PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

 

Monday, January 8, 2007

Administrative Center – Room 3220

4:00 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Charles Spiker, Jim Berns, Leon Pfaff, and Ralph Geary  

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Andrea Richmond and Jeffrey Schroeder     

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Jai Johnson    

STAFF & GUESTS:  Brian Tippetts, Dennis Osgood, Jim Speropulos, Keith Back, Mary Kaufmann, Jeff Gloyd, Gary Ingvalson, Bill Shepherd, Jeff Bluske, Bill Jung, Tom Faella, Sharon Hampson, J. Terry Hanson, Ray Ebert, Steve Falkenberg, Errol Kindschy, Ron Lichtie, Alison Huppert, Pam Culver, Randall Christenson, Larry Jostad, Jerome Zibrowski, Dan Cronk, Rick Martinson, Robert Krause, Sherri Krause, Shirley Wavra, Farrel Deml, Carl Deml, Dave Evenson, John Sayers, Eileen Sayers, Ramona Mattes, Bruce Neeb, Reid Magney, and Cheryl Stephen   

 

CALL TO ORDER

Committee Chair Charles Spiker called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION by Geary/Pfaff to approve meeting minutes of December 11, 2006.  Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION by Berns/Geary to receive and place on file the following Consent Agenda items:

Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Committee Chairman Spiker noted guests could speak at this time or wait until the particular agenda item came up for discussion.  No requests at this time.

 

APPROVE CHECK REQUISITIONS/PURCHASE ORDERS OVER $20,000

Dennis Osgood noted no check requisitions need committee approval for this month.

 

REQUEST FOR TRIATHLON EVENT ON LAKE NESHONOC

Detailed event information was sent with the agenda.  Jim Speropulos noted this as the 4th time request by the La Crosse Area YMCA to hold their Annual Touchstone Energy Triathlon at Swarthout Park / Lake Neshonoc on June 10, 2007.  He recommended approval.  MOTION by Geary/Berns to approve the request as stated.  Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.

 

LA CROSSE COUNTY SNOWMOBILE ALLIANCE REQUEST FOR TRAIL IN MINDORO PARK

Steve Falkenberg and Jerome Zibrowski were present to answer questions.  They noted that their group had received permission by the previous County Buildings and Grounds Director, but since, the County has enacted an ordinance that prohibits motorized vehicles on County-owned land.  Mary Kaufmann distributed copies of the referred ordinance, Chapter 10, s. 10.03(2).  Jim Speropulos recommended denial based on the County ordinance.  MOTION by Berns/Spiker to deny the request by the La Crosse County Snowmobile Alliance for a snowmobile trail in the Mindoro Park.  Motion carried on 3 to 1 vote; Pfaff-no; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.  Committee Chairman Spiker noted an option to consider is to have the Town of Farmington take over the park as was done with other county parks in other municipalities; then the Town of Farmington would consider the request.

 

REPORT ON SPECIAL DEER HUNT AT GOOSE ISLAND

Ron Lichtie of the DNR briefly reviewed the results of the Special Deer Hunt held at Goose Island in the month of December; a two-page report was sent with the agenda.  Out of the 37 deer harvested, over half had parasites causing liver disorder; and almost all of them were lacking fat accumulation as needed for winter survival; this again is a result of the feeding and lack of proper food; still waiting on lab results relating to CWD.  The DNR plans to do fly-over count once there is snow on the ground. 

 

REQUEST BY WEST SALEM HISTORICAL SOCIETY RE LEASE AGREEMENT

Errol Kindschy, as President of the West Salem Historical Society, addressed the committee relating to their request to lease County land for the placement of the Palmer/Lewis Octagon House which needs to be removed from the housing development that is owned by Dave Evenson.  This home is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Jim Speropulos showed on an overhead map a 2+ acre county-owned parcel between highways 16 and 108 that would be ideal location; if approved by the committee, the details of the lease agreement would be worked out with staff and Corporation Counsel.  Jeff Bluske noted the requirement of County permits, such as zoning, well and sewer.  Dave Evenson said he was in no hurry as long as it is approved.  MOTION by Berns/Pfaff to authorize Corporation Counsel and staff to work out the details for a lease agreement between the County and the West Salem Historical Society and bring back to committee within the next couple of months.  Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.

 

RESOLUTION RE SALE OF COUNTY RIPARIAN PROPERTY ADJACENT TO CERTAIN LOTS IN THE NESHONOC LAKE AREA

Bill Shepherd noted that since the last committee meeting in December, the County received additional information from the DNR stating that sale of any strips of land to adjoining property owners that may result in loss of public access to the lake from land also requires DNR approval.  The strips in the Shorewood area appear to abut public land that being Town of Hamilton Park; these sales would need DNR approval.  Corporation Counsel prepared three separate resolutions for the three areas.  Bill Jung noted estimated outside surveyor costs averaged around $14,000+ for all the parcels in the three areas; he suggested staff meet with the adjacent landowners to determine preliminary lines.  The County is in the midst of receiving quotes from area appraisers to do the appraisal work.  Jeff Bluske said the County will enforce the Shoreland Zoning ordinance which includes the 35 foot buffer strip from the high water mark.  Shepherd also noted that if an adjoining landowner does not want to purchase said parcel, then the County would retain the property and assume all related costs pertaining to the sale.

