you were at the forum. 00:12:36
Obviously been reviewing materials so if you have any. 00:12:45
Feedback on that as well. I'd be interested like the the. 00:12:49
The format that we provide. 00:12:52
Makes sense. Is that the right amount of detail? 00:12:54
Would you like to have seen? 00:12:57
More or less or any any feedback on that level? 00:12:58
I thought it was the right amount. 00:13:03
Can you just explain to me? 00:13:06
Like like sort of the next step because like you didn't get the. 00:13:08
Sort of. 00:13:12
Full feedback that you wanted. So you're going to do that again and then are you going to update this with that or is that 00:13:13
something, you know, you're updating this plan? Each one has their own plan. So community development will have their own plan. 00:13:18
There was a plan created. I mean, it wasn't like we do one. We didn't bring it forward because it really didn't address the 00:13:23
community. 00:13:28
Development PC, it was more of the mental health that kind of flowed into the other topics. So we will have that and then I'll 00:13:34
present on it. OK, sorry. No, no, that's not a problem. That's a good clarification. 00:13:40
And the plan is in June to hold a. 00:13:47
Specific meeting for that specific folks in to get more focused information. 00:13:50
And then this these, you know, since you proved them, we'll go, I'll go to the board, the full board and do a similar presentation 00:13:59
program with a PowerPoint. 00:14:04
Just to explain where we are in the process. 00:14:08
And I don't know if we'll have the community development one done by that time or not, but there'll be other opportunities. I know 00:14:12
we're we're gonna. 00:14:16
Do an annual report. We're a little bit behind on that because we've been very busy with this and you know, we could always bring 00:14:21
that to the full board also. 00:14:25
If you don't have any feedback now, because me, I'm a processor, I have to think about things. 00:14:33
You can always e-mail me. 00:14:38
Let me know you know, this is great because we're learning from you too. And I know next week. 00:14:39
Myself as well as his work team are actually going to present it. It's not a finished yet. 00:14:45
Presentation for. 00:14:52
All the other AE area extension directors and program managers, we want to highlight what's been done. 00:14:53
And it's still a work in progress. I mean, for us because well, that team is doing is developing a packet. So if I'm at AED, that 00:14:59
area director is going to need to do one of these. I have a packet that's pretty much all done. The templates are done, all the 00:15:06
feedback because a lot we are learning as we go. Example, we really need dedicated scribes instead of like Pat facilitated and 00:15:14
took notes at hers. That was difficult. 00:15:21
So that was one thing we learned. 00:15:28
You know, so that's in the notes to move forward some other pieces, maybe build a little bit more time in. 00:15:32
Bringing in other assessments to this was another area of improvement we saw. 00:15:39
But please. 00:15:44
You know, I know, Andrew. You do share openly, which I appreciate. Yeah. Yeah. The only thing I would say is. 00:15:45
It's hard. We invite all these people. They've made it like over 300 people. We don't know who's gonna necessarily show up. That's 00:15:51
the issue. And So what happened at the community forum table? 00:15:56
There was only one person at the table from path the all the rest were from like pave and all like social work which was all good 00:16:01
because we do support. 00:16:06
You know, non for profit organizations, but what we were looking for, what Cameron was looking for to meet our county's goals was 00:16:13
like the cities and villages and hey, how can we partner with like we did when Hustisford and we didn't have that. 00:16:19
So I don't know if we can follow up like call to make sure the mayor's come or that's who we would have. Pat's working on that. 00:16:26
She met with Cameron last week, OK. And I mean that's already because we know we want to do this relative. 00:16:31
Pardon me? It's in progress. Perfect. Yeah, but it is hard when you're putting out there all those invites. 00:16:37
But I. 00:16:43
Be very targeted, very specific. I know you did, but I'm just saying you don't know who's going to show off. 00:16:44
Direct. 00:16:52
So. 00:16:53
No, I thought. 00:16:54
For example, I had in human development. 00:16:57
I think he was a gentleman from. 00:17:03
One of the villages. 00:17:06
And he maybe would have been more appropriate at past, but he had really good things to say. And then some of the early childcare 00:17:07
professionals sat with my table. 00:17:12
Really good things to add. 00:17:19
To 42 youth development and so. 00:17:21
It was a great experience, but this is what I think Jeremy and Cindy are looking for. Like how can we make it even better? You 00:17:24
know what I mean? 00:17:28
You also don't want it too much longer. 00:17:33
That, you know, people don't want to give so and you don't want to do 4 different ones based on programs because you tend to 00:17:36
invite the same people and they're going to four different community forums. I mean, so you know, we've been trying to figure out 00:17:40
how to. 00:17:44
Not have this happen in the future so I'll be interested. There's two other counties that have already done this. 00:17:49
And then when we meet next week, we're going to learn from them too, like, oh, how did you do this and how did you do that? 00:17:55
So we can get up. 00:18:02
A. You know a good packet, that informational packet. 00:18:03
Because just because the MOU may not have been signed in other counties, it doesn't mean that extensions not going to do the 00:18:07
community needs for them. That is going to happen. 00:18:12
Regardless if they sign the MO U. 00:18:18
Or not. 00:18:21
All right, Any other feedback and if we get any, we can send it to you or if I hear anything, of course, I'll let you guys know. 00:18:24
And thank you for, I appreciate that UW extension. It's just not like going off on its own, but instead you're actually being part 00:18:31
of our county, part of our county plan. And I think you want to now have this process to ensure that that happens. And I, and I am 00:18:38
grateful for that. Thank you so much. And we can be better. So that's really got to help us. 00:18:45
We want to be better. 00:18:52
We do appreciate all the work. And I think Andrew, you've done a great job too, like kind of spearheading this. I feel like I'm 00:18:53
just kind of in the back of the canoe, like everybody's doing all the work. But we really appreciate it all the all the time 00:18:58
you've put in. 00:19:02
And it's. 00:19:07
You know, Andrew and I have talked numerous time and I shared with them, I said this relationship. 00:19:09
Doesn't happen. 00:19:15
In all counties so heaven where I get to sit down with Andrew and Cameron on a regular basis. 00:19:17
Is huge for this success in this partnership that that doesn't happen in every county. 00:19:22
So we're very fortunate here, I believe. Well, that's wonderful, OK. And the other I think. 00:19:30
All right. Well, thank you very much. 00:19:37
Update about extension other than this. Oh you can sure go ahead. 00:19:41
I just wanted to let you know a couple things. I know Cameron and I have talked in regards to space in the county. And so what's 00:19:44
going to happen and it's going to be down the road and the staff already know this that we're going to actually. 00:19:51
Have housing come join us in the extension office. So we're looking at. 00:20:00
You know, maximizing the space that we have, you know, we're going to talk about it. 00:20:05
A little bit more in our staff meeting today and I, you know, I have a floor plan and so that's going to be coming down, down the 00:20:09
road, which is a great opportunity. 00:20:14
Utilize resources a little bit better and then I just want to let you know too. 00:20:19
Our 4H assistant after evaluating the budgets and stuff coming up, that position has been eliminated from our office. It's not 00:20:25
going to cause. 00:20:31
An issue. 00:20:37
But it is something that is you know, for effectiveness and budget wise. 00:20:40
That's what happened. The great news is that terror that has been in this position, she just got a different job within the 00:20:45
county. 00:20:50
So she's still gonna stay. And I mean, there was not nothing about her, her skills, she's phenomenal. It's just, you know, we have 00:20:54
to reevaluate things. 00:20:59
In our offices, so. 00:21:04
Just want to let you know. 00:21:06
So when you say you're moving housing like that doesn't immediately pop up, is that some subdivision within extension housing? 00:21:07
What what does that mean? 00:21:12
It's just the department. 00:21:16
Of housing. 00:21:17
From the county, from county, OK yeah. And that's not like, you know there what may not be some interaction, you know, because a 00:21:19
community development does do housing, you know, looks at, you know housing such so there may be. 00:21:25
You know, some collaboration, I just don't know. It's just more of the space utilizing the space. We do have a great space I know 00:21:31
with. 00:21:35
We have Will and Manuel and myself. We all have three offices. We're here maybe, what, once? 00:21:39
Or something so we can, you know, shrink that footprint for extension. So let's just maximizing the space and then they need. 00:21:45
Room also. 00:21:53
It's good, the Housing Authority. 00:21:55
Thank you. I think it's not like housing Department of Housing Authority. All right, that makes sense to me. Thank you. 00:21:57
It's a little bit on hold right now be. 00:22:06
Technical issues and things that. 00:22:10
Things that they need. 00:22:13
But. 00:22:15
Plan is for today. OK, All right, thank you. Right day. That's what I know, Cameron said so we're. 00:22:16
We're proactive, we got a lot of things to pack up and move around and do some stuff, so we think. 00:22:22
It'll be here before you know it. 00:22:28
OK. All right. Thank you. Thank you. 00:22:32
I guess Will you're up. 00:22:36
This doesn't. 00:22:39
Work doesn't. Oh, it does a little bit. All right, Green light, the green light on. Yeah, the green lights. OK, Should be good. 00:22:40
Good morning. 00:22:43
So today on the schedule I was going to share with you. 00:22:47
The results from one of the studies that we've been working on with farmers across the county. 00:22:52
And a colleague who is a much better statistician than I am has been working on that, her families from Mayville, and so she was 00:22:57
supposed to get that to me on Friday and she had other things to worry about. So that report I did not send along. 00:23:04
And because it did not receive it, which makes total sense to me. 00:23:12
So. 00:23:17
Instead, I'm going to talk a little bit about some of the work that we've been doing. 00:23:18
On podcasts that I run. 00:23:22
Working with some farmers in Dodge County on a couple episodes in the larger. 00:23:24
Project across the state looking at boosting our resources for for small grains production. 00:23:30
In the state and also kind of drawing on some of the work that we've been doing here in Dodge County as well. 00:23:37
Is that all right with everybody? 00:23:43
Yeah, OK. 00:23:45
So. 00:23:46
I've talked about this podcast that I run for extension in the past. It's been a while since I've talked about it. 00:23:47
It's a monthly podcast. 00:23:54
Called Field Notes. 00:23:57
I used to have a Co host who has now moved on from extension and so I'm kind of in flux with that but I'm still hosting it every. 00:23:59
Every month, and this is a podcast in which we cover a variety of different subjects in production agriculture. 00:24:06
And it's usually with a farmer. 00:24:12
On the episode in either a crop consultant. 00:24:15
Or a specialist within the extension at the state level or another county based. 00:24:17
Educator. 00:24:24
Together on that podcast to talk about. 00:24:25
The practice or whatever it is that we're discussing in that moment from both the farmers perspective, elevating that farmer voice 00:24:27
and then also providing some of that kind of more research based perspective from from the university. 00:24:33
The most recent episode that we did was with Charlie Hammer, who farms just outside of Beaver Dam, farms a lot of wheat and we 00:24:39
were talking about. 00:24:43
And with his crop consultant Bill Stengel. 00:24:47
And that episode was about how do we avoid dockages at the elevator with wheat. Wheat is a food grade. 00:24:50
Grain, unless it's kind of otherwise based off the markets, which is a little bit different than most of our soybeans and our 00:24:56
corn. 00:25:00
And so quality standards come into play there. 00:25:03
And so it's something that a lot of farmers are, you know. 00:25:06
In the kind of flux of. 00:25:10
Farming's corn and soybeans. The quality stand quality parameters of wheat. Kind of. 00:25:11
Are not as emphasized. 00:25:17
And so trying to think about. 00:25:18
Some farmers might not be interested in farming wheat, even though from a conservation perspective it's a great crop to grow 00:25:20
because they get docked at the elevator. 00:25:25
And so thinking about how can we make sure that we're getting that full price that we want with our wheat crop? 00:25:29
How can we make sure that we're meeting those quality parameters? 00:25:34
And so the episode was about how do we avoid those dockages? How do we make sure that we're meeting the size? 00:25:37
The test weight that we want for our wheat crop. 00:25:42
And how do we manage that intensively as well? How can we boost their yields? Dodge County is the has been the number one or #2 00:25:45
wheat producing county in the state. 00:25:50
For the past several years, think maybe not last year, The year before it was the highest yields as well. 00:25:54
Average of 99 bushels, which is pretty Dang Dang high. 00:26:00
But we can also push that further. 00:26:04
And so part of that was talking about the Yield Enhancement Network project that they've been working on with farmers across the 00:26:06
upper Midwest, even into Ontario where their growing season is shorter, pushing 12140, even 160 bushels on their wheat, which is 00:26:12
really high. 00:26:18
And how can we integrate this crop so that we're building in our farms? 00:26:24
That we have, you know when soybeans are low. 00:26:29
Corn is low that maybe we have another market there and that we're accessing that. So that was a lot about what that episode was 00:26:32
about again. 00:26:35
This is a project I do monthly. 00:26:39
And have had several farmers on from Dodge County. 00:26:41
Dale, you know you're in the docket there somewhere. You're coming up. 00:26:44
But Jeff Gasca is another one that we've done one on, on a project he's been working on. 00:26:48
And interceding covers into into standing corn and grazing that off. So trying to elevate some of the farmer voices from Dodge 00:26:52
County. 00:26:56
And it gets used to be played on WBEV here, but with kind of the shake up. 00:27:00
In that radio station, it was number. It's no longer broadcast. I'm still working on getting that out over the airwaves as well. 00:27:05
At a farmer. Tell me that. 00:27:11
It was playing in Monroe Cap, not, you know, in Monroe, WI. When he was driving through the other day, he had heard his own voice 00:27:13
on the radio, which is just kind of weird, So and I wasn't aware of that. So sometimes it just gets tossed around and played in 00:27:17
random places. 00:27:22
But trying to elevate Farmers Voices and also get that research, research based perspective. So that's most recent episode that 00:27:27
we've done. 00:27:31
And small grains is kind of. 00:27:36
