Price County Tourism/Forestry and Parks Committee

Minutes of Regular Monthly Meeting

September 6, 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, Larry Palecek, Jay Janssen and Bob Rogalla.  

 

Also Present:  Pete Bartelt, Eric Holm and Linda Hertig, Price County Forestry and Parks Department; Kyle Schmidt, DNR; Kathy Reinhard, Tourism Department, Nick Trimner, Budget and Accounting Manager and Thomas Schanke.

 

Public Comment and Correspondence – Forestry and Parks:

Included in the committee’s packet was the following:

The committee would like Mr. Schanke to have the paperwork drawn up and present it to them for approval.

 

Vouchers:  Motion by Palecek/Walasek to approve Forestry and Parks Expenditure Vouchers 28-11 to 31-11 in the amount of $20,512.43; Payroll Vouchers 17-11 to 18-11 in the amount of $16,818.80; Journal Entry 08-11 in the amount of $2,793.50 and Cash Bond Voucher 03-11 in the amount of $10,344.00.  Total amount:  $50,468.73   Motion carried.   Bob Rogalla abstained from signing the expense vouchers.

 

Handicapped Access, 21-36-2W, 28-36-2E, 19-37-2W, 6-34-2W:  Motion by Palecek/Rogalla to approve all permits as presented.  Motion carried.

 

USFS Resolution:  Motion by Palecek/Janssen to approve and forward to Full County Board.  Motion carried.  The committee would like other counties to get a copy.

 

2012 Budget – Forestry and Parks:  Nick updated the committee on the 2012 Budget.

 

Notice of Retirement:  Pete has submitted his letter of retirement resignation, effective February 29, 2012.  Motion by Rogalla/Walasek to accept and forward to the Personnel Committee.  Motion carried.

 

Administrator’s Report: Chairman Heikkinen accepted the Forest and Parks August 25, 2011 Administrator’s Report.

 

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

 

Next Meeting Date:  Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 8:00 A.M. in UW Extension Conference Rooms A & B, Normal Building, Phillips, WI.   

 

Hertig turned over minute taking to Reinhard at 8:53A.M. 

 

Tourism Public Comments and Correspondence: none    

 

Tourism Vouchers: Motion made to approve vouchers in the amount of $ 474.35 (Walasek/Palecek). Motion carried.

 

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

 

2012 Tourism Budget: The proposed budget was reviewed.  An adjustment was made to the 2012 proposed budget by the Executive/ Finance Committee and Nick Trimner relating to our 2010/2011 continued appropriation.  

 

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

 

Adjourn: Motion by Palecek/Rogalla to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 A.M.  Motion carried.  

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Administrator’s Report

August 2, 2011

 

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

 

Petty cash fund balance as of June 30, 2011:  $24.89

Administrator’s Report

August 25, 2011

 

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

 

Petty cash fund balance as of July 31, 2011:  $19.30

July stumpage being charged interest:  $0.00

Timber revenue July 31, 2011- $714,064 July 31, 2010 - $928,813

 

  1. We have 5 active timber sales.
  2. We may have to adjust our Northern Hardwood allowable cut; we are finding several of our stands are not ready to be entered after 15 years. 
  3. We will be modifying the Big Falls Caretaker contract for 2012 to require at least two visits per week from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
  4. Corey reorganized the heated garage to make better use of space and allow a spot to dry clothes.  We also hauled additional gravel into the cold storage garage, water was pooling inside where the Land Conservation supplies are stored.
  5. Lightning struck at Wisconsin Concrete Park, took out the phone, alarm for the septic pump tank, tripped a few breakers in the Studio and interrupted service to the house. 
  6. Eric did graveling and leveling of the trail leading to the observation at Timm’s Hill.  We used the bobcat from Buildings and Grounds and John Obadal assisted.
  7. Corey has begun mowing wildlife trails and openings.  He also mowed the Pine Line Trail which is usually done by the Prentice Bushbenders.
  8. We have contacted a landowner about accessing County Forest timber in Pine Creek.   
  9. I attended a meeting in Wausau with Senator Tiffany and Deputy DNR Secretary Moroney regarding water crossing permits.
  10. I contacted an access permit holder about damage to his access trail on County Forest.
  11. We have had a request to have signage on Highway 13 indicating the northern terminus of the Pine Line Trail; it will be discussed at the next Rail Trail Commission meeting.
  12. At the request of Board Chair Kopisch, I looked at a forty in the Pine Creek unit of County Forest.
  13. Wisconsin Concrete Park celebration went well, light attendance.
  14. Request has been received for a flowage easement in 19-37-2W. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGENDA NOTES & TOURISM DIRECTOR’S REPORT SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

 

 

Public Comments & Correspondence: No correspondence.    

 

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

 

2012 Proposed Tourism Budget: The proposed budget is enclosed for your review (goldenrod paper).  As budget discussions continue, non-mandated departments and duplication of efforts may be discussed.  Some may compare the local chambers to our department in that we do similar activities. However, you can also compare the similarity of town crews with the Highway Department or the city police with the Sherriff’s Department. Local entities work in conjunction with county level departments to provide needed services. Just as the Highway Department would not plow a road that was recently plowed by a city truck and the Sherriff’s Department would not patrol a quiet neighborhood that was just surveyed by a city patrol officer, the Tourism Department strives to partner with local chambers and other tourism entities to promote Price County and duplication of efforts is not an option.  

 

Wisconsin Department of Tourism The Power of Tourism Presentation: Did supervisors find the presentation informative of useful? Following the formal presentation at the last County Board meeting, Supervisor Rogalla asked about the school start date. The school start date is set by State Statute. In the 1990’s the Wisconsin Tourism Federation worked relentlessly to get the State Legislature to change the school start date so that students employed in the tourism industry could work and so that students would be available to travel with family through the Labor Day weekend. The Legislature established law that schools in Wisconsin could not start prior to September 1st.  Most school boards set school start dates on September 1st each year. 

 

International Trade Business and Economics Committee: The minutes from the July 27, 2011 meeting are enclosed for your review (yellow paper).  

 

Fall Advertising:  We have begun our advertising campaign for the fall. Leaf peepers, empty nesters, ATVers, anglers and hunters are our primary target market. We will update our fall color report on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism (WDT) website daily through mid-October. The WDT Fall Color Report page is the top visited page on their website.

 

Price County Travel Companion: Sales representatives from 5 Star Marketing are selling ads for the upcoming edition of the Price County Travel Companion.

 

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.