Price County Tourism/Forestry and Parks Committee

Minutes of Regular Monthly Meeting

December 7, 2011

Extension Conference Rooms A & B, Normal Building,  Phillips, WI

 

Chairman Ron Heikkinen called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.

 

Roll Call:  Ron Heikkinen, John Walasek, Larry Palecek, Bob Rogalla and Jay Janssen.   

 

Also Present:  Pete Bartelt, Eric Holm, Corey Verdegan and Linda Hertig, Price County Forestry and Parks Department; Kyle Schmidt, DNR; Pat Beringer, Laine Stowell, DNR and Gail Huycke, UW Extension.

 

Public Comment and Correspondence – Forestry and Parks:

Included in the committee’s packet was the following:

John Walasek asked a question about MFL.

 

Vouchers:  Motion by Rogalla/Walasek to approve Forestry and Parks Expenditure Vouchers 42-11 to 45-11 in the amount of $21,446.27; Cash Bond Voucher 04-11 in the amount of $7,618.00; Payroll Vouchers 23-11 to 24-11 in the amount of $16,156.96 and Journal Entry 11-11 in the amount of $1,511.49.  Total amount:  $46,732.72.    Motion carried.   

 

Award Timber Sale Bids:  Motion by Rogalla/Palecek to approve and accept the highest bid for Timber Sales 15-11 to 26-11.  Motion carried.

Since Tract PC27-11 had no bids submitted on it, a motion was made by Walasek/Palecek to let the first person to offer the minimum price, be awarded the sale.  Walasek then withdrew the motion as it was decided that Timber Sale PC27-11 will be re-advertised with the spring sales. 

 

Elk Range Expansion:  Laine Stowell, DNR, gave a presentation about the expansion and was looking for County support on it.  The committee decided to place it on the next meeting’s agenda for a vote.

 

Access Permits:  11-38-1W, 7-34-2W, 1-38-1W:  Motion by Palecek/Walasek to approve all permits as presented.  Motion carried.

 

Request for Internal Promotions—Forest and Parks Administrator and Assistant Forest and Parks Administrator:  Motion by Rogalla/Janssen to support the request for internal promotions and forward to the Personnel Committee for their support.  Motion carried.

 

Administrator’s Report: Chairman Heikkinen accepted the Forest and Parks December 1, 2011 Administrator’s Report.

 

Approve minutes of Tourism/Forestry and Parks meeting of November 8, 2011:  Motion by Janssen/Palecek to approve the minutes as presented.   Motion carried.

 

Next Meeting Date:  February 8, 2011 at 9:00 A.M. in UW Extension Conference Rooms A & B, Normal Building, Phillips, WI.   If there needs to be a meeting in January, it will be held January 4, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.

 

Hertig turned over minute taking to Reinhard at 10:30 a.m. Following a brief break, the meeting resumed.  

 

Tourism Public Comments and Correspondence: none     

 

Tourism Vouchers: Motion by Janssen/Palacek to approve vouchers in the amount of $ 6,379.9. Motion carried.

 

Monthly Tourism Budget Report: The monthly budget report was reviewed. 

 

Tourism Directors Report: Chairman Heikkinen accepted the Tourism Director’s Report.

 

Adjourn: Motion by Palacek /Walasek to adjourn the meeting at 11:02 A.M.  Motion carried. 

 

Respectfully submitted by: Linda Hertig, Forestry & Parks Forestry Assistant/Bookkeeper and Kathy Reinhard, Tourism Director

 


 

 

 

 

Administrator’s Report

December 1, 2011

 

Revenue and Expenditure Reports for November will be handed out at the meeting.

 

Petty cash fund balance as of November 30, 2011:  $92.44

October stumpage being charged interest:  $0.00

Timber revenue October 31, 2011- $979,876 October 31, 2010 - $1,027,187

 

  1. We have 6 active timber sales.  The weather is too warm to assist logging contractors with freezing logging roads.
  2. The epoxy floor has been completed at the Smith Lake shower/toilet building.
  3. Forestry, Tourism, Buildings and Grounds, and Friends of Fred Smith is meeting to discuss our working relationship regarding Wisconsin Concrete Park.
  4. We have begun work on our spring timber sales.  We continue working on improving access to the sales.
  5. Ray is working on restoring some of the wagon wheels at Wisconsin Concrete Park.
  6. The Ruffed Grouse Society will be providing funds to redo the Skinner Creek Ruffed Grouse Management Area.
  7. I am working with Congressman Duffy’s Office on legislation to attempt to get some timber cut on the National Forests.
  8. We investigated someone cutting birch poles based on a tip received from a logger.
  9. I filed three complaints with the Sheriff’s Department regarding illegal ATV activity.  One citation is being issued and the others are on-going investigations.
  10. We contacted the Town of Ogema to see if they are interested in maintaining the off right-of-way signs for Timm’s Hill.  If not we will remove them.
  11. We are soliciting quotes for garbage pickups in the Parks for 2012.
  12. We will be preparing the park caretaker contracts for 2012, things will remain the same with the exception of the Smith Lake contract being issued to Myrna Hilgart.
  13. We have been granted a lease agreement from Wisconsin Central to permit a snowmobile trail crossing on the recently permitted timber access by Holy Cross.  The Northwoods Hi-Riders Snowmobile Club provided the necessary funds.

 


 

 

AGENDA NOTES & TOURISM DIRECTOR’S REPORT DECEMBER 7, 2011

 

 

Public Comments & Correspondence: There is no correspondence enclosed.

 

Monthly Financial Report: The report is enclosed for your review (buff paper).

 

International Trade Business and Economics Committee: The minutes from the October 3, 2011 meeting are enclosed for your review (yellow paper).  A copy of our newest brochure was given to each county board supervisor along with a cover letter.

 

Friends of Fred Smith: The promotion and education committee is meeting monthly. A schedule of upcoming events is enclosed for your review.  I assist in planning and promotion, but do not attend the classes.      

 

Travel Wisconsin and Picture the Fun Free Media: Two Price County attractions, the Concrete Park and Timm’s Hill; two Price County restaurants, Chequamegon Canoe and Coffee Company and Hill of Beans Coffee Shop; and two Price County lodging facilities, Hidden Valley Inn and Resort and Palmquist Farm were featured in one of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s (WDT) autumn media blasts. A copy of the itinerary that was sent to the media, featured on the WDT website and picked up by American Road magazine on-line is enclosed for your review.  

 

Price County Travel Companion: A black & white proof will be available the first week in December and the color proof will follow shortly after that. The publication will be ready for distribution in early 2012. We will receive 7,500 copies for distribution and 30,000 copies will be distributed in the February/March issue of Northern Action magazine. This will target travelers at a time when they are still planning winter vacations and during the peak of spring and summer pre-planning time.  

 

Wisconsin Snowmobile News: The 2011-2012 cooperative Wisconsin Snowmobile News publication advertisement is enclosed for your review. The ad runs December, January and February. The publication is distributed to snowmobile club members throughout the Midwest. Our department invests $2,000 in the ad and individual advertisers pay $246 per space to participate in the three month run.

 

Inquiry Packets Mailed/Calls Received/Website Access:  Enclosed for your review are the statistics for packets mailed, calls received and website access (gray paper).  These statistics assist us in planning and timing future marketing and advertising campaigns.