A slight focus of mine because we do produce so much of it here in the county. 00:27:37
In like comparison to the rest of the state. 00:27:43
And it is a place where there's not a lot of resources from research dollars going. So it's an area where I think that there could 00:27:46
be more emphasis made. 00:27:49
And so at the state, we're trying to gather resources that we have, right, new resources on small grains, looking at fertility, 00:27:54
looking at. 00:27:57
You know, management perspectives from disease. 00:28:01
And how can we meet those quality standards and also potentially other markets as when we reach these low margin years for 00:28:03
farmers, people start to look around and be like, OK, what other markets are there for some of our products that maybe we could 00:28:07
capture more value? 00:28:12
On some of those food grade markets might be. 00:28:16
Might be interesting. And so we're building out this whole site actually on the extension website that has never existed 00:28:18
previously. 00:28:21
Focused on small grains, I've been helping to shepherd that effort. 00:28:25
So that when farmers are like, you know. 00:28:28
What asking questions about that? They have a host of resources that have a specific home for that. 00:28:30
Across the state, not just here in Dodge County. 00:28:36
So that's a little bit about what I've been working on. 00:28:39
Questions for me. 00:28:43
I have a couple of questions. One of them is. 00:28:45
We grow weight to, you know, a bit of acres actually and. 00:28:49
You mentioned about the quality, you know deductions. 00:28:53
I've learned as we also we would use Grive for cover cookies a lot. 00:28:57
And we have discovered, and I don't know if you've found out. 00:29:02
Some of the right. 00:29:06
Seems to sit in the soil and not grow that first year. 00:29:07
And then now what's coming in our wheat field, we get all this rye in the wheat. 00:29:10
So. 00:29:15
Is there going to be quality deductions from rye mixed in with the wheat? Because that could be a big problem. Yeah, it can be, 00:29:16
you know, depending on the percentage. 00:29:20
And so I mean, that's like. 00:29:25
Contamination technically in the wheat said there could be dockages for that. So I mean, that's a great thing to think about. 00:29:27
Probably something that we should have resource on is like what percentages when we lookout into field and we're like. 00:29:33
Huh. There's some rye plants out there in the wheat. 00:29:38
Should we be controlling those? Should we be thinking about? 00:29:41
No cleaning what? You know, you're not really gonna clean that out, but. 00:29:44
Especially when we're going into these conservation systems we're pushing. 00:29:49
You know, our cover crops later and later where they might be heading out and producing some sort of viable seed maybe or it's 00:29:53
sitting in the ground. How can we avoid if we're putting rye in these rotations? 00:29:57
Getting that. 00:30:02
Seed into the weed seed bank and coming up in our weed. 00:30:03
So we don't have a resource on that currently, but I think that's a great thing to add to the docket. So can the rice sit for two 00:30:07
years before Germany's? I mean, that's my main question, Right. Well, it the seed was contaminated. Yeah. Here's all this rye in 00:30:11
the wheat. 00:30:15
It could have been that. 00:30:20
You had plants. 00:30:22
I think if you planted and sat in the soil it would have it wouldn't have sat there for two years and then germinated. It could 00:30:24
have been carried by birds coming off of other. 00:30:27
I gotta feel the want to show you yeah, it's a pretty contaminated. It's pretty bad, OK, and it's. 00:30:31
I can't explain it, maybe you can help explain it. Yeah, it could also be where. 00:30:37
Cover crops went to seed even though you killed them. 00:30:42
You know that they escaped that herbicide. 00:30:45
Application. 00:30:49
And did go to end up going to seed. 00:30:51
OK. The other question about unrelated to this. 00:30:54
I just recently did a survey. 00:30:57
Just a couple days ago from professor Polzine. I don't know if I'm seeing as Leonard polls in yeah from Michigan State University. 00:30:59
Oh different guy OK Michigan State University and conjunction with USDA and. 00:31:05
I was kind of blown away by the. 00:31:12
Questions because? 00:31:13
The survey was based on. 00:31:16
Reducing carbon in the atmosphere so for this climate change in a severe weather and how farmers can help doing that by doing no 00:31:18
till and cover crops. 00:31:22
And what blown me away was. 00:31:28
They were talking about a lot of questions where. 00:31:30
What would $9200 payment to a farmer Encourage them to do this and they can. 00:31:32
That's a sizable payment. The paper seeing a payment would come from private sources plus government. 00:31:38
Have you heard anything about what what they're studying and is there anything coming down the road about this, about Michigan 00:31:44
State's particular thing? I don't know. We're just doing a survey as you're doing a survey USDA. So I don't know if they're doing 00:31:50
it for USDA or so part of those part of those climate smart commodities grants that are kind of. 00:31:56
You know, being turned. 00:32:02
Being phased out was payments for those types of practices. 00:32:03
Now there are also private companies that have invested in that type of carbon offset. 00:32:08
Where they pay farmers, for example United Airlines. 00:32:14
They want to make that so they're reducing their emissions overall. They'll pay a farmer to do a certain practice. 00:32:17
If I were put in the practice, it reduces. 00:32:22
That science says. 00:32:29
Reduces carbon emissions to the atmosphere. That means if United Airlines is paying the farmer, they're reducing their emissions. 00:32:31
Pretty much United Airlines is buying that farmers carbon. 00:32:37
And saying, OK, now we've reduced that emission as our airline, we are lower carbon airline. So that's how private industry can 00:32:42
get into it unless it's part of their supply chain. Well, I've heard a lot of those cover programs before, but nothing to the 00:32:48
extent of like $100.00 an acre, right. And it could be both working together, it could be USDA. 00:32:53
But I it's not, it wouldn't be direct payments for the USDA, it'd be probably USDA evaluating. 00:33:01
The science of it. 00:33:08
Coming from a private company, for example, Organic Valley does a lot of in settings, so they're paying farms to do certain 00:33:09
practices so they can say that their milk is lower carbon emissions. 00:33:13
So that's where you can get kind of into those higher values is when it's not this like. 00:33:18
Offsetting thing, but when it's internal because then you're capturing that throughout the whole supply chain. 00:33:23
Is like because the cows, you know, the cows are grazing on this pasture and it's newly, it's a new pasture and it's storing 00:33:28
carbon according to that science then. 00:33:33
That milk is lower carbon, which then Organic Valley sells it as a lower carbon milk. 00:33:38
Increases the price of it and then that price that the. 00:33:44
Consumers paying that's increased because they want to buy that milk goes all the way back down the value chain. 00:33:47
So is there any? 00:33:54
Information out how much carbon can be saved by doing these practices and I've never seen it. 00:33:55
Yes, the science is all over the place. 00:34:00
Unfortunately, because it really depends on where you're doing that research. 00:34:04
At Arlington, for example, it's going to be very different than the Kellogg Biological Research Station. 00:34:07
In Michigan, because it's different soils and that's a huge part of it, we've got really productive soils at Arlington, as 00:34:12
everyone knows. 00:34:16
The plan of loans. 00:34:19
There are old Prairie soils, so there are. 00:34:21
Very high in organic matter, so trying to add more organic matter to those soils is really difficult because you've already got a 00:34:24
lot there. 00:34:28
Whereas at the Kellogg station in Michigan, it's really Sandy. 00:34:32
Soils, so it's it's a just lower threshold. So adding a little bit goes a longer way, so to speak. And so you're seeing more of an 00:34:36
ability to make additions in those soils. It's also super climate dependent as well. 00:34:42
In dry, drier environments like Oklahoma, it's actually easier to add organic matter because you don't have as much precipitation 00:34:48
there. 00:34:51
And it's things aren't as active. 00:34:55
In those soils. So that's another reason why. 00:34:58
And for example, a lot of the research done at Arlington shows that. 00:35:01
These. 00:35:04
Kind of production agricultural systems. These annual cropping systems are really difficult to add carbon to. 00:35:05
In really, really productive soils. But for example, Michigan State's research is showing, well, actually. 00:35:12
You can do it. 00:35:17
It also depends on how deep you determine that. 00:35:18
You could be adding additions of organic matter to the surface, but taking them from further down below. 00:35:21
Because it's increasing biological activity. 00:35:26
So overall it could be a net. 00:35:28
You know 0. 00:35:32
Versus a net gain depending on what percentage of the soil you're looking at. 00:35:33
It's very complicated and it really depends on who is choosing which science to. 00:35:37
Scientific study to base their modeling off of. 00:35:44
And that's kind of the issues with some of the models that we have is they're not capturing the full extent of everything. 00:35:47
And new science is coming out saying, oh, over here you could storing carbon under these systems. Over there it's not. 00:35:53
Sorry for like the. 00:36:02
Difficult answer. 00:36:04
I say caution. 00:36:06
2 questions. 00:36:08
This private sector like Boeing, kind of like the wastewater fosters trading. Exactly. It's the exact same concept. Great. And 00:36:11
then? 00:36:15
How do I say this? Do you see that program potentially? 00:36:25
Being able to stay if it doesn't use the word climate or do you see that? 00:36:29
Program being defunded because the climate smart commodities one it is already says climate, right? Yeah, it is. 00:36:33
It's I think it's on a case by case basis. I know there are some. 00:36:41
Institutions that have received those grants that I've had. 00:36:45
Not have that funding continue, whereas others are continuing. 00:36:48
And it's really it's on a case by case basis and there are some of those dollars in Wisconsin. 00:36:52
And but are some terminated or is it exactly as it's been? Or has some been terminated? 00:36:57
I think some have been terminated. Yeah. I haven't kept up with the exact rollout of that. Yeah, kind of in flux. Yeah, it's in 00:37:03
flux. 00:37:06
So second thing is, are you? 00:37:10
You got a lot of balls in the air, so. 00:37:15
It's fine if you're are you familiar with the potential research? 00:37:17
On the Dodge County Airport farm. Are you, are you, have you been? Yeah. We're in those discussions with me and John and Dave and 00:37:21
Cameron. So we're trying to figure out what is that, what is the best solution from a. We'll talk about it later. Right. OK. No, 00:37:27
that's fine. I just was hoping you'd were involved in. Absolutely. I'm good. Thanks. 00:37:33
Other questions? 00:37:40
Any other questions from at me? 00:37:42
I'm here for it. 00:37:44
Thank you, Will. I think we're. 00:37:46
We're done for now. Are you gonna stay for 12 for when we talk about the farm? OK. Be great. Thank you. 00:37:48
OK. 00:37:54
Would agency reports then. 00:37:57
Sawyer. 00:38:00
Hello everyone. 00:38:05
Morning. 00:38:07
Morning. 00:38:08
A few things to report on. 00:38:10
So between Dodge and Fond du Lac County we actually had 25 pre approved conservations stewardship program. 00:38:13
Applications. This was the highest in the southeast area, so I'm happy with. 00:38:21
How that actually shook out. 00:38:26
Within the office, we have till July 2nd to obligate those to become official contracts. So that's kind of the main workflow for. 00:38:29
June, you could say. 00:38:38
Also, we have about roughly. 00:38:41
40 Farm Service Agency random wetland and highly erodible land compliance checks to complete. 00:38:44
Umm, we had some pretty good weather for planting a couple weeks ago, but not everyone's in yet. Rightfully so. 00:38:50
I think some people are wishing they weren't in on some acres with. 00:38:59
You know the weather and temperature and. 00:39:03
Everything else going on. 00:39:06
So letters have been sent out to land owners so they're aware, as well as operators because a lot of these acreages are rented 00:39:08
land. 00:39:12
And June is typically the month we'll get those site visits knocked out. 00:39:17
We have to have those checks completely finalized by the end of the fiscal year, so that would be September 30th, so. 00:39:21
Also, our local work group meeting is scheduled for June 12th. 00:39:29
Time and places to be determined that's. 00:39:34
Every local workgroup across the state so dodges in the Drumlin Marine workgroup. 00:39:38
Which is partnered with. 00:39:43
Fond du Lac, Washington, Ozaki and Sheboygan, those like 4 counties we get our own separate funding for. 00:39:45
Our equip program and some of our CSP dollars as well. 00:39:53
Basically, these meetings are designed for land owners to request. 00:39:58
You know, certain practices that haven't been getting cost share, they can try to prioritize and. 00:40:02
Bring awareness to. 00:40:08
People higher than us. 00:40:10
Kind of. 00:40:12
As well, possibility of additional funding for our Environmental Quality Incentive program is being talked about. 00:40:15
This is kind of like, well was talking about some of our like. 00:40:22
Funding that use the word climate is going to be. 00:40:26
Hopefully restructured and re advertised through something else. 00:40:29
Each week we learn something new on that. 00:40:35
Also. 00:40:38
Kind of over our heads right now there's. 00:40:40
Rumors of like reduction in force and restructuring plans. 00:40:42
This week possibly we're going to hear stuff on that so. 00:40:47
If I'm not here next month, something happened. 00:40:51
But. 00:40:54
Other than that, any questions on funding? 00:40:55
Anything else related? 00:40:59
OK. Thank you. Yep, thank you. 00:41:05
OK, Matt. 00:41:07
Hey, good morning, everyone. 00:41:14
I saw you said we're. 00:41:17
Back in the office after the lovely weather last week, doing well as far as that goes. 00:41:19
The only thing really new for FSA is last Monday they announced the CRP sign up. 00:41:25
It's going to be a batch process for both, continuous in general. 00:41:32
The batch is going to 1st batch is going to close on June 6. 00:41:37
So we've got a very short window to get. 00:41:42
Signups in and done. 00:41:46
So. 00:41:48
Looks like. 00:41:50
If there's any acreage available after? 00:41:51
June 6th batch. They'll continue to take continuous signups only. 00:41:55
So that would include CREP and. 00:42:00
Stuff like that. So. 00:42:02
We are diligently working on that to try and get as many of the. 00:42:04
Possibly interested people signed up before it closes. 00:42:09
Otherwise, that's all we've really got other than. 00:42:14
Next week is the start of crop reporting for us. 00:42:18
Pretty heavy so. 00:42:22
Any I have a question. So like if you had to use a percentage roughly? 00:42:24
With 100 being full capacity for the batch on June 6. 00:42:31
What percentage would you say is? 00:42:36
Already in. 00:42:38
For applications like in terms of total availability, 50 percent 1090. 00:42:39
You mean you're across the state or for Dodge County? Dodge County. 00:42:45
Umm, we probably. 00:42:49
I mean of the ones we have interested, we maybe have two signed up. 00:42:51
Though I would say we're on the low side of the percentage right now, like 20%, if that. OK. And so how? 00:42:54
How do we? 00:43:04
Increase that. 00:43:06
Think that's, you know, so frustrating. Yeah, that's the frustrating thing. 00:43:07
The problem with CRP is. 00:43:13
Is it's not something you can rush through and when they give us these short windows. 00:43:16
Without any warning that it's coming, there's not a lot we can do to increase it at this point. 00:43:23
I see. 00:43:29
Me and John have talked before. You know when we know CRP is coming and we can have a window we can do a lot of. 00:43:30
Drumming up a business? OK go into specific areas and offer programs. 00:43:37
But doing all that work? 00:43:42
And then not getting a sign up. 00:43:44
It really turns guys off. 00:43:46
So yeah, right now we're kind of stuck. 00:43:48
In we don't have a lot of re enrolls, which is good. We don't have a lot of contracts expiring. 00:43:53
So. 00:43:58
We have a guys throughout the year that we'll take down names that says, hey, if this there's a sign up, I'm interested the ones 00:43:59
that we reach out to and. 00:44:03
Hit the doors on. 00:44:07
There's a few farmers that always. 00:44:10
Especially after the last couple years and say, hey, if we're there CRP, I want to put this wet ground in that I can't get in. So 00:44:13
we kind of track those guys and work our way through that so. 00:44:18
But yeah, in general. 00:44:23
To get our county up. 00:44:25
In CRP it would be nice if. 00:44:27
We as an agency could set more of a. 00:44:29
Stringent timeline, like, oh, we're going to have CRP sign up every year at December and then we can work. 00:44:32
To get guys lined up to do that. 00:44:38
But they haven't done that yet, so it's not consistent. 00:44:41
No. So you never know when it's coming, right? We weren't even sure we were gonna have a sign up this year. 00:44:44
So was there a period where it was consistent? 00:44:49
It seemed like it to me, but at the beginning of this farm bill they tried to write it as we were going to have a 2 month window 00:44:52
pretty much every December for CRP sign up. 00:44:58
That made it 2 cycles. 00:45:04
And then it fell apart. 00:45:06
Too bad SO. 00:45:08
It's CRP has always been frustrating. Every administration's got their. 00:45:10
Viewpoint of CRP. Some really like it and some don't. 00:45:15
So I think this administration with the fact that. 00:45:20
We are on the extension of a farm bill. 00:45:25
Gave us CRP. I don't know if see where CRP is gonna fall in the next farm bill. OK, so that's the other big question is what's 00:45:30
gonna look like. 00:45:35
Interest is down. 00:45:43
For this, not necessarily down, there's a pretty decent list of interested land owners, but rental payments. 00:45:48
Like the per acre payments went significantly down from. 00:45:55
Say, even four years ago. 00:45:59
So to juggle. 00:46:02
What they could get for renting the land from an operator. 00:46:05
Maybe those the dollar values not lining up with? 00:46:10
What they want, sure, you know, everybody wants the wildlife. 00:46:14
Impacts, but they also want the money to shake out too, so. 00:46:17
Thanks. 00:46:22
So any other questions for me? 00:46:24
Appreciate the time. Thank you. 00:46:28
OK, next on the agenda is Rock River Flood Group presentation request for funding. 00:46:34
This is a. 00:46:39
From umm. 00:46:41
An item from the November meeting, a motion to a certain time to. 00:46:42
Delay the discussion to get updated information and so we'll be. 00:46:46
First getting updated information. 00:46:50
You want to come up and give us updated or? 00:46:52
You were emailed on. 00:46:55
Was that Friday morning Friday? 00:46:57
The from Montgomery Associates. 00:47:00
So we'll let you go ahead and. 00:47:05
Please give us the update in your funding request. 00:47:07
Excuse me? 00:47:09
Try to bring up some of the people that are new on the committee. 00:47:11
Back in. 00:47:15
2021. 00:47:17
Tim Cargill and. 00:47:19
That contacted Rob Montgomery and. 00:47:21
Asked for his help and. 00:47:25
In investigating. 00:47:27
Increased amount of flooding. 00:47:30
Yeah, down in our area of the Lebanon. 00:47:33
As Japan area. 00:47:35
On the Rock River and. 00:47:37
And the duration. 00:47:39
And. 00:47:41
We've been. 00:47:42
Working with. 00:47:43
Rob. 00:47:45
Since then. 00:47:46
We've gotten. 00:47:49
Municipalities along the corridor between. 00:47:51
Hustisford and Watertown involved with us. 00:47:57
And. 00:48:00
Amount of time and the amount of resources that Tim and I have spent. 00:48:03
Trying to. 00:48:07
Not eliminate the flooding, but but drop the. 00:48:10
Duration and the amount of flooding. 00:48:13
You know, it's been quite a bit. 00:48:17
We really appreciate. 00:48:19
The county. 00:48:21
For helping and financial support. 00:48:22
Of the gauge, the USGS gauge. 00:48:25
That we. 00:48:29
Of fell through some of the studies was well needed in the town of Lebanon. 00:48:31
You know when we started this? 00:48:38
We weren't even on the map. 00:48:40
And, you know, there were roads that are underwater for 11 months down there. 00:48:42
We're on the map. 00:48:48
It's on the Internet, It's live. 00:48:50
And we can tell exactly. 00:48:52
Where things are at down there? 00:48:55
We we missed the deadline. 00:48:58
To ask for resources last fall. 00:49:00
And. 00:49:04
We was decided by the group that. 00:49:05
We had started with. 00:49:09
Partially a citizens group. 00:49:11
And partially. 00:49:13
Quite a list here. That's on the. 00:49:16
On the towards the end of this, of people that are involved. 00:49:18
That we've had several meetings over the last couple of years. 00:49:22
And. 00:49:26
Are gaining some momentum. 00:49:27
Making some difference. 00:49:29
Identified problems. 00:49:31
And. 00:49:33
You know, we're trying to work towards. 00:49:35
A solution. 00:49:37
You know this. 00:49:39
This isn't just. 00:49:40
People in Lebanon and Exonia and. 00:49:42
Town of Eustisford problem at. 00:49:46
Really, the waters come, you know, everything comes downhill. 00:49:48
And. 00:49:52
You know, even north of the marsh. 00:49:53
Up there. 00:49:55
You know, there's water that leads into this watershed. 00:49:56
And uh. 00:49:59
You know, we haven't asked anybody up there because it directly is affecting us down there. 00:50:01
A little bit of background. 00:50:07
The Rock River. 00:50:09
Has a very, very low pitch. 00:50:10
About 1%. 00:50:14
In our area. 00:50:16
You increase water flow. 00:50:17
Out of these dams of. 00:50:19
Of you know, the **** at. 00:50:22
The federal marsh. 00:50:26
The. 00:50:27
Boricon Dam. 00:50:28
Hustisford Dam. 00:50:30
And. 00:50:31
More than 500 cubic feet per second, which is just a trickle. 00:50:32
And. 00:50:37
Over a short period of time, it'll exceed the banks of the Rock River. 00:50:38
As we said. 00:50:44
Of you know the last few times. 00:50:46
The amount of flooding down there is greater than the. 00:50:48
Area of the Horicon Marsh when it exceeds. 00:50:52
About 12:50. 00:50:55
And there's pictures in the. 00:50:57
Back of this that Rob's provided. 00:51:00
One thing to note. 00:51:03
Is. 00:51:05
You know you can see. 00:51:09
Back prior to October 1 and 23, there was 10 feet of difference in water flooding down in the town of Lebanon between then and. 00:51:11
And. 00:51:20
And, well, actually in July. 00:51:23
June was over 10 feet there. 00:51:26
From the. 00:51:30
From the low and. 00:51:31
July and August. 00:51:35
On his last picture of diagrams. 00:51:39
You know this, you can kind of see this started back in the 80s. 00:51:42
You know, that's kind of the. 00:51:46
The median deal and. 00:51:48
And here in the. 00:51:50
10s in the 20s. 00:51:51
You know how high it's gotten down there? Exceeding. 00:51:53
You know the 2000 cubic feet per second. 00:51:56
So it you know it's it's been a problem. 00:52:00
It's continuing to be a problem. We're making progress. 00:52:04
And. 00:52:08
You know, we're asking going to ask for some financial support to help us because it is a county problem. 00:52:09
Both here and Dodge. 00:52:15
And in Jefferson County. 00:52:17
Some of the activities that we've done, Rob is listed. 00:52:21
I think a important one on the first bunch. 00:52:25
Is coordination with the US Weather Bureau. 00:52:29
For technical and analysis, we've got a meeting scheduled here in May. 00:52:32
To work along with them. 00:52:37
You know the the goal here is management. 00:52:40
It's not, you know, getting away, but it's management of the water. 00:52:44
And its coordinated effort between these dams. 00:52:48
And. 00:52:51
We had this. 00:52:52
Plan put together after several meetings with meeting with dam operators. 00:52:54
And we had a little resistance out of the. 00:52:59
Out of the Horicon Marsh. 00:53:01
And uh. 00:53:03
The DNR. 00:53:05
The last meeting. 00:53:08
We had the. 00:53:09
And she's listed in here the gal that is. 00:53:12
The Directors Secretary from the DNR at our meeting. 00:53:15
And she's taking that back and we think we're going to have a resolution. 00:53:19
So that we continue can continue. 00:53:25
Doing a coordinated. 00:53:28
Raw down of water. 00:53:30
So that we can use the. 00:53:32
Existing operating orders. 00:53:35
For the dams. 00:53:38
To have some storage opportunity. 00:53:41
For precipitation. 00:53:44
Any drainage or so forth here next spring? 00:53:47
Hoping that that will help. 00:53:51
Manage the water that you know that comes down. 00:53:53
And, umm. 00:53:56
Rob Montgomery. 00:53:58
Has gotten a couple of grants for us. 00:54:00
They've got a couple of students, doctoral students and graduate students that are going to help analyze the data and see if that. 00:54:05
You know was going to work for. 00:54:14
For this long term. 00:54:16
You know how the? 00:54:20
The the operating orders at that time. 00:54:21
We may have to go back because we are working with the DNR and they set them. 00:54:24
You know, to change laws. 00:54:29
But this is. 00:54:31
You know, trying to work within the system. 00:54:32
To see if these operating orders that are. 00:54:35
You know, probably 75 to 100 years old. 00:54:38
On the books. 00:54:41
For operating those dams. 00:54:42
Are relevant. 00:54:44
So. 00:54:46
You know our anticipated costs. 00:54:53
He laid out here what was left on 25 and in 26. 00:54:55
A roughly 25 grand. 00:55:01
Split between the. 00:55:04
The two years. 00:55:06
And. 00:55:07
I know that that. 00:55:11
I would hope. 00:55:14
That the county. 00:55:15
Would would. 00:55:17
Be interested in helping with this. 00:55:19
I know that the county has a lot of money invested in Harnischfeger Park. 00:55:22
And that's in the town of Lebanon. 00:55:26
That's half a mile up from where I live. 00:55:28
Between Tim and I and that like I said with that flooding. 00:55:31
Umm. 00:55:36
Tim and I started this. 00:55:40
Back in 2021. 00:55:41
And about a year ago. 00:55:45
We stepped back. 00:55:47
From financially supporting this and this is. 00:55:49
Continuing through the effort of the townships. 00:55:53
And and other private parties. 00:55:56
And. 00:55:59
You know, we believe that this is a. 00:56:02
This is a. 00:56:04
A, you know, municipal. 00:56:06
Colony issue that needs to be taken up now we've started it. 00:56:10
We've made a lot of progress. 00:56:15
Back in the. 00:56:17
In the 90s there were several meetings with the DNR down in the town of Lebanon and. 00:56:18
And, and really nothing came out of that. 00:56:25
And I think that we've. 00:56:28
Been able to. 00:56:30
To work with Montgomery, the engineering firm. 00:56:31
And provide. 00:56:34
Critical studies of the water there. 00:56:36
And the floor. We figured out that the. 00:56:40
The dams and Watertown. 00:56:43
Are not holding water back. 00:56:45
At Pipersville there is a land and stone ledge. 00:56:47
Of they're under the Rock River. 00:56:51
And because of the pitch and because of that ledge. 00:56:54
Water, you know, won't flow fast. It's a very. 00:56:58
Slow moving part of that. 00:57:01
And. 00:57:03
You know, there's a lot of it. We're still. 00:57:05
Disseminating information to residents. 00:57:08
A lot of them feel that. 00:57:11
The water. 00:57:12
Dams are holding water back and it isn't true. 00:57:14
And we've proved that. We've got the reports. We've provided you with the reports, you know, showing. 00:57:18
That by dropping that Upper Watertown dam. 00:57:24
That the. 00:57:28
Water, it's insignificant and its flow there. 00:57:29
So it really is. 00:57:33
Uphill, that is, you know, they're their coordinated effort. We think we can get some. 00:57:35
Relief. 00:57:41
On that water. 00:57:43
The things that we're asking of the group. 00:57:45
Of Patricia Cicero, that is. 00:57:49
Counterpart in Jefferson County is extremely interested in. 00:57:53
Water storage. 00:57:57
And. 00:57:59
I think the gentleman that was just up here talking about CRP, I've been involved in CRP for. 00:58:00
2530 years on some of our properties. 00:58:07
But you know, I think. 00:58:10
A situation of holding water or storage of water along the river basin. 00:58:13
Maybe something that could be added on to that, that may be at the county level could figure it out with with other government 00:58:19
entities. 00:58:23
You know, I think long term. 00:58:27
You know that. 00:58:30
Could help. 00:58:32
The situation. 00:58:33
You know, the Rock River here is a unique situation with how it lays in there and in the water, the increased amount of water. 00:58:34
The reason we have? 00:58:44
The Weather Service involved is because of the. 00:58:45
Difference in precipitation that we've had over some of the last years. 00:58:48
They have prediction models. They're going to look at this information. 00:58:52
With the. 00:58:57
The graduate students and try to. 00:58:58
You know, come up with. 00:59:01
Finer. 00:59:02
Prediction models for this basin. 00:59:03
And. 00:59:06
You know, see if that will help also. 00:59:08
In operating the dams accordingly, depending on. 00:59:10
Precipitation. 00:59:14
But we're, you know, we're asking if. 00:59:15
That couldn't be a consideration there in the water storage. 00:59:18
And uh. 00:59:22
And then helping with some of these costs. 00:59:23
You know to do this. 00:59:26
Rob included the. 00:59:36
The people on here which? 00:59:37
As part of the group. 00:59:39
You know, we have the US Fish and Wildlife Service at work on marsh. We have. 00:59:41
Patricia and. 00:59:47
The other. 00:59:48
People from Jefferson County, we have John. 00:59:50
From Dodge County. 00:59:53
We have the Wisconsin DNR. 00:59:55
Shelley Ulnis is the directors secretary or the Secretary's director. 00:59:57
That that's involved. 01:00:02
I will discern Eric Kilbourg. 01:00:04
Run the. 01:00:08
Dam up at the city of Oregon. 01:00:09
We have the village of Eustisford involved, We have the town of Lebanon involved, of which. 01:00:13
Of Tim and I. 01:00:20
Were asked to represent. 01:00:23
The the town of Lebanon. 01:00:26
And. 01:00:28
We were sworn in to do that, so I guess I'm here as. 01:00:30
As a citizen, but as part of the town of Lebanon. 01:00:33
We've been. 01:00:39
We've had Barbara Dietrich to a number of our meetings. 01:00:40
Tom Reese that runs the. 01:00:44
The Watertown dams. 01:00:46
Has been. 01:00:48
Pretty well all of the meetings. 01:00:50
And. 01:00:53
When we have the people from the University of Wisconsin. 01:00:54
Through the grant program. 01:00:58
And then the other. 01:01:00
Citizens and stakeholders. 01:01:02
But you know, with that I will. 01:01:05
To open it up if you have any. 01:01:10
Questions or comments and? 01:01:12
I appreciate any consideration on this. 01:01:14