 

Jim Speropulos showed the parcels in question on an overhead map.  MOTION by Berns/Spiker to approve the resolution which recommends the sale of county riparian property adjacent to Neshonoc Lake lots to private property owners and have the property surveyed and appraised by outside consultants to determine fair market value including pro-rata share of sale related costs, and the purchasers must comply with the La Crosse County Shoreland Zoning Ordinance.  Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.

 

RESOLUTION RE SALE OF COUNTY RIPARIAN PROPERTY ADJACENT TO CERTAIN LOTS IN THE SHOREWOOD AREA

Again Jim Speropulos showed the parcels in question on an overhead map.  Bruce Neeb, as DNR Waterway Access Coordinator, reviewed s. 66.1006 of the State Statutes as well as NR 1.92 of the Wisconsin Admin. Code  that requires DNR approval relating to the sale of land to adjoining property owners that might result in a loss of public access to the lake from land.  As part of the requirement, the resolution or ordinance as proposed by the County Board needs to be provided to DNR 10 working days prior to consideration, including maps, plats and deeds that accurately and specifically describe the location of the public access, the footage and acreage involved and the access was established.  The DNR will then publish the proposal in a local newspaper to receive public input and may hold a public hearing if requested; the DNR will make their decision based on the quality or quantity of public access to the water.  Randall Christianson, as property owner in this area, said he had his property surveyed by Davy Engineering and there is a discrepancy of the flowage lines and also different from what the map shows.  Bill Jung suggested staff should check this out.  MOTION by Geary/Berns to approve the resolution, subject to DNR approval, which recommends the sale of county riparian property adjacent to Shorewood lots to private property owners and have the property surveyed and appraised by outside consultants to determine fair market value including pro-rata share of sale related costs, and the purchasers must comply with the La Crosse County Shoreland Zoning Ordinance.  Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.

 

RESOLUTION RE SALE OF COUNTY RIPARIAN PROPERTY ADJACENT TO CERTAIN LOTS IN THE LAKE ROAD AREA

Again Jim Speropulos showed the parcels in question on an overhead map.  Shepherd noted no historical public access in this area.  MOTION by Pfaff/Berns to approve the resolution which recommends the sale of county riparian property adjacent to Lake Road lots to private property owners and have the property surveyed and appraised by outside consultants to determine fair market value including pro-rata share of sale related costs, and the purchasers must comply with the La Crosse County Shoreland Zoning Ordinance.  Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.

 

Bill Jung asked if DNR could hold off on dock enforcement due to delay in surveying the parcels; survey costs would be less if done in the spring without ground frost.  Noted this question needs to be directed to Dave Pericak of the La Crosse DNR Office.   

 

VOLUNTEER ON CAMPUS PLAN STUDY WORKGROUP

Jim Speropulos said a group meets monthly on a Tuesday from 1:00-3:00 p.m.  The next meeting is January 16th.   None of the 4 members present volunteered.  Committee Chair Spiker said Andrea Richmond might be interested, and if not, he would try to attend.

 

APPROVE OUT-OF-COUNTY INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MOBILE COLLECTION

Brian Tippetts briefly reviewed.  The intergovernmental agreement is for La Crosse County to provide out-of-county mobile hazardous collection service to licensed disposal or recycling sites.  MOTION by Pfaff/Berns to approve as presented the out-of-county intergovernmental agreement for household hazardous materials mobile collection.  Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.

 

RESOLUTION RE APPROVAL OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR LA CROSSE COUNTY HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PROGRAM

Copies of the resolution were distributed.  Brian Tippetts said this is for a 10-year extension to the original 5-year agreement with municipalities relating to the $1 per capita per annum to support the cost of operation for the Household Hazardous Materials Program which contributes to one half of the cost.  MOTION by Berns/Pfaff to approve the resolution.  Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.

 

REVIEW OUTLINE OF 2007 CONSULTING SERVICES FOR SOLID WASTE

Brian Tippetts noted this as informational.  Copies of the 2007 consulting services were sent with the agenda.  Services include:  routine regulatory projects, construction for one-time projects, and strategic support services and investments.  (Detailed information per the handout is available in the County Board Chair Office or at the Solid Waste Dept.)

 

APPROVE CULVERT BID

Detailed bid information was sent with the agenda.  Dennis Osgood noted 4 vendors submitted bids on various culvert types including riveted and helical.  Per the evaluation team, all vendors met specifications and delivery; Metal Culverts offered the better pricing and is the recommended vendor.  Osgood noted the purchases would be paid from the Highway Machinery Fund and charged back to each project.  Other bidders were Contech Construction, County Materials, and Johnston-Fargo.  MOTION by Geary/Pfaff to approve the culvert bid as submitted by Metal Culverts.  Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.  (Detailed bid information/comparison is available in the County Board Chair Office or the Highway Dept.)

 

OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND OF THE HIGHWAY DEPT. MACHINERY FUND

Referred by the Committee Chair to the February committee meeting due to absence of committee members at today’s meeting.

 

ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION by Geary/Pfaff to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried unanimously; Richmond and Schroeder excused; Johnson absent.  The meeting adjourned at 5:18 p.m.

 

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

 

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder