CRAWFORD COUNTY – The Crawford County Land Conservation Committee addressed plenty of points at their March 14 assembly. The assembly is split into two sections Land use and Soil and water issues.
Land use
The agricultural portion of the March 14 assembly began with Property Listing Gigi Collins reporting that each one property appraisal workbooks have gone out to the appraisers. She reported that the mapping polygons for town and village of Wauzeka are full and that after the method is accomplished for the village of Gays Mills, the complete county might be full.
Subsequent up for Collins was dialogue of the undertaking to confirm property strains and possession for a tract of land within the City of Clayton. She has proposed the creation of an Assessors Plat, much like the one lately efficiently accomplished within the city of Seneca.
Since our final assembly, I’ve despatched a letter to all landowners concerned, Collins reported. The county has delinquent tax properties within the space, and our parcels make up slightly below half of the overall acreage.
Collins identified that within the City of Seneca undertaking, landowners have been required to pay the price of creating the Assessors Plat. She mentioned, given the excessive share of county-owned parcels in that space, she suggests attempting to safe grant funding for the undertaking. She mentioned that may imply delaying the undertaking for a yr till the grant might be obtained. In any other case, the fee to landowners could be about $800-$900 every. She mentioned the completion of the undertaking below her proposed plan may take as much as two years.
Is it okay to delay the method for therefore lengthy? requested committee member Supervisor Gary Koch.
Sure. A landowner, Mr. Hadley, has already paid to have an investigation executed, Collins replied. Because of this survey, he has an estimated location of his home and property strains.
How far are the property boundaries within the space? requested committee chairman Supervisor Dave Olson.
They seem to be a good distance off, Collins replied.
Collins defined that not like all different townships within the county, the City of Clayton didn’t have a Part 16 for a faculty, and she or he mentioned this had sophisticated figuring out the property boundaries. She mentioned there are additionally title points concerning the river edge versus the river heart.
We have to discover out precisely what the county owns so we will promote it to get well unpaid property taxes, Collins defined.
The committee voted unanimously to have Collins look into securing grants for the undertaking.
The committee then reviewed and authorized a listing of Licensed Survey Maps (CSM). A Metropolis of Seneca CSM offered some troublesome questions concerning the county’s authority to vacate a street right-of-way.
There are 17 heaps on that street that aren’t a public street, on a cul-de-sac, Collins reported. The landowner affiliation is keen to maneuver the street in order that the landowner can construct.
Collins reported that Assessor Wealthy Marks had expressed concern in regards to the potential of plows and different emergency automobiles to have the ability to flip round within the space if the right-of-way is deserted. She identified that it may probably stop the street from ever turning into a metropolis street.
The committee moved to approve the CSM situation for overview companies, however makes it clear that the county can not approve leaving the street over which it doesn’t have jurisdiction.
I like to recommend that we act to make sure that all landowners are conscious of our issues and the results of leaving the fitting of means, Collins mentioned.
Zoning/ Sanitation
Zoning and Sanitation Technician Jon Mayer reported that all the things went properly and that he had been working with landowners on flooding and riparian zoning points.
Mayer led dialogue about a problem in Freeman City with a resident who had lived on her property for over 25 years with out operating water or a septic system.
She has paid her tremendous, however aside from that we actually do not know what to do, Mayer reported. You may’t set up a septic system with out water, and she or he’s been there for 25 years.
County Conservation Director Dave Troester reported that Crawford County could be included this yr in an audit by the Division of Security and Skilled Companies (DSPS). He mentioned DSPS would audit a number of counties within the state yearly.
Troester went on to report on his division’s septic system compliance undertaking.
We’ve got finalized the 2022 individuals and have despatched out letters to those that might be required to conform in 2023, Troester mentioned. As of 2022, now we have seven to eight septic plant homeowners who’ve been granted extensions till Could 1st as a result of they’re on a pumper’s listing, and a couple of dozen who’ve a Could fifteenth courtroom date.
Troester mentioned that of these cited by the county, none have responded or contacted his division. He mentioned these septic system homeowners are within the strategy of receiving a second offense with increased fines than for the primary offense. He mentioned there are additionally two septic system homeowners within the strategy of receiving a primary offense.