The Montgomery approach is very solid. 01:01:19
And it's very cost effective. I'm surprised. 01:01:21
You can do it for that amount of money. 01:01:24
It's basically the Rob's time and a little bit of other engineering time. 01:01:26
This impacts the DNR Dadcap DLT in the county. 01:01:31
So they should all have a stake in this. They are stakeholders. 01:01:35
So as he goes up to Horican. 01:01:39
He's gonna find highways that need to be. 01:01:41
Modified, revised, whatever. 01:01:45
For waterfall. 01:01:47
Again, it's a solid plan and it should be supported. 01:01:49
What I do see though is. 01:01:53
It goes to 2026. 01:01:55
So permitting 2027. 01:01:57
So the first time you turn over some dirt is 2028. 01:02:00
Are there opportunities? 01:02:04
Between now and 2028 that can be taken advantage of as he finds those. 01:02:06
Could you know? But we haven't. 01:02:11
Stepped out of that. 01:02:15
You know that element, I mean that you know that's things that could be added to it. 01:02:17
So Shelley, illness is the right person to be your point person there. 01:02:21
DNR and the silo management system. 01:02:25
And the permitting and the water quality may not talk to each other about this. 01:02:29
Until Shelley gets them involved, so if she is given the authority as a facilitator. 01:02:34
That's very important for your project. 01:02:39
Then we just got her involved. 01:02:43
30 days ago. Well, yeah, take advantage of her tech expertise, sure. 01:02:45
Chapter 31 once you start looking at the different. 01:02:50
Opportunities. 01:02:53
Any rise over .005 feet. 01:02:54
You get into the extended Chapter 31 program. 01:02:57
And that's going to require. 01:03:01
Municipalities. Producers. 01:03:04
Everybody be on board for that from hurricane down to Lebanon. 01:03:06
And that's why we initially stride to stay. 01:03:11
In the operating orders, which is half a foot. 01:03:14
And we? 01:03:20
Tried to. 01:03:21
Tried to stay within that and. 01:03:22
You know, there was quite a bit of screaming from the people in Sennissippi. 01:03:25
Or several of them. 01:03:29
You know this winter. 01:03:31
Todd Tessman drew down and in Sinnissippi to the half a foot. 01:03:32
We were trying to get this between December and the end of February. 01:03:37
You know, to be able to determine what would happen in the spring. 01:03:43
Where we had the issue, so we only got half of the drawdown. 01:03:46
We had a little bit more drawdown in the city of Horcon because there's a hole in the dam. 01:03:50
And and yeah. 01:03:57
And. 01:03:59
Had some problems from the people running the Horicon Marsh. 01:04:00
Do the do the salamanders and other issues there and you know that we're going to have to deal with in the next 60 days. 01:04:04
To try to get everybody on board, but we're hoping Shelley can. 01:04:13
Help us with that. 01:04:17
That will be critical to get them on the same page because of salamander, because water quality wildlife. 01:04:18
They all have a say in it. 01:04:24
And they manage my committee. 01:04:25
And but that's the problem. 01:04:27
We dealt with the people that were operating the dams and they were all on board until they they want to start doing it and then 01:04:29
the other. 01:04:33
Other groups. 01:04:38
You know, push back on it. So. 01:04:40
We got about half the drawdown that we really were looking for. 01:04:42
And. 01:04:46
We're hoping that we can. 01:04:47
Reinstitute this at you know, these people have all been to the meetings and they've all agreed to it, and we feel that with 01:04:50
Shelley's. 01:04:54
Of influence on that, that we can make that come together. 01:04:59
And then we can really determine. 01:05:03
If within the operating orders. 01:05:05
You know this will be a good management deal. 01:05:08
Along with with people at the Weather Service. 01:05:11
You know, helping with the prediction models of precipitation. 01:05:15
You know how that can be managed along the corridor? 01:05:19
I mean, we're not going to do away with flooding. We get that. 01:05:22
Mean Helen in. 01:05:26
In. 01:05:28
Back in 1980. 01:05:31
Personally, my family has owned the property that I'm on since the 70s. 01:05:33
Every five years down there. 01:05:38
There would be some flooding in the fall. 01:05:40
Every five years. Once every five years. 01:05:44
When we started this project back in 2000. 01:05:47
It was. 01:05:51
Every year, 11 months of a year, we were. 01:05:52
Damn near flooded out down here. 01:05:56
And it and yes, there was more precipitation during the window in there for a few years. 01:05:58
But. 01:06:05
It wasn't. I mean, this is progressively gotten worse. 01:06:06
I personally put it to the Horicon Marsh. 01:06:09
Because of 19. 01:06:13
80 I was in college. 01:06:14
And that was the last of the bad cholera. 01:06:17
Outbreaks up there. 01:06:21
And I clearly remember, as if it was yesterday, listening to the news. 01:06:23
And the management people at the Horicon? 01:06:27
Claimed that they were going to do a better management job. 01:06:30
Of the water up there. 01:06:34
And. 01:06:36
You know, since then we've we've had more precipitate, more water down here, more flooding and. 01:06:37
You know. 01:06:43
Probably right before we started that it was 11 months of water down. 01:06:44
In my I mean, I'm at the very South end of the county. 01:06:48
Steve. 01:06:52
I just want to throw a little bit of background quick. 01:06:53
Just so people who haven't been here. 01:06:55
Shortly after they got together. 01:06:58
You know, they talk to us. 01:07:01
Me and I'm like, wow, you guys have done a lot of work. You're just two private citizens and this is a pretty huge problem. 01:07:04
And then they came to the county. 01:07:12
And we're asking for funding. 01:07:14
The two of them and the county said. 01:07:16
Why are we doing it all? 01:07:18
Who else is involved? They're like, Oh well. 01:07:20
We're talking to people. 01:07:23
They're like, well this isn't 100% accounting issue, right? 01:07:26
So they went back and now they're coming to us. 01:07:29
With. 01:07:33
Saying it's not just a county issue they've got. 01:07:34
They got free. 01:07:37
Services from UW, Wisconsin. 01:07:39
They've gotten grants. 01:07:42
They've gotten on board with. 01:07:45
This whole list of. 01:07:48
Counties and as well as the US Wildlife Service and the different town of Lebanon town of. 01:07:51
Exonia, they've gotten commitments for financial commitments from all those other communities, which is exactly what. 01:07:58
This board said, well, before we get all in, you got to get other people in. And you know, I'll never forget. You said you're 01:08:06
like, yeah, well, how do I get them in if the county is not in because the county is too big? And this committee said that's your 01:08:11
problem. 01:08:15
Essentially. 01:08:20
And they did it. And so now they're back. And I'm just saying now they're back and they're saying we. 01:08:21
Essentially have done. 01:08:28
What this committee told us to do. 01:08:29
The very first time they came here and asked for money. 01:08:31
It was kind of an oral presentation and, you know, it was good, but there was nothing on paper. And we're like, you know what, if 01:08:35
it's not like $100 donation, we kind of need to see what you're doing. 01:08:41
We need something organized. 01:08:47
And they've given it to us, so I would. 01:08:49
I would strongly support the project because it's clear. 01:08:53
That it's not a one shot deal. 01:08:58
And you're they've got a lot of moving pieces. It's a multi year project and they're going to learn from it and we should support 01:09:01
it. 01:09:04
We should support the funding. 01:09:10
Past this was correct that storage can be an important part of this. 01:09:12
But at some point you have to address that. 01:09:15
I think it's a that's a longer term. 01:09:18
Deal. I mean, that may take 10 years. Oh. 01:09:20
He's struggling getting CRP sign up. 01:09:22
But I think that's going to take a county slash. 01:09:25
Federal government type deal. 01:09:30
But I think it could be, I mean, this is a unique corridor here with with, you know, the low pitch and that in this river, but. 01:09:32
I think there's an opportunity. 01:09:41
And like I said, you know, Pat Cicero is all in on that. I mean, she's. 01:09:44
She's driving that and I think that, you know, we're gonna. 01:09:48
Strap the leash, stir and help her, you know, as best as we can, but you know, try to have her lead that charge and and hopefully. 01:09:53
You know that'll come to fruition. 01:10:01
One last comment for Dodge County, you probably won't land in zoning to be involved with somebody. 01:10:03
Because that's the first permit you're going to ask for. 01:10:09
OK. So somebody at the land zoning will need to be involved? 01:10:12
So you get the land and zoning, then DNR permit and core. 01:10:15
Just goes down line. 01:10:19
I'll mention that to. 01:10:22
So. 01:10:27
This land that's getting flooded? 01:10:28
Does he ever get So it's all floodplain obviously, right? 01:10:32
Along the river that's getting flooded? I don't know. I don't think so. 01:10:35
I think in my and I'm speaking for myself, I have 250 acres there. 01:10:39
And, umm. 01:10:45
The area that the canal backs into a drainage ditch is. 01:10:46
All along the river I've had half of the pasture. 01:10:52
With. 01:10:55
Trees that are 5 feet in diameter that are dead. 01:10:56
Along the river, you know that isn't flood plain. 01:11:01
You know, and that's the frustrating thing is this stuff didn't get. 01:11:03
That big? 01:11:09
You know, in its lifetime. 01:11:10
And this stuff's all dying because of the flooding. 01:11:13
So I mean, I think, I think part of it is and. 01:11:16
A good part of it isn't. 01:11:18
But I can't speak for the, you know, the total. 01:11:21
The biggest thing is that the duration has gone up. 01:11:25
And the amount of flooding since the 80s and. 01:11:29
This year we were talking prior to the meeting here. 01:11:35
You know it's it's. 01:11:38
Probably half of what it is. It's probably 5 or 6 feet down in my estimate. 01:11:40
Of what it was last year. 01:11:46
Where it goes over the road next to me. 01:11:48
This Monroe Rd. north of Asher Pen. 01:11:50
That been under underwater 11 months a year. 01:11:53
Where Tim lives. 01:11:56
And the guys that are? 01:11:58
That are carp shooting at night with their boats. You know they're launching off off the town Rd. 01:12:01
Not often. 01:12:08
That's so deep. 01:12:10
But it isn't only by us though. I mean, it runs. 01:12:13
Bound through. 01:12:16
Of town of Axonia. 01:12:18
And further up north? 01:12:20
You know, The thing is that we we lose. 01:12:22
Focus that there's a lot of their water, a lot of the river tributaries that are coming into the Rock River. 01:12:26
That. 01:12:32
Really due to due to the amount of cost study into that, I mean we use the main. 01:12:33
Rock River for our initial large study. 01:12:39
And well, that's a 49 page report that I've provided to the group. 01:12:42
That. 01:12:47
Identified that it was mainly water that was let out a Hustisford and Eustisford needed to let the water out because when Horacon 01:12:48
adjusts their gates in Mississippi gets too high. 01:12:54
So. 01:13:03
Got a couple things. 01:13:04
So this is just a two year requesters we're going to be I understand that it you know what we can request is for 26. It's not a 01:13:06
two year request. I correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're saying that 2025 costs are covered, right? 01:13:13
Well, as best as we can, as best as you can. But like. 01:13:20
For the committee's benefit, are you requesting? 01:13:23
24,500 Are you requesting 14,300? We felt all we could. We wanted to show you what we missed this year and we wanted to show you 01:13:26
the 26th and I figure 26 is all we can request. 01:13:32
OK. 01:13:39
Because it was mentioned both ways, so just. 01:13:41
Yeah, clarifying that. So you're requesting? 01:13:43
To 26. 01:13:47
You just haven't given us. 01:13:48
Final like number. So I'm I'm confused right? 01:13:50
All right. 01:13:54
OK. 01:13:58
Has Kim. 01:13:59
Dave, if I can ask, has Kim weighed in on this at all? 01:14:01
The court council, can we do this or not, or? Kim has weighed in. I sent her. 01:14:05
I didn't get home until. 01:14:10
Friday or Saturday evening. So I saw it in my e-mail the. 01:14:13
The proposal I forwarded to Kim on Sunday. 01:14:18
And she reviewed it yesterday afternoon, then got back to me last night. 01:14:22
She obviously she didn't have much time and it was a Sunday. 01:14:26
She only did a very informal legal opinion. 01:14:30
If you want a more thorough opinion, we'll have to have. And she couldn't be here today. She had a. 01:14:33
Personal thing that she's not good, she could not be here. Previous commitment. 01:14:39
If we want a professional or her more in depth, she can do that and then we could have that at a later time just because of 01:14:44
timing. 01:14:48
Initially here, she said her overall opinion has remained the same. She said she in her opinion, things had not changed. 01:14:52
Since the November meeting. 01:14:58
And that her opinion is still on not not to fund this. She said that we could still support it. 01:15:00
And the county can support it in coordinating efforts and doing all the work that John's department was. 01:15:07
But her concern was the. 01:15:13
The organization giving it to that organization, and I'm not going to speak for her. I'm not a lawyer. So that that is her. That 01:15:17
is her. 01:15:21
That is her opinion. 01:15:26
Is there a structure she would recommend that would allow it to be funded? 01:15:28
I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna speak for Kim. I'm just giving you, I'm just giving you a very informal. 01:15:33
Opinion I got on a Sunday afternoon. I think it is informal and the statute she recommends talked about this committee S ability 01:15:40
to find. 01:15:44
Flooding projects. 01:15:50
And it didn't mention it once. 01:15:52
It mentions it 3 or 4 times. 01:15:53
Just black and white, right? I'm not interpreting. 01:15:58
Not trying to give some meeting that's not stated. It's black and white. 01:16:02
Funding projects and. 01:16:07
In the November meeting as well as now, I wish I had seen that report. That would have been nice. But if it's the same statute 01:16:10
she's referring to, last time I even said, like so, Kim, which part of supporting flooding does not relate to supporting flooding? 01:16:18
Like I just don't. 01:16:28
I have no understanding. 01:16:32
Right. Like this is not a complex. It's got it's, it's not a complex, vague, ambiguous statute. It's really direct and it says it 01:16:34
over and over and over. 01:16:40
And so. 01:16:45
If there was something in there that she said, well, this statute says this, but that statute. 01:16:47
Doesn't allow the committee to do it because of this reason. Now we have a conflict and I understand that. 01:16:54
But when we have a statute that says this conservation committee. 01:17:01
Has the authority. 01:17:06
To to. 01:17:08
Projects for flooding. 01:17:10
Three or four times in the same paragraph. 01:17:14
That is clearly authorization. 01:17:18
To do this. 01:17:21
Clearly, I don't think Lisa, the the issue is that it's not funding products. We can fund projects and we coordinate products and 01:17:23
we have shown that we've done that. So I don't think that's the issue. The issue is the organization's a private, it's a private 01:17:28
organization. 01:17:32
And the issue is, is these can we give money to an organization that primarily. 01:17:37
Is for and they I know that you're not. I mean, you're for the whole, you've changed the whole county. 01:17:45
But also and I will tell LSID's position in just a moment. 01:17:51
They are regarding the dam orders and so there is a, it's a very, very controversial. 01:17:56
Issue and I will tell you because we were doing updates here, I just gave you a legal. 01:18:01
Update, We're doing updates and then I'm going to ask Cameron for funding update. I think we just get we're the motion we made. 01:18:07
Was that we would relook at this and look at all the updates as to what changed. I want John you to give us an update too. 01:18:13
That we're looking at the updates. That's all this is. 01:18:18
If the committee wants a more in depth legal opinion, we can get that. She offered that, but she couldn't do it yesterday. 01:18:21
On a Sunday afternoon. 01:18:28
I guess I'm confused. What? 01:18:30
More in depth would mean. 01:18:32
Like the exact reasoning in cases. 01:18:34
Details. If you want that, that would be. 01:18:38
That that can't be done. She only got this yesterday morning. 01:18:41
And I appreciate what you're saying. And I get that we can move on because we're not. So I misunderstood because I, I. 01:18:46
I, I misunderstood the concept of this because from the agenda, I thought we were talking about funding it. There's, there's two 01:18:54
things here. According to the request, they are asking for support. 01:19:00
Which I think. 01:19:06
We've already given. I don't know if you need that. We've already given. They have two, two requests here. Funding is 1 and 01:19:07
support from the county is the other. They have two requests here. 01:19:11
What is support like? I mean, I understand John's doing agendas. 01:19:16
It says here they said they're requesting author bullet use. Doc Steve, we're asking for Dodge County to work with Jefferson 01:19:20
County on the storage issue. 01:19:24
And you know, that's a long term deal. You know that ain't gonna help short term. 01:19:29
And it's going to have to figure out. 01:19:34
Funding and all the particulars to put that together and kind of study how much potentially you could get. 01:19:37
You know, along the corridor of that. 01:19:44
But you know. 01:19:46
Technically the town of Lebanon. 01:19:50
Has been the go to. 01:19:52
You pay the town of Lebanon for the gauge. 01:19:54
Lebanon disseminates the bills on everything is going to the town of Lebanon. It isn't going to a private group. Thank you. For 01:19:57
what it's worth, I didn't think anything privately was being funded to my knowledge, including the gauges. So. 01:20:03
Umm, you're raising your eyebrows. So if you know I'll talk when I talk. There is more to the story. You have a partial 01:20:09
information. Well, I wish I would and I and I will talk last night. My at my turn. I will, but I'm we're going around by just 01:20:15
someone asked John asked for legal. I answered the question. That's it. Can I ask you you could forward that to me after the 01:20:21
meeting. She just did. It's just an informal e-mail to me. I don't I don't feel that's appropriate. Well, since you're publicly at 01:20:27
a public meeting referring to that document. 01:20:33
I don't think I'm referring to a phone call with the follow phone call I had with her last night. You acted like you had a report 01:20:39
there. 01:20:43
I do not have a report, she said. She did not have an in-depth report. I said that immediately. 01:20:47
Well, I thought you so there's nothing on paper she's given. 01:20:52
There is no formal doc. She didn't do a formal review, no. 01:20:55
Like you, you never got a sent even I was going back and forth with her. That is correct. 01:20:59
In the end, when at the end of our conversation. 01:21:06
Talking with her, we were not going to present anything formally in writing. 01:21:09
Just giving her an update on a Sunday afternoon. That is what that is. What was this? When we we went back and forth e-mail, I 01:21:14
couldn't get ahold of her. 01:21:17
I did get a hold of her last night and that that, that is the like the end. 01:21:21
That's all I did. 01:21:25
I can get a formal review from Kim if you would like, if that is something this committee wants. But let's let's hear the other 01:21:29
parts of this Chair. That's just one part. 01:21:33
Sure, OK. 01:21:37
John, would you like to weigh in on this? You're the conservationist. What is your opinion and recommendations for this committee? 01:21:41
Because we are not experts and you are. 01:21:45
Since last November, I've talked to several different. 01:21:50
Counties, my counterparts and other counties. 01:21:54
Explaining the scenario to them and asking them what. 01:21:57
They would do if it was in their county. 01:22:01
None of them. 01:22:05
Said they would do any more than I currently am doing right now. 01:22:06
I've also talked to Mike Sorgi from the DNR. 01:22:11
You know, OK. 01:22:16
What? 01:22:18
More can. 01:22:19
I be doing within the county. 01:22:21
Or what? 01:22:23
Are some avenues I should be looking at within the county? 01:22:25
That would help alleviate this problem. 01:22:29
And. 01:22:33
He really didn't have an answer for me. You know, we had the Beaver Dam River watershed. Should I be looking something like that 01:22:34
on? 01:22:38
On Rubicon River, on Wildcat Creek, well, we've already got our land and water plant in NATO. 01:22:42
Nike Element. 01:22:48
Plan with Wildcat Creek. 01:22:49
So I didn't get any. 01:22:51
Anymore help from him than what we currently are doing? 01:22:53
So. 01:22:58
Based off of those conversations. 01:22:59
I don't. 01:23:03
I don't have any. 01:23:05
I I don't believe we should be supporting anything more than what we currently are doing. 01:23:07
Can I ask, did you talk to Kurt in Columbia? 01:23:11
Yes. Umm. 01:23:13
And he said the same thing. 01:23:14
Yeah, I talked to Columbia, I talked to Jefferson, I talked to. 01:23:16
Somebody up in Winnebago County, even further north with lake issues because of the ice damage that that occurred this year versus 01:23:20
drawdowns. 01:23:25
And yeah, I'm I'm getting. 01:23:30
Answers that yeah, you're already doing what you should be doing. 01:23:36
So that would include funding the station and continuing the funding of the station, right? They were shocked that we were doing 01:23:41
that. 01:23:44
Yeah, because they did that a while not even be funding the stations. 01:23:48
So what support is Jefferson County giving? 01:23:54
Right now. 01:23:56
Because they're on your list as being part of the part of the group. 01:23:58
And she's very, very interested in the storage part of it. 01:24:02
So they haven't committed nothing either then for this point? 01:24:07
Other than she's been a. 01:24:11
President at every meeting. 01:24:12
So similar role, probably what John's providing you. 01:24:15
For Dodge County. 01:24:18
John's per Surviving a touch more touch Mark. 01:24:20
Because the agendas, right? 01:24:25
Does he do the agendas? 01:24:27
Yeah, OK. 01:24:28
Robert Montgomery actually does the agendas. I just sent him out and coordinate the meetings. Oh, OK. 01:24:30
Thank you. 01:24:35
I have a question for Cameron. 01:24:38
Cameron, tell us about the funding for the 26 budget. How does the county view this? 01:24:40
This request how? 01:24:45
For conservation, are you getting any more money for conservation? Is this where it would be or is it? Would it be a different 01:24:48
department or where would this money come from? 01:24:51
I would consider this if this was to be a project. 01:24:56
It is. It's a, it's a conservation project. 01:25:01
And it wouldn't be allocated anywhere else. 01:25:04
That I can think of anything. 01:25:06
Yeah, the statute is for this. 01:25:07
I can tell you it would be. 01:25:12
When we have outside, outside. 01:25:15
Making requests. 01:25:18
Let me back up. 01:25:22
Depending on. 01:25:25
On how the dollars are used and the specific things that they will be used for. It could also be considered as a capital item, but 01:25:26
it would be a. 01:25:30
Could be an outside request. 01:25:34
And it would not have promised you over any of the other internal requests. 01:25:35
For fun. 01:25:40
OK, very broad. 01:25:43
All right. I would like to go ahead. At the Land and Water conference, there was a breakout session on some flooding in Dane 01:25:48
County. It wasn't the same. 01:25:53
It was. 01:25:58
Due to high grind water, groundwater and by a lake. 01:25:59
And some houses were flooded, some roads were flooded. And what Dane County did was they actually purchased the land. 01:26:03
From From the individual. From the individuals. 01:26:11
John and I just attended the southern area. 01:26:14
Association meeting. 01:26:17
Umm, Dane County, Amy was saying. There's. 01:26:20
Probably been there for 200 years, right? This farm on a place where no farm should ever be. Like, it's just horrible. Everything 01:26:25
runs into the river. 01:26:30
It's terrible. 01:26:34
And as soon as that place, if ever, becomes available, the county is going to purchase that as well. 01:26:36
I know the problem with this is though, there's 25,000 acres, right? I've said it's not. I'm just showing that the county does get 01:26:44
involved. 01:26:48
Ah, like this counts as that I call this a project, right? 01:26:53
Purchasing land isn't even referenced in the statute. 01:26:58
But. 01:27:03
Projects are. 01:27:04
I'd like to say some things from LSID. I serve as a commissioner, LSID and LSID with. 01:27:09
Has would like you guys to come and work with them. The up to this point there has not been a representative from your group and 01:27:15
LSID. LSID is trying to get caught up. They put out an open records request from all. 01:27:20
Entities that have been working with you and they found that your your organization does not have open records and was unable, 01:27:26
they were unable to get the records from your organization official records. There is no such official records. 01:27:32
Did we get 148? 01:27:39
Documents from the DNR. 01:27:41
And I think there was some other other organizations that we got some documents from. 01:27:43
The issue that LSID members just so the people in this room. I'm sorry, what is LSID? 01:27:47
LSID is the Lake District, Lake Sinnissippi the district. Thank you. I am a commissioner on it as part of this organization. It is 01:27:54
also in my district, District 9. 01:27:58
In Dodge County, it's about 700 homes on the lake. 01:28:04
There in town Hubbard Mobile. Smithson Town Hubbard. 01:28:09
The the issue here for if this is a very, very controversial. 01:28:12
Politically charged subject in the dam orders. Because what we're talking about here is changing. 01:28:18
The level of the lake. 01:28:25
For the people that live on the lake, as you probably could imagine, is very controversial. 01:28:26
Except can I make one comment? 01:28:32
Go ahead. We've stayed within the operating orders, OK. That's this whole project trying to determine that. So the the, the, the. 01:28:35
The people at in the LSID and LSA, the the other organization over there, their concern with shoreline erosion, the ice. 01:28:44
The recreational use of the lake. 01:28:54
And the view of the lake. 01:28:57
And the dam orders were changed within the within that range to have an earlier drawdown and and it it was not not. 01:28:58
It did not work well. 01:29:09
So the LSID. 01:29:10
Because worked with the village. 01:29:13
And John, you were at some of those meetings with the village of Hughesburg? Hughesford is over the dam. 01:29:15
Operating operating the dam. 01:29:21
And within the DNR. 01:29:23
I think it's 1952. You refer to that yours tonight. It's really old. He is correct in that. 01:29:26
But there, there it, it was not. It did not go over well changing the damn orders to having the the drawdown earlier. So the LSID 01:29:31
members made a a formal recommendation to the village of. 01:29:37
Houston spurred to change the orders within that range to be later in the year, in February, in February 15th. 01:29:44
The village? I'm confused. The village board passed the orders recommendation from LSID to February 15th, changing the lake level 01:29:51
at a later time. 01:29:56
So the other concern that LSID has so you know, is that, um. 01:30:02
We in our meeting last week was 2 village. Two people from the village were there. We had three other people from LSA. 01:30:08
The big concern? 01:30:15
From actually these people are actually afraid. 01:30:17
They're afraid that this group. 01:30:20
Well, strong arm, the DNR. 01:30:22
To manage the dam. 01:30:24
For their area when they don't have a say in it. 01:30:27
Umm, so that that that is the concern. So you have an organization that has no open records. 01:30:30
You have an organization that is trying to change, that is promoting politically to change the dam orders. 01:30:37
And then we're asking this county to submit money. 01:30:43
To support a political position. For that I understand there are other efforts. I am in support of their their first request very 01:30:47
much so. 01:30:51
But as an LSI D Commissioner. 01:30:56
Umm, it would be outrageous for me to support any group. 01:30:59
That is trying to politically. 01:31:03
A change. 01:31:06
The the operating orders to benefit people outside of the LSID area because these people and I do understand the flooding is 01:31:08
downstream, but dams are not designed and correct me if I'm wrong, John. 01:31:15
Dams are not designed to benefit the flooding or what is it? What is their purpose? Lake and Horican dams were not built to be 01:31:22
flood control dams. 01:31:28
There's a difference in their structure, whether they're a flood control or. 01:31:35
And operating control for they were originally built to run some mills or hydropowers and things like that. 01:31:40
If I were to vote for this today, I would be recalled by this afternoon. 01:31:47
No question. 01:31:51
I'm not sure why you're saying it's political. This sounded like a project that has been based on research. 01:31:53
And I know you just shook your head no, but it's based on research. 01:32:00
And scientific studies based on gauges we gave them, right? So this isn't like we just like, hey, let's do whatever. Like I don't 01:32:05
know what it's not Republican or Democrat. It's a it's a scientific. 01:32:11
They've been doing studies. Montgomery's an engineer. 01:32:18
And just remember that. 01:32:22
I'm no expert, but water law right is different. 01:32:24
You know 1. 01:32:28
Entity that owns water. 01:32:30
Also cannot decide because we want to put our boats here. 01:32:33
Thousands of acres downstream are going to get flooded and we're going to prevent that, right? So the whole point that I heard him 01:32:38
say was to get. 01:32:42
And maybe. 01:32:47
The Lake District needs to get included, but I didn't hear him say they were going to change the water, I heard him say throughout 01:32:48
his presentation. 01:32:52
We are doing this without changing the water. 01:32:55
The order, water dam, the order, we're not changing it. So there's like a disconnect between your meeting, like this group's going 01:32:58
to change us water and he's saying I'm working within the water. 01:33:03
So. 01:33:08
That's a communication issue. I don't disagree. I think maybe they need to be more informed or maybe they could go to a meeting, 01:33:09
but that's just completely incorrect. 01:33:14
It's incorrect. 01:33:20
They're saying they are working within. 01:33:21
The damn order. 01:33:24
And I believe him. 01:33:26
I've known inverters for years, but he's never said anything that I found to be untrue. That is, that is correct. They're working 01:33:28
with the damage, but there is flexibility within the damn order. And that is that is where the controversy is. And part of that 01:33:36
flexibility, right, is not just for the 70 how many homes, 707 hundred homes in one area, right? Because there are. 01:33:45
Other people in Dodge County. 01:33:53
Thousands, right, not just 700 that are getting affected by severe flooding. So I'm not saying that one side should prioritize the 01:33:55
other side. 01:34:00
But to say we're not going to try to even work together. And if you join a group that is trying to manage these different 01:34:05
interests, if you even join that group or listen to them, we're going to vote you out of office. 01:34:11
It's that's incomprehensible to me. This is a. 01:34:17
Multi jurisdictional problem. 01:34:21
And not no one jurisdiction can say this is what we want and screw the rest of you. 01:34:24
He can't do that. 01:34:30
Right. The difference is Beard and Lake has the same thing. I've been on that district. I was for 10 years, right. 01:34:36
Fishermen and the skiers want the lake up to here. 01:34:43
Other people want it drawn down for here. Actually the fisherman wanted to drawn down because it created better fishing. But. 01:34:46
You get my point Like. 01:34:53
This is not a one entity problem, it's multi jurisdictional. There's a lot of people. We don't represent just Sinnissippi, we 01:34:55
represent the whole county. 01:35:00
How can? 01:35:06
We say, well I have to do what my my section wants. 01:35:07
But I'm not going to care about the rest of the people in the county who are getting flooded out. 01:35:13
I'm not saying it's one versus the other, but it sounds like we're not going to do this, We're going to shut it down. 01:35:18
They haven't read this report. 01:35:25
They haven't read the reason. I guarantee you those folks have not read it. 01:35:27
But they're happy to say. 01:35:31
That they're not going to support somebody. 01:35:33
Who's going to what was the word? You just push them, force them. 01:35:36
They can't force Sinnissippi to do. 01:35:40
Anything. 01:35:43
Your comparisons be Brand Lake. 01:35:44
That means 7 inches. 01:35:46
Their damn motor was 2 feet. 01:35:48
And that's it. Makes a huge difference. 01:35:51
So the existing dam order. 01:35:53
And fluctuate 2 feet over there. 01:35:55
That is significant. 01:35:57
Beaver Dam Lake Order used to be much different in seven inches, so it's it was much greater and it got reduced. 01:35:59
I just, I'm just asking that we try to keep an open mind. 01:36:05
To do what's best for. 01:36:09
And I represent Beaver Dam. That doesn't mean I'm going to say that my district gets whatever they want. 01:36:12
If it negatively impacts more people outside of my district. Otherwise, how do we function as a committee for all of the people in 01:36:18
the county? 01:36:23
OK. Is there any other discussion on the? 01:36:33
Black River Group presentation request for funding. 01:36:36
Has there been, with all this flooding going on, obviously there's got to be something coming in there and losing some of your 01:36:40
capacity too. 01:36:44
Is that correct or I don't? 01:36:48
Believe. 01:36:51
I don't believe. 01:36:53
But we haven't looked at that. 01:36:54
I mean the the main. 01:36:57
Celting is in Sinnissippi from what I understand. 01:36:59
You know, and I think that's why there's raging. Yep, there's complaints up there because. 01:37:03
You know that I thought I heard that there was. 01:37:09
4 feet of water. 01:37:12
Now that that came from somebody that was on our group from up in that area. 01:37:14
I would like to make. 01:37:19
Not a rebuttal, but a comment to your open records deal. 01:37:21
On the on the. 01:37:25
Request. 01:37:26
At the Town of Lebanon meeting. 01:37:27
When we gave them an update 60 days ago. 01:37:29
I requested from the attorney. 01:37:33
That is on the group. 01:37:35
His comments on that? 01:37:37
I have a letter that I'll provide you to take back to Santa Sippy where he recommends that it is. You know, they weren't closed 01:37:39
meetings, they were open. 01:37:44
Open meetings that anybody can come to. 01:37:49
They were just looking for records, that's all. 01:37:53
Right. 01:37:55
They should have asked the people that were involved, they could have them all. 01:37:57
Fairly quick they can go down, they can probably get the last two years where the records down at the town of Lebanon if they 01:38:02
requested because they've all been. 01:38:06
Been sent to the chair, the clerk. 01:38:10
So John, the upper Rock River is like 2300 miles of. 01:38:14
Streams and creeks under what conditions with DNR assigned somebody and support this? 01:38:17
Financially. 01:38:23
So it's mostly counties you're talking about, Fond du Lac. 01:38:25
Dodge Jefferson. 01:38:28
Columbia. 01:38:30
A little bit of Washington, not much. 01:38:31
I don't know. That's another conversation with Mike Sorghi, I guess. 01:38:36
But maybe it shouldn't be the burden in two counties, it should be spread over. 01:38:42
Bigger swath. 01:38:47
Spread over what? A bigger? 01:38:49
Bigger number of counties, the bigger have the state look at it. 01:38:51
So you're not hampering one group or individuals. 01:38:54
Have to look at it holistically. What's the whole upper record we're going to look like? 01:38:59
20 years from now. 01:39:04
Well, I think that's what the UW Madison students are going to be. 01:39:05
In the two studies they're doing, that's what they're going to be looking at. 01:39:10
The state involvement. 01:39:15
Involving the state, the UW Madison students are going to be doing what that's what they're going to be looking at what what what 01:39:17
is going on with the Rock River and what is the future of it? 01:39:22
Yeah, I want to make it clear that I am very supportive of the county doing anything it can. 01:39:28
To help with the flooding of not only your properties, but any of the properties and and I am very supportive of the efforts that 01:39:37
John has done. 01:39:42
Supportive of you using our facilities. I'm supportive every way I can. I am personally I'm just not supportive of giving money to 01:39:47
a particular group. But far as like supporting like the gauge yes, I am supportive of things like that so that that is my position 01:39:55
as far as LSID they would like to work with with you and and and hoping that someone would maybe. 01:40:03
Come to our meetings and work with us. They would like that the. 01:40:11
Village of. 01:40:16
Hustisford has done that now. They sent the liaison to improve communications as the Lisa's point. I concur that there needs to be 01:40:18
an increase in communication. 01:40:22
So. 01:40:27
That is my position so. 01:40:29
Any other discussion on this? 01:40:31
Request for funding. 01:40:33
I guess I would. 01:40:34
Like to hear from Kim a little bit more? 01:40:37
On this and. 01:40:39
I kind of like to know what other municipalities got. 01:40:41
For teeth in the game too. 01:40:43
There's other money flowing in. 01:40:45
Or if there's a way that we could work together? 01:40:47
And getting some money and I this is a motion to a certain time. I don't know Robert's Rules. Can we go again? 01:40:49
Camera, do you know that? Can we go again? This is a motion to a certain time. The reason you put it, pushed it off to this month 01:40:56
is we're too late in the budget cycle last year. 01:41:01
So you wanted to get. 01:41:06
Decision made before the budget cycle started. 01:41:08
So if that's your choice, you want to talk to Kim next month, I mean that's you're still within the budget cycle. 01:41:12
So. 01:41:20
No, it's not OK. 01:41:23
So are you making a motion then? 01:41:24
I just got a question first. So is this funding for a group or for a project? 01:41:26
And I think that's what we need to get clarified. 01:41:33
With Kim. 01:41:35
And how it's gonna work? 01:41:36
OK, it's ton Lebanon's you're put through the way you're talking to. Everything's going through the town of Lebanon, everything, 01:41:38
and they're just something. 01:41:41
So can I address your question on the groups? 01:41:45
We figured out. 01:41:49
Originally, uh. 01:41:51
How much flooding were in these municipalities? Lebanon has the most it's in the 30. 01:41:52
Percent 30. 01:41:59
High 30% range. 01:42:00
Exonia is just a touch below that. 01:42:03
The town A huge town of Houston's Bird. 01:42:07
At the village. 01:42:11
Is the third one. 01:42:12
Asher Pins got about a percent or two. Not, you know, not very much the village. 01:42:13
Of the city of Hustisford as a percent or two. 01:42:18
To give you an idea. 01:42:22
We did. They disseminate. Lebanon disseminates the bills that come in and splits it out by a percentage. 01:42:23
Town of Lebanon holds. 01:42:31
The funding and and spreads it out when. 01:42:33
The bill comes for the USGS gauge. 01:42:37
They disseminate a bill out to all the parties involved. So you're seeing like village of uses Ford pays for some of it the town 01:42:39
Larry ladies 1% but out over those groups are paying against it, yes. 01:42:45
I have one last thing and then I'll be done, But 9207 is the Land Conservation Committee powers. 01:42:53
I've already. 01:42:59
Talked about flood prevention, flood prevention that's already in there. I'm not going to read that, but assistance is a separate 01:43:00
one and it's subsection 7. 01:43:04
Each land conservation committee in the name of the county. 01:43:09
May cooperate with. 01:43:12
Enter into agreements with. 01:43:14
Or furnish technical. 01:43:17
Financial. 01:43:19
Planning. Umm. 01:43:20
Or other assistance to any agency 1 governmental or. 01:43:21
Otherwise. 01:43:27
This is an otherwise or any landowner or land user. 01:43:29
Within the incorporated or unincorporated parts of the county in carrying out resource conservation operations and here's the key 01:43:34
works of improvement for flood prevention. 01:43:41
Or for the conservation. 01:43:48
Development, utilization and protection of soil and water resources within the county. 01:43:50
That's black and white. 01:43:58
So. 01:44:01
I can do a report on that, but that's the statute. 01:44:04
And I I don't understand why she's saying that we can't. 01:44:06
Because this is saying. 01:44:10
We can. 01:44:12
OK. So John, back to you. Do you want to make a motion then to a certain time? 01:44:15
Having waiting for a thorough analysis from Kim yes, I'll just saw move that we just. 01:44:20
Don't act on the funding part of this request. 01:44:27
Till next month, till we get. 01:44:30
Chance to talk to Kim one more time. 01:44:31
Then that way we can understand her. 01:44:33
Her reasoning? Lisa can. 01:44:35
You know. 01:44:38
We can get Lisa's opinion on it and. 01:44:39
And everything else and then I can't promise you'll be here that date, but we'll. 01:44:42
We'll try to get her here, but we won't have it until she's here. 01:44:47
You know, until kids here. Hopefully she can make it work. OK. OK. Do we have a second? 01:44:51
I'll second, OK Ken, second OK. Any any further discussion on we are making a motion to next month. 01:44:55
And we are asking Kim to give us a thorough analysis of the legality of of giving money to this. 01:45:02
Group of her opinion is the current structure does not allow this to happen. 01:45:08
For the county. 01:45:13
Under what organizational structure would she allow it? 01:45:14
You'll have to ask her that. I wouldn't. I can. 01:45:17
I think we'll just have to wait till she comes. Like I said, I'm not a lawyer. I am not. 01:45:20
I've never claimed that, so I'm just. 01:45:24
OK. Is any other discussion? 01:45:27
OK, all those in favor signify by saying aye aye those opposed. 01:45:29
OK. 01:45:33
Thank you, Steve. I guess we're coming back. I don't. I can't promise it'll be next month. Well, John, if you could put a request 01:45:34
in to Kim. 01:45:37
Just send it over there today and we'll put it on the agenda and see. But I don't want, I don't want it. If she's not here, she's 01:45:40
got to be here physically here. 01:45:44
If we could just, you know, either Rob Montgomery or I get notice. 01:45:48
Yes, yes, yes. I appreciate your people's time today. 01:45:52
I know it. 01:45:56
A little bit of a long discussion, but. 01:45:57
You know our groups. 01:45:59
And at this a long time and we're just. 01:46:01
We're trying to. 01:46:04
Solve a problem. 01:46:06
So thank you. OK, thank you. Thank you. 01:46:07
OK. You still wanted to land water video or is that OK? Everybody OK with that? 01:46:12
On farmland preservation update. 01:46:20
We've said that on the agenda last month, yeah. 01:46:23
OK. 01:46:33
We've been receiving our nuclear management plans of checklists and our our. 01:46:35
Annual payments. 01:46:41
For them so far. 01:46:42
So we've got 90% of the nutrient management plans in so far. So we're doing really good with that. 01:46:44
One question Lisa had last month she wanted to know. 01:46:50
Since our new land and water plan was rewritten and approved in 22. 01:46:54
How many more acres we have increased or decreased from farmland preservation? 01:47:00
We have increased 3565 acres since the land and water plan was rewritten in 22. 01:47:05
3001. 01:47:14
3565 acres. Thank you. 01:47:15
And our. 01:47:18
Land and water plan. 01:47:21
Specifically, does not. 01:47:23
Have a goal of increasing farmland preservation acres participation not perform the preservation our our annual. 01:47:26
Our annual work plan does. 01:47:36
Yeah, but not. 01:47:38
The the land and water plan, Are you sure that talks about increasing? 01:47:39
Cover crops increasing nutrient management plans and increasing. 01:47:45
Conservation. 01:47:50
Practices, but not necessarily fundament preservation. But our annual work plan always has a. 01:47:51
A goal of 2000 acres. Every year we change that to a percentage. 01:47:59
We had this discussion and we were like, well, what is 2000? And then we look, we talked about a percentage and my vague 01:48:04
recollection, I totally could be wrong. I think it was 10. 01:48:09
Maybe 15? 01:48:13
But it was not less than 10. 01:48:15
And I don't remember what plan it's in. Yeah, I'll look through them again, see if I can come up with. 01:48:17
You can just search for 10%. 01:48:23
It's my that's my recollection. 01:48:25
OK, Do you remember that? 01:48:29
Mr. Chair. 01:48:32
Vaguely like the percentage. 01:48:33
Yeah, So your goal, Lisa? 01:48:35
Prominent preservation for new demands and plans. 01:48:38
Because they don't have to go hand in hand. 01:48:41
I don't see why we wouldn't encourage both, right? They both relate to conservation. 01:48:44
I would encourage both. 01:48:49
I mean. 01:48:52
You have to have the nutrient plan to get the tax credit right. 01:48:53
Yes, they have to have that to get the tax credit. So I wouldn't think so. Farmland preservation already, everybody has to have a 01:48:57
nutrient management. So there's quite a big overlap. 01:49:02
But some they may have a plan and not belong to family preservation. I mean they may have. 01:49:08
Uh-huh. 01:49:14
My guess is you're less likely to file follow a plan. 01:49:14
And then not be in farmland preservation. Like if you got a plan and you're following, why wouldn't you want to get money for 01:49:20
that, right? Yeah. Otherwise you just do the plan, right? So. 01:49:24
Some people are anti government, you know. That's the only reason, OK. 01:49:28
Is there, can I ask John, is there any, any discussion on the funding of farmland preservation that you're aware of? 01:49:32
As far as less is our legally less funding for 26 or no that I believe that was that was approved in statute. So the payments now. 01:49:40
They're going to stay there until. 01:49:50
They potentially update the statutes are revising. 01:49:53
It's not, it's not a budgeting. 01:49:57
How many acres do you do you think, I think in your long term plan didn't you have a then you say like how many acres we how many 01:49:59
acres total do we have in farmland preservation? 01:50:03
There's roughly 360,000 acres of cropland. 01:50:08
In Dodge County. I'm sorry, how many? 01:50:14
360,000 Ballpark figure. 01:50:16
And just under half of that, we're at about 130,000 that is in farmland preservation. 01:50:21
So. But we've also got. 01:50:29
Townships that are not zoned, so they're not eligible for the program to begin with. 01:50:32
Two years ago. 01:50:38
We. 01:50:40
Did AG enterprise? 01:50:42
Zoning change for the Town of Westford. 01:50:44
And that allows them to be environment preservation, but they have to sign a 10 year contract. It's not a year to year like. 01:50:48
If they're already zoned from the preservation, it's a year to year thing. 01:50:55
You mean the individual landowner, right? OK. 01:50:59
Yeah. 01:51:01
OK. 01:51:05
Anything else on farmland preservation? 01:51:07
What is your number the 3565? Was that farmland preservation specifically or was it something else? 01:51:11
Farmland preservation, yeah. 01:51:16
The only two things that Dodge County has that requires A nutrient management plan is farmland preservation. 01:51:18
And our animal waste ordinance. 01:51:26
So if somebody has. 01:51:28
Nurse storage structure that was built under the ordinance. They're not in farmland preservation, not in a Township that zoned for 01:51:31
farmland preservation. 01:51:35
They still have to have a new two management plan because of the ordinance. 01:51:38
So our increase from 22 to 25 was less than 1% of our total acreage. 01:51:45
So. 01:51:51
It's just. 01:51:52
I don't know how, I don't have any answers, but it's just it's a very very small amount. 01:51:54
You know, I think talking with our staff members, I said it's the kind of thing you can't just e-mail. You have to go out in 01:51:58
person and sell it. 01:52:03
Yep, right. That it takes labor is what it I went to a conference and I sat in on that session specifically and the presenter was 01:52:07
phenomenal and he didn't sell anything. 01:52:13
Sorry, he didn't sell anything. He went there and he got to know the person. He asked about how many kids they have. 01:52:19
And just chitchatted and it's, I agree, it's extraordinarily time consuming. You know, I go in there and try to sell something, 01:52:26
they're going to flip me off like it's if it's building the relationship. 01:52:32
And offering resources and it's super time consuming. 01:52:39
But yeah, you're right if you go in and want to start selling. 01:52:44
Might as well have an Amway salesman, right? Go away. 01:52:48
Or Jehovah's Witness. 01:52:51
Can I offer some? Sorry. 01:52:55
There's some of that too where people are just anti government that OK, somebody's going to be watching me over every move I make 01:52:57
and they don't want to be controlled by that or whatever, so. 01:53:01
You're not gonna. 01:53:07
Yeah, I think it's. 01:53:10
Umm, kind of. Where are we along the adoption curve with some of these things? I mean, compared to like cover crops? 01:53:11
Nutrient management planning is way a higher percentage of land in the county. 01:53:18
Or across the state. 01:53:23
And. 01:53:25
Eat with cover crops and those things. It's all about like, OK, you've got your early adopters, you've got your middle adopters, 01:53:26
and then how do you get people beyond that? It gets increasingly difficult. 01:53:30
To to push beyond that, unless you're not saying that it should be required by any means. But then you get into things we're like, 01:53:34
OK. 01:53:38
You know there needs. 01:53:41
It's really hard to keep on pushing that percentage up year after year after year of adoption unless there's major changes made in 01:53:43
the way that these are all ruled out. 01:53:47
I saw it to Andrew on my way into work this morning. There are three fields that were that were hay fields that were just turned 01:53:53
over with mobile plow. 01:53:57
Just in the last couple of days, so. 01:54:02
What are those major changes? 01:54:04
Like you have the experience and. 01:54:06
I mean. 01:54:08
It's interesting because seeing the different programs, you know, I, I don't work a ton with nutrient management planning. That's 01:54:10
more kind of the conservation office. But like looking at what are the, the programs and what are the different ways that we can 01:54:15
get different conservation practices on the landscape, cover crops, no tail, blah, blah, blah. 01:54:20
Money is one way to do it, cost sharing, but I feel like we have also reached a bit of a plateau with that. I mean in our program 01:54:26
working with the. 01:54:30
Farmers group, it's often the same people year after year. 01:54:34
Or it's like one more, it's not this, you know, flushing people. It's so it's, is it not enough money? Is it 90 to $100.00 an acre 01:54:37
for carbon? 01:54:41
Things. That is the incentive that people need. 01:54:46
I mean, it's how people view the practice. It's like, well, I'm deriving a benefit from myself. A little bit of money doesn't 01:54:49
help. I'll do it. 01:54:53
If the people don't see the benefit in it, it needs to be a lot more money or it needs to be required, which I'm not saying that 01:54:57
it should be, but that's the type of thing that then pushes it further beyond the people that see the benefit for themselves in 01:55:01
that. 01:55:05
Education could be one way of. 01:55:10
You know, be teaching about how is this benefiting people. 01:55:13
But then that education is self selecting, right? If I host a workshop on the benefits of a nutrient management plan, who is going 01:55:16
to come? 01:55:19
The people that already have nutrient management. 01:55:23
And maybe one other person that would be that 1% that you're talking about. 01:55:26
And I can't force that education on people that don't want it, right. And so it's. 01:55:30
Part of it is how can we have those conversations? It's a one to one thing. But John going and having, you know. 01:55:36
A several week long conversation that convinces that one person to do that nutrient management plan over the year is that 1%. We 01:55:43
don't have enough staff. We don't have enough staff for that. So unless we have. 01:55:48
You know, even Dane County, who has tons of staff upstairs, well, for me, it's upstairs. 01:55:53
In their land and water program. 01:55:59
You know, it's a similarly sized county. There's more people, it's not that much more farmland. 01:56:01
But they have 20 people there and there's, you know, they have good coverage. They have a lot of land that's under county. 01:56:07
Ownership, They have a lot more money as a county, but still they struggle. 01:56:12
To do this because they don't have enough staff to push that further. 01:56:17
So that 1% is those individual conversations at this point? 01:56:20
Thank you. 01:56:25
Education and motivation. 01:56:27
To get people to go ahead and do the conservation practices. 01:56:29
So it's pretty sure 50% for nutrient management. 01:56:33
Between the association and district at Beaver Dam, there's 16 commissioners. 01:56:36
Three of the 16 have buffers on their property. 01:56:42
18%. 01:56:45
So they're educated into the purpose of the buffers. 01:56:47
They just have been motivated to do it. 01:56:51
Yeah, it's it's no different with lake people versus farm people are people. You know, you can, you can preach all you want, but. 01:56:53
Some you're just not going to hit no matter what you do. 01:57:02
OK. Update on tree sales. 01:57:08
OK. I just run through the financials. I sent that to you in your packet. Basically the net gain this year was $7882. 01:57:11
We don't do this as a fundraiser. 01:57:21
And every year is different depending on the cost of trees and how many trees we sell. 01:57:24
This does not include staff time or anything like that. 01:57:29
Never has. I mean, we've, we've been as low as around $3000 in some years so. 01:57:35
Is there like farmland preservation? Is there a way? 01:57:42
That we could try to increase that or how would we do that? Because you mentioned other counties a similar size, so a lot more 01:57:45
trees is there? Well, I know Columbia County sells little over twice what we sell, but they've got a lot more forested land. 01:57:52
In Columbia County than we do. 01:57:59
Well, that makes a difference. There's there's several counties that sell, they're happy to sell 5000 trees. 01:58:01
You know, so I, I think we're doing pretty good. 01:58:07
I could go back in and and look to see how we started out. I think when we initially started we were in that 5 to 8000 trees when 01:58:11
we first started in 1920 years ago. 01:58:16
Oh, we're staying around that 2022. 01:58:21
It bounces up and down every year. 01:58:26
Just as a highlight I we bought some trees about. 01:58:30
Probably 1520 years ago as. 01:58:33
And now they're 20 feet 30 feet tall. 01:58:36
Yeah, if you can get them out of the reach of the deer, they all do pretty good. 01:58:43
We're selling a lot more tree tubes too. I mean, this year we sold over 4600 tree tubes this year. 01:58:48
That makes me just been doing that. This is our third year I think. 01:58:55
Yeah, that makes sense. 01:58:59
So OK, discuss possible research projects on Dodge County. 01:59:00
Airport Farm. 01:59:06
OK, as Will said earlier, I. 01:59:08
We sat down and just had some more conversations. 01:59:13
Dave, Trolley and Cameron. 01:59:17
And these are some options that we've come up with on the farm. Umm. 01:59:19
It's a. 01:59:28
Difficult situation, I know. 01:59:29
It came about because we did the farm the county tour down Rock County and Rock County's got a. 01:59:32
Very long term experimental farm, research farm going on down there, but they have all the equipment they need right there. 01:59:40
UW had invested in that equipment many years ago, and it stays right there. 01:59:48
To do something like that up here. 01:59:55
We're struggling with how that would work, so these are some options that we kind of discuss. 02:00:00
To get our feet in the door with the project and then we can always adjust it down the road. 02:00:05
First one, status quo crops. 02:00:13
Cover crop plant in good faith. 02:00:15
Lease agreement, land bid, bid it out, you know, continuing on what we're doing right now. 02:00:18
Second options turning into a demonstration farm. I'll have a lease agreement. 02:00:24
Land is put out for bids. Farmer must use certain conservation practices where we would dictate you have to do this, you have to 02:00:29
do this. 02:00:33
Sauk County does that on some of their. 02:00:37
On some of their county farm. 02:00:40
Third option. 02:00:44
Demonstration farm with control plots. So he put out on these lands, put out on bids. Farmers have to use certain conservations. 02:00:45
And then we would still have. 02:00:53
Part of it would be conventionally tilled, part of it would be would would be no till with cover crops. 02:00:56
And then we would do the research out there. 02:01:02
For long see the long term changes on the soil. We also had conversations of. 02:01:07
Would the operator be willing to open up his financial records for that farm? Do we put that in the lease as a requirement? Is 02:01:12
that going to restrict who is willing to? 02:01:17
Put a bid in on F. 02:01:23
Why do you need that again for the research? 02:01:24
Well, I don't understand why if you're promoting, if you're promoting no till and cover crops, what is the resistance? Why doesn't 02:01:27
John Krause want to do no till and cover crops? 02:01:32
Is it a financial reason? 02:01:37
Well, let's show the financial. 02:01:39
Let's open the books up. 02:01:41
What did it cost? 02:01:42
What was your? What was your inputs? What were your outputs? 02:01:44
Do you need that for the research or it's help? It's one part of the research, OK, It's an often an economic argument is like 02:01:48
well. 02:01:52
Why would I plant cover cots that cost me money? I don't know anything from it. 02:01:56
So let's just show that it's financially umm. 02:01:59
Beneficial. Well, I just did show what is it? 02:02:02
Rather than trying to promote it, it's like, OK, if this is an argument, like what is the research show based off the economics of 02:02:05
it, That's proof of whether or not that's benefit. 02:02:09
That's not a necessity, but it helps to. 02:02:15
Give the fuller picture. 02:02:19
Yeah. 02:02:21
And to what extent would that look like, would it be the farmer needs to open their books? Maybe not, but keep a record of the 02:02:22
cost of of it for that specific farm. OK, that makes more sense. Right. Yeah. Yeah. I just missed the farm. I wasn't talking. 02:02:28
All the books I'm like, I don't get away. 02:02:34
Because it was confusing. You said open all the books. How much did you pay for that refrigerator? 02:02:40
The next proposal is. 02:02:51
Option 4 is to call for proposals. OK, put it out there. 02:02:55
To where? 02:02:58
This lands available. 02:03:00
You put a bid to us. What are you willing to do? What do you want to showcase if you're operating this farm? 02:03:01
We would have to reserve the rights to refuse all proposals. 02:03:10
If we did that. 02:03:14
I don't know what we would get if we went that route. 02:03:17
Yeah, get somebody willing to come in there, do something. How are you advertising this? 02:03:21
I'm just saying like these are just. 02:03:26
We're not even at that phase. No, no, but it matters, right? Because if you're just going to put something in for Dodge County #4 02:03:28
won't ever work, right? So like. 02:03:32
If you get somebody who's. 02:03:37
Well, they have to use their own equipment because we're not buying equipment, so. 02:03:39
You can't get somebody far away. Not necessarily. It would be just for farmers in Dodge, right? 100% right. OK yeah, for farmers 02:03:43
that have no one would come in from even if they own land in Dodge County. 02:03:49
You know, Scott Schultz on the Dodge County Jefferson board, there's not going to drive all the way up to Juneau. 02:03:55
I just, I don't know, I mean. 02:04:01
I guess like you say that. 02:04:04
You could do it if you could refuse. 02:04:06
And I think part of this. 02:04:10
Option. The appeal of it is. 02:04:12
Then we're not requiring things. 02:04:14
In the lease, it's the farmer submitted. Farmers come up with the ideas themselves, so it's grassroots. 02:04:17
Rather than us saying this is what you should be doing. 02:04:23
And so people can get creative with it, OK? 02:04:26
And I think that we could have this process before we would normally go out for. 02:04:29
What the timing is forbid. So if it's we don't get anything good out of this. It's all. 02:04:34
Not. 02:04:39
Great. We like OK, none of this works. We can then put it out for business, but you would have normally done. I see. 02:04:40
Yeah. So it's not. It's in addition. Yeah. So and it would supersede the original call for bids in that way the farmer would put 02:04:45
together. Here's how much I'm willing to pay for this. And here's my idea for what I would do with this land. 02:04:52
And then if it's like, OK, that's great, it's 180 bucks an acre, They're gonna do all these control plots. Look at weed management 02:04:59
in this space. 02:05:04
Then the farmers. 02:05:10
Proposing this themselves, they're much more likely to do it. 02:05:12
Than if we're like dictating. 02:05:15
And then that is also in the lease that would be drawn up. 02:05:17
So I personally think that this is a really interesting option. 02:05:20
Never heard of anyone doing it like this before. 02:05:23
Especially with that land. 02:05:26
With like county owned land. 02:05:28
But it could also fall apart. 02:05:31
But we have a backup. 02:05:33
The other stuff. 02:05:35
The other stuff. 02:05:36
And then the last option is the county. 02:05:39
Would just manage a farm and then. 02:05:42
Everything that needs to be done, you'd have to hire somebody to do it. 02:05:46
