Price County Tourism/Forestry and Parks Committee

Minutes of Regular Monthly Meeting

May 4, 2011

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

Chairman Ron Heikkinen called the meeting to order at 8:00 A.M.

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

Also Present:  Pete Bartelt, Eric Holm and Linda Hertig, Price County Forestry and Parks Department; Kyle Schmidt, DNR; Kathy Reinhard, Tourism Department.

Public Comment and Correspondence – Forestry and Parks:

Included in the committee’s packet were the following:

• Revised copy of Public Record Notice adding 2 sentences per the County Clerk’s office, highlighted in yellow.
• Email from Jane Severt, Exec. Director, WCFA concerning AB 99.
• Copy of a letter from Scott Walker, Governor to Secretary Kenneth Salazar concerning wolves.
• Copy of an announcement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerning wolves.

Pete passed out the following:

• Letter to the Town of Elk regarding the Forestry Department assisting them with a fishing pier.
• Email from Bob Rogalla concerning the date of the Forestry meetings.
•  A sealed envelope was opened and it contained a letter from Smith Logging complimenting the Forestry Department as being good to work with and also supporting the dozer work that is done by the department of freezing roads for Timber Sales.  Larry Palecek would like to see all County Board members get a copy.

Vouchers:  Motion by Palecek/Walasek to approve Forestry and Parks Expenditure Vouchers 11-11 to 13-11 in the amount of $5,638.12; Payroll Vouchers 08-11 and 09-11 in the amount of $16,780.92; and Journal Entry 04-11 in the amount of $5,251.70.  Total amount:  $27,670.74 Motion carried. 

Timber Sale Bid Opening:  Motion by Palecek/Walasek to approve and accept the highest bid for Timber Sales 01-11 to 14-11.  Timber Sale 15-11 will be re-advertised with the fall sales.  Motion carried.

Approve Access Agreement, 13-36-2W:  Motion by Walasek/Palecek to approve the permit as presented.  Motion carried.

Approve request for Payroll Activity:  Motion by Palecek/Walasek to approve and forward to Personnel.  Motion carried.

Approve specifications for Big Falls Shelter Roof:  Motion by Walasek/Palecek to approve, with the addition as proposed by John Walasek and let out for bids to be opened at the meeting in July.  Motion carried. 

Administrator’s Report: Chairman Heikkinen accepted the Forest and Parks April 27, 2011 Administrator’s Report.

Approve minutes of Tourism/Forestry and Parks meeting of April 6, 2011:  Motion by Palecek/Walasek to approve the minutes as presented.   Motion carried.

Next Meeting Date:  Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 8:00 A.M. in UW Extension Conference Rooms A & B, Normal Building, Phillips, WI.   There will be no June meeting.

Hertig turned over minute taking to Reinhard at 8:45 A.M.  

Tourism Public Comments and Correspondence: None    

Tourism Vouchers: Motion made to approve vouchers in the amount of $ 4,422.47 (Palecek/Walasek).  All ayes. Motion carried.

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

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

Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 9:28 A.M.

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

Administrator’s Report

April 27, 2011

Revenue and Expenditure Reports for April 2011 reports will be brought to the meeting.

Petty cash fund balance as of March 31, 2011:  $59.43

March stumpage being charged interest:  $0.00

Timber revenue March 31, 2011- $407,337.63 March 31, 2010 - $611,625.13

1.      The timber revenue shown above will cover the request from Executive/Finance; it will be in appearing in all future administrator reports.  This information has always been provided in our revenue reports but not compared with the previous year.

2.      We are working on the fall timber sales.

3.      I attended the Personnel meeting regarding our Forest and Parks Technician position, no action was taken. 

4.      We have been checking our waterfowl flowages and did stop log replacement at the Kennan Flowage.

5.      Ray has been working on wheel restoration at Wisconsin Concrete Park.

6.      I worked on some incorrect information regarding a survey monument off Hurban Road.

7.      The prison crew is raking at Solberg. 

8.      We removed several trees at Solberg that were either wind damaged or dying (white birch).

9.      We will be removing dead aspen at Smith Lake before the beginning of camping season.

10.  The flush toilet building at Wisconsin Concrete Park is open; we have some paint peeling on one wall that will be worked on.

11.  Tuscobia Trailhead County Park building has also been opened for the season; we will be working on securing motorized access from the Park to 9^th Avenue.

12.  The well at Big Falls has been shocked and will be tested by the Ashland County Health Department for bacteria and nitrates.

13.  Timm’s Hill has not been opened yet due to snow cover on the road.

14.  The balance of our wells will be shocked should be ready for the public by the opening of fishing season.

15.  Eric has been attending ATV meetings regarding the Georgetown/Flambeau River State Forest Trail connection.

16.  The crew has been attending various training sessions: mine safety, chainsaw and hearing protection.

17.  I attended the WCFA/USFS/Towns Association meeting in Rhinelander and received some positive news regarding management projects proceeding without litigation.

18.  Solberg ATV Trail will be opened by June 1, weather dependent.  We have some approach work to do on the new ramps, culverts that have to be installed and signs to be placed.

19.  Ray prepped the tree planters and we have minimal public use his spring.

20.  The county auditors were in and we provided information regarding our grant programs.

21.  Our state forest program audit report will take place on May 17^th.

AGENDA NOTES & TOURISM DIRECTOR’S REPORT MAY 4, 2011

Public Comments & Correspondence: None  

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

International Trade Business and Economics Committee: The minutes from the March 30, 2011 meeting are enclosed for your review (yellow paper).

Governor’s Lac du Flambeau Area Promotion Committee: The minutes from the January 27, 2011 meeting are enclosed for your review (blue paper).

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 2011 Sports Show: The follow-up report for the show is enclosed for your review (white paper). I met with the Park Falls & Phillips Chamber Directors to discuss improvements that could be made for the 2010 show. 

2011 -2012 Fall/Winter Events: We are compiling information to submit to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for their calendar publication and website.

Friends of Fred Smith: I am working with the FoFS Administrator to promote upcoming events she has scheduled to occur at the Wisconsin Concrete Park. I am working with the FoFS Education & Promotion Committee to plan and promote the 2011 Summer Art Series workshops and the Wisconsin Concrete Park Celebration. The celebration will be held Saturday, August 13, 2011. 

Farmer’s Markets: I am working with the Park Falls, Phillips & Catawba Farmers Market coordinators on promotions for the upcoming season. 

Artist’s Interactive: Updates have been made to the website www.artistsinteractive.org. 

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.