Of those that despatched a letter in 2022 who didn’t signal the letter, we had them despatched to them by the Sheriffs Division, Troester mentioned. The Sheriffs Division doesn’t wish to do that sooner or later so we simply ship them letters. In the event that they ignore the letters, then the fines might be added to their property tax payments.
Troester mentioned it was unusual that the letters couldn’t be delivered since his division sends them to the identical handle the place the property tax payments are despatched.
About 10 % of the letters we ship are returned, however 10 % of property tax payments usually are not returned as undeliverable, Troester identified.
Observe: reached after the assembly, Troester instructed the Impartial-Scout that Jon Mayer has resigned his place to pursue alternatives elsewhere. His final day on the job might be April 28, and the division is within the strategy of recruiting somebody to fill the place of Sanitation and Zone Technician.
Soil and water issues
First within the Land and Water a part of the agenda, Troester reported on the outcomes of the Conservation Poster Contest. He mentioned college students from the Seneca and Wauzeka-Steuben college districts had entered a complete of 75 entries.
Our first place winners in every age class superior to the world competitors in Viroqua, defined Troester. Making it out of the world competitors, two posters from our county superior to the state competitors, and Seneca’s Paxton Martin took third place within the Kindergarten/First Grade class.
Subsequent, Troester reported that the main target of this yr’s Aquatic Invasive Species grant could be management of Purple Loosestrife. He reported that his division is within the strategy of making use of for a allow and on the lookout for websites to launch beetles to assist management the invasive plant.
Thus far, now we have not obtained any candidates for the summer season intern place, Troester instructed the committee.
I’m involved to listen to discuss of releasing beetles for this, mentioned committee member Mary Kuhn. I bear in mind after they launched Asian beetles to manage aphids and now now we have a beetle downside and no aphids.
Troester replied that utilizing the beetles for this function is a way that has been in use for a very long time now.
Purple Loosestrife is especially an issue alongside waterways, akin to close to Lynxville and Ferryville, committee chairman Dave Olson famous.
Conservation Specialist Travis Bunting reported that he has been working with the USDA-NRCS and that he has gotten the NRCS funding for the yr fairly properly. Meaning he had a good suggestion of what his tasks for the yr might be and mentioned he expects to start out bidding on his tasks within the subsequent few weeks.
Bunting additionally instructed the committee he nonetheless hasn’t heard again from the DNR about plans for repairs on the PL-566 flood management dam on Johnstown Highway in Utica Township. He instructed the committee he anticipated to bid the undertaking subsequent week.
USDA-NRCS
USDA-NRCS Useful resource Specialist for Crawford and Richland Counties, Karyl Fritsche reported to the committee on plenty of points:
We’re working to commit the functions that have been chosen for funding within the first spherical of EQIP, mentioned Fritsche. About half of our excessive precedence functions have been funded.
Fritsche mentioned the appliance deadline for the Conservation Stewardship Program had been prolonged to March 17 and the Basic Conservation Reserve Program is open for functions.
Lastly, Fritsche mentioned Inflation Discount Act (IRA) funding allocations have been launched. She mentioned the cash is not within the state but to start committing, however there’ll possible be many alternatives for individuals on the lookout for assist with Local weather Sensible practices akin to cowl crops, nutrient administration, grazing, establishing pollinator habitat, and many others.
Public feedback
Within the public remark portion of the agenda, Forest Jahnke of the Crawford Stewardship Challenge mentioned his group helps extra funding for the county’s conservation workers. He additionally requested if the division had obtained the up to date nutrient administration plan for the proposed Roth Feeder Pigs II swine CAFO in Marietta Township.
Roth’s up to date nutrient administration plan is because of the Wisconsin DNR on the finish of March, Jahnke noticed. I’m questioning what motion the committee plans to take as soon as the up to date plan is obtained and when you plan to confirm that the acres contained within the up to date plan are literally obtainable for spreading. Are you planning to have an agronomist overview it?
We won’t act on it till we see it, mentioned committee chairman Supervisor Dave Olson.
Observe: Reached Monday, April 3, Dave Troestr instructed the Impartial-Scout that he has not but obtained the up to date NMP for Roth Feeder Pigs II from the DNR. He mentioned lots of people ask about it.