So I'd have to hire somebody to come in and plant it, have to hire somebody to come in and spray it, have to hire somebody come in 02:05:50
and. 02:05:53
Harvested. 02:05:57
It was a lot in betweens 2. There's a lot in between and I don't know if you're gonna fear. 02:06:00
Paying custom rates for all this stuff, I don't know if you're going to make any money. 02:06:06
Doing that, yeah. 02:06:10
So those are the options that we come up with so far. 02:06:12
Cameron and Dave have not seen this yet, so we need to sit down with them again and see. 02:06:16
So is that a goal? To make money? 02:06:21
Well. 02:06:24
It's nice if you can, I mean. 02:06:25
Wouldn't this be in addition to other plots? Wouldn't this be in addition to other stuff they have? 02:06:28
What do you mean other stuff they have? 02:06:34
Like this wouldn't be their only farm. 02:06:36
Right. I think they're gonna have 10, right? 10. The goal was to have 10 when we went to that this last summer wasn't her last 02:06:39
year, 10 what? 1010 different farms, right? Was these? 02:06:44
All what what they're she's asking that there's other farms that do other things. You know that's what she's asking. No, I was 02:06:49
saying the person that buys this obviously has other. 02:06:54
Property. Yeah, yeah, yeah. OK. Because they would have to have all the equipment. If they don't have any property, they don't 02:06:59
have the equipment, they're not gonna run it. All right, Yeah, OK. This would be in addition, this would be farmland that they 02:07:02
would be running in addition to their farm. 02:07:06
Right. 02:07:10
And. 02:07:12
I think that there's. 02:07:14
Especially this number four option. It doesn't have to be the whole farm. 02:07:16
Right. It could be differently structured. We could pull out 2040 acres of that we had initially designated as this is going to be 02:07:20
the farm. 02:07:24
And then also do separately for the for the other parts of the file. OK, so that could be an option as well. 02:07:28
Or if it's more enticing for the farmer. 02:07:34
To say we're going to do this 2040 acre piece right along the highway. 02:07:37
Outside of the. 02:07:43
The airport. 02:07:44
That's where I'm going to do these experiments because it's right there, it's visible. 02:07:46
And then the rest of the farm, I'm going to run it. If that's the enticement for them to be able to do the research, then you know 02:07:50
that's also an option too. 02:07:54
There's a lot of flexibility in that number four option that I think is really interesting. Dave came up with the idea. 02:07:58
My thing about option 4. 02:08:04
I'm accusing you. I like option 4 too, but I do think you should have a earlier deadline for that exactly. If anybody you can go 02:08:08
to a different one. 02:08:11
That is that. 02:08:15
I did send this to you, David Cameron, I think. 02:08:17
Last week, OK, yeah, yes, this same thing. Yes, exact same thing. It has not changed. 02:08:20
100% that is the idea. So when would this normally go out for bids? 02:08:25
This land probably July be posted. 02:08:31
I'm guessing yeah, for next year, yeah. 02:08:33
Yeah. So we would do this beforehand. 02:08:37
Trying to wrap up this process or. 02:08:39
What's that? I like option four. I think it's gonna be too hard to do something with 1-2 and three. 02:08:43
The one you wouldn't have no hard time, but two and three definitely be hard and. 02:08:48
I mean, I'd even consider 5. 02:08:52
Yeah, I think 5 is doable, yeah. 02:08:55
I think doing through your out in my opinion. 02:08:58
Oh, interesting. 02:09:01
I think we I think 1/4 and 5:00. So we also have, you know, we also have a really strong farmer LED group. 02:09:02
And those, those guys aren't poor, right? And so. 02:09:09
They might very well. 02:09:13
I mean, am I off that one of those guys might be interested in being part of a research project because? 02:09:15
At this point, it's not just about money. I mean, like that's their huge pet project and one of them could just jump in on that if 02:09:21
they want it. But. 02:09:25
It's going to be time, but the point is like limiting factors. I agree with you but we don't say it's out. We make an option to 02:09:29
whichever one of these on top. We make option 2 if you want to start with. 02:09:34
I don't know. 02:09:41
I you know more about this than I do, I don't know. 02:09:43
If I had to put forward a recommendation, it would be. 02:09:45
Start with option 4, see what we get. 02:09:49
Make sure we wrap that up with enough time to put together the other option as a backup. 02:09:51
And then it's either. 02:09:56
I'm not saying I'm not comparing Dodge to Dane County, but Dane County owns land and they rent it out with stipulations. You have 02:09:58
to do cover crops and no till. 02:10:02
And that is a lot of land in the county is run like that. 02:10:06
A lot of that is then transitioned over into. They put it into permanent cover eventually, but some of that is always wrong as 02:10:10
farmland. 02:10:13
So that would be option. 02:10:18
To not saying that that's what we have to do here. Other counties do do that though. 02:10:20
We want to make a decision on this today. Is that correct? 02:10:24
No, this is where we're at right now. Fine. 02:10:27
So it would be not this July, the following July or would it be this? No, this is just coming July. We'd have to make a decision 02:10:31
so. 02:10:35
We would have to come up with which option we want here and then we'd have to meet with the highway department. 02:10:39
Present it to them because currently they're the ones that put it out on bids. 02:10:45
Well, the prospective renter want to know what the soil conditions are of the property. 02:10:51
I believe we have a nutrient management plan from. 02:10:58
24. 02:11:03
Last couple of years maybe. 02:11:07
How long are the leases? 02:11:10
Five year, last one was 5. 02:11:12
Yeah, yeah. 02:11:14
And it doesn't have to be by the stock meal that. 02:11:18
Something else? 02:11:24
I would say 3 minimum though, yes. 02:11:25
Yeah, to get someone to commit to do all this, it should be at least three. 02:11:33
Yeah. 02:11:37
Because it'll be a big commitment. 02:11:39
Depending. Yeah. Like you're just gonna roll and slam bam and in and out. 02:11:42
You know nobody wants that. 02:11:46
There's a few of them out there that do that. 02:11:50
Yeah. And Lisa, to your point of? 02:11:53
That farmers group, it's also depending on where they are in the county. Right, right. Like it's really going to be the people 02:11:57
right around Juneau. Exactly. Yeah, that. And there have been some that have expressed interest, but we're also, you know, trying 02:12:01
to think who would do this, you know, obviously. 02:12:05
Proximity is really important. Yeah, it is. So Dale is not going to roll down the road with his equipment. 02:12:10
Nope. 02:12:15
It would be funny. 02:12:19
OK. Any other discussion on the Dodge County? 02:12:23
Farm Airport. 02:12:26
Timetable. When do you want to make these decisions? I mean next month? 02:12:29
Yeah. So we'll sit down, talk some more. 02:12:36
Bring a recommendation to you guys next month and. 02:12:40
See what you think. 02:12:42
OK. 02:12:44
OK, update on conservation projects. 02:12:46
All righty, I've had. 02:12:49
Doing some workout, the county fairgrounds, they get that drainage just going down through. 02:12:52
So we put a couple Rock Line crossings to go through that so they can drive equipment through there when they're mowing and stuff 02:12:57
so they don't have to go all the way around. 02:13:01
So that's been going on. 02:13:05
Had one Well that's been abandoned so far. 02:13:08
We're currently working on two different grazing plans. 02:13:13
Three different critical area seatings. 02:13:17
And three different waterways. 02:13:22
Got a couple other well abandonments that were in conversations with one other Contract signed on. 02:13:24
And then working on a feed leachate. 02:13:30
Runoff system, I don't know how much we're going to be involved, but there's a been a farm that had a runoff complaint and the DNR 02:13:33
got involved, they got issued an nod so. 02:13:38
We've been working with them to help come up with solutions out there on that site. 02:13:43
OK, Committee reports. 02:13:55
For the Lake Districts. 02:13:58
Lake Sinnissippi met last week. 02:14:01
513. 02:14:04
The most important discussions were regarding the lake management plan. We. 02:14:06
Discussed and unanimously approved. 02:14:11
Vendor called Hay and Associates. 02:14:13
For the Lake Santa Sippy survey, that's been in our plan for. 02:14:15
And that. 02:14:21
That phases 1 and 2 will be done before annual meeting and then the final phase will be done next, next after that after annual 02:14:23
meeting in August. So that that's a big deal. 02:14:27
We received an update on the feasibility study for the lake inland dredging and that that would be up near Oxbow Marine and we're 02:14:33
getting a study with estimates and costs and engineering and we'll have that at our annual meeting. 02:14:40
That that's something we worked on for a while too. 02:14:47
The our our group, as I had reported a few months ago, we had paid for the USGS water monitoring equipment to be installed on 02:14:51
different parts of the lake or to get different measures of the lake level because the only official lake level was at the houses 02:14:57
for dam. 02:15:03
So we have different ones anyway. The USGS once now has one. 02:15:08
In I think it's right near the dam. It even has a camera on it. They showed it a live view kind of cool. So that that's installed. 02:15:13
We'll be looking at for our fish stocking. We're going to be changing our mix to include this next year on the fall northern Pike 02:15:23
and walleye. 02:15:26
And fewer bluegill to change that up. 02:15:30
Trying to get some game fish in the lake. 02:15:34
And Chris reported that we did. We paid for a. 02:15:37
An addition 16 foot addition to one of the docks is called the Spearhead Dock and that was installed. 02:15:43
That's that's really. 02:15:50
Most of what was in the. 02:15:51
Beaver Dam. 02:15:54
Of the Dean Our fishery group will present a multi year plan to the lake on May 29th. 02:15:56
This is after the past year or so going through with them and. 02:16:02
The Carp in Buffalo management. 02:16:06
In support of that, we have received a permit for the unlike exposure. 02:16:10
The warden, the permit specialists, water quality specialists and fish biologists have agreed to. 02:16:17
The placement in the construction. 02:16:22
It's currently out for a 30 day notice. 02:16:24
The Lake districts have collaborated. 02:16:28
And put together a. 02:16:31
Long term plan. The county is going through that analysis now. 02:16:34
And we have recommendations for presented to Nate Will Nate Olson. 02:16:39
What we'd like to see for lakes in the open waters. 02:16:44
One of the initiatives, for example, is. 02:16:48
Along the. 02:16:51
Town of Fox Lake we are three trial areas to put native plants. 02:16:53
So the area by Beaver Dam Lake is any wetland. 02:16:57
That currently has just turf grass going from the road. 02:17:02
Into the. 02:17:06
Turf grass and then into the wetland. 02:17:08
So we're looking to take a couple 100 feet of that out. 02:17:10
Put native planning in there, which gives you deeper roots. 02:17:13
And it avoids grass cutting. 02:17:16
By the town. 02:17:19
So it'll be a benefit to hopefully cut costs for the future for them. 02:17:20
Every 10 years, burn it out and receded. 02:17:25
And then at the same time allow the deeper roots to manage the water flow into that wetland. 02:17:28
We did have. 02:17:36
Nate Feel, the Beaver Dam town manager. 02:17:38
City Manager. 02:17:41
Notice gave his notice last week. That's very unfortunate. 02:17:43
He's been transitioning from the mirror. 02:17:47
To the. 02:17:49
Executive Staff Group over the past year and a half. 02:17:51
And he'll be sorely missed. 02:17:55
The Dodge County water specialists were DNR Francesca Sanchez. 02:17:57
Has been reassigned for different county. 02:18:01
And we'll get a new water specialist starting in June in Dodge County. 02:18:04
That we have had over the past three years a. 02:18:08
A number of people through that position. 02:18:11
And it requires us to help them learn the county. 02:18:14
And learn the different waterways here because each permit requirement. 02:18:18
Is a little different. 02:18:21
Tomorrow we have the NRC engineer, Mr. Glassmaker, joining us. 02:18:25
Looking at 2 point sources on the West side of Beaver Dam Lake. 02:18:29
1 is a culvert. 02:18:33
That leads into the lake. 02:18:34
Draining a couple of farming fields. 02:18:37
And we have a clap stitch way we like to see his input on to give us some ideas of how to correct them. 02:18:39
So. 02:18:46
You deal. 02:18:48
Fox League meeting took place. 02:18:51
Not sure when but I did not attend. I was too busy planning. 02:18:54
So. 02:18:58
I missed the meeting. 02:18:58
There has been some emails that I've read though the city of Fox Lake. 02:19:00
Has approved a week full ordinance. 02:19:04
So because of that. 02:19:08
That district has. 02:19:10
Ordered signs so they're being made as we speak. 02:19:12
And they also wanted to give a monetary thank you. 02:19:16
To John Richter and the Wilderness Alliance for all the help that they have done. 02:19:20
OK, going to upcoming events. 02:19:29
John, you got dairy breakfast at June 1. 02:19:34
That'll be out at the. 02:19:37
Lemon Dust Gary up by Fox Lake. 02:19:39
I'm not sure where the Agri business. 02:19:43
Dairy brunch. 02:19:46
Yeah, trying to think what the name of the road is, but it's just just east of Walmart. 02:19:52
OK. And then our Southern area tour will be in Jefferson County in September this year. 02:19:58
September 4th, you said yes. 02:20:07
OK, next meeting. 02:20:14
Scheduled for June 23rd 830. Everyone OK with that? 02:20:15
I probably won't be here. Basketball camp. 02:20:20
Basketball camp that week. 02:20:22
Maybe on vacation? 02:20:24
We want to change the meeting. 02:20:26
Committee. 02:20:28
Yeah, we can. We can, they were thinking. 02:20:30
I can do the following Monday. 02:20:37
30th the 30th I can't do the prior ones. 02:20:39
I'm OK with that. 02:20:48
John. 02:20:51
Would check the room. You think it would probably oh, it should be open. Is that something? Sure. It's a 5 Monday month, right? 02:20:52
Yeah, So it's kind of unusual. So I would think it would be open. 02:20:57
OK. OK. Is a consensus of the committee to meet on the 30th, is that OK? 02:21:02
Then is that going to work for you? Then that should be fine. 02:21:06
Lisa that there everybody network. 02:21:09
30th. 02:21:11
OK, so the next meeting will be? 02:21:12
30th OK. Any future items on that agenda? 02:21:16
We already have two. 02:21:20
From today's meeting, can you just say what they are? 02:21:21
The two are we're going to relook at the flood group and we are going to discuss the. 02:21:23
Farm the research farm. 02:21:30
Those are the two items that came that we said we're going next month. 02:21:33
I have a question about the private wealth study. Is that is that guy gonna come and brief us? 02:21:37
I'll get ahold of him, he. 02:21:42
I would think he'd have it ready by next month. 02:21:44
Because we have to do that this summer, right? That to find out, decide what we're going to do. Yeah, that'll be part of the 02:21:48
budgeting. So, yeah. 02:21:51
Yeah, I'll get ahold of. 02:21:55
Of Kevin so if we can have him come we're gonna have him come here 1st and then we're gonna have him go to the county board right 02:21:56
that was to give up the. 02:22:00
The year, the trends. 02:22:04
Any other future agenda items? 02:22:07
OK, hearing none, I call the meeting adjourned by completion of the agenda. 02:22:10