MARATHON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AGENDA Note new location: 212 River Drive, Room 5, Wausau, WI

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1 April 11, :30 P.M. MARATHON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AGENDA Note new location: 212 River Drive, Room 5, Wausau, WI Marathon County Mission Statement: Marathon County Government serves people by leading, coordinating, and providing county, regional, and statewide initiatives. It directly or in cooperation with other public and private partners provides services and creates opportunities that make Marathon County and the surrounding area a preferred place to live, work, visit, and do business. (Last updated: ) Environmental Resources Committee Mission Statement: Provide leadership for the implementation of the County Strategic Plan, monitoring outcomes, reviewing and recommending to the County Board policies related to environmental resource initiatives of Marathon County. (Revised: 04/17/12) Members: Sandi Cihlar; Chair, Jim Seefeldt, Vice Chairman, Jacob Langenhahn, Robert Wegner, Randy Fifrick, Allen Drabek, and Marilyn Bhend - Towns Association Representative In addition to attendance in person at the location described above, Committee Members and the public are invited to attend by telephone conference. Persons wishing to attend the meeting by phone may call into the telephone conference beginning ten minutes prior to the start time indicated above using the following number: Call to Order and Silence Electronic Devices 2. Public Comment 3. Approval of the Minutes of the March 7, 2018 Meeting 4. Policy Issues Discussion and Committee Determination to the County Board for its Consideration and Possible Action 5. Educational Presentation / Outcome Monitoring Reports and Possible Action: A. Chapter 2 Rules Review Committee recommendations (Lance Leonhard) B. Environmental Impact Fund (EIF) 1. Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS) Maintenance Program Expansion press release 2. Municipal letter notifying change to EIF program 3. Communications with property owners and contractors regarding revolving loan program C. North Central Conservancy Trust Waypost Camp Conservation Easement thank you letter D. Legislative Report: current and future legislative initiatives (Loveland) E. Department Reports Park, Recreation, & Forestry, Solid Waste, Conservation Planning and Zoning 6. Next Regular Meeting Date and Future Agenda Items: 7. Announcements and Requests 8. Adjourn Any person planning to attend this meeting who needs some type of special accommodation in order to participate should call the County Clerk s Office at or infomarathon@mail.co.marathon.wi.us one business day before the meeting. SIGNED FAXED TO: Presiding Officer or Designee News Dept. at Daily Herald ( ), City Pages ( ), Midwest Radio Group ( ), Marshfield News ( ), NOTICE POSTED AT COURTHOUSE: TPP Printing ( ) Date: April 2, 2018 Date: Time: 1:15 p.m. Time: a.m. / p.m. By: cek By: County Clerk Date/Time/By:

2 Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee Minutes March 7, River Drive, Wausau, WI Attendance: Present Not Present Sandi Cihlar... X James Seefeldt... X Jacob Langenhahn......X (excused) Allen Drabek... X Randy Fifrick... X Robert Wegner... X Marilyn Bhend... X Also Present: Rebecca Frisch, Lane Loveland, Cindy Kraeger, CPZ; Bill Duncanson, Tom Lovlien Park Recreation and Forestry (PRF); Gene Musolf. 1. Call to Order and Silence Electronic Devices Chair Cihlar called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.; all electronic devices silenced. All attendees introduced themselves. 2. Public Comment: Gene Musolf: Retired geologist and instructor at UWMC discussed the history of metallic mining in Central Wisconsin and believes the small gold deposit might not be worth the effort. Commended the staff and board on requiring tougher regulations to protect Marathon County and the Dells of Eau Claire. 3. Approval of February 14, 2018 Minutes Action: MOTION / second by Seefeldt / Fifrick approve of the February 14, 2018 minutes as distributed. Motion carried by voice vote, no dissent. 4. Policy Issues Discussion and Committee Determination to the County Board for its Consideration and Possible Action: A. Metallic Mining Zoning Code Text Amendments 1. Update from March 1, 2018 Land Conservation and Zoning Discussion: Frisch updated the Committee on the last month s activities with metallic mining including informational meetings and public hearing. County Board Chair Gibbs has suggested a special County Board meeting will be held in early April to address the proposed revisions. Action: None, for informational purposes only. Follow through: None 2. Revise General Comprehensive Zoning Policy and Administrative Guidance to reflect changes as the result of anticipated Metallic Mining Ordinance. Discussion: Frisch explained the history of the Comprehensive Zoning Policy and Administrative Guidance which was adopted in 2016 with the new zoning code. The proposed revisions to that policy address the inclusion of metallic mining text amendments to the zoning code. The section on At what cost is addressed in the text amendments and included in the policy document. Action: MOTION / second by Fifrick / Wegner to approve the revised General Comprehensive Zoning Policy and Administrative Guidance and forward to County Board as the Corporation Counsel deems appropriate. Motion carried by voice vote, no dissent Follow through: None O:\PLDATA\EnvirResCmte\MEETINGS\2018\3_7_18\Minutes\ENVR_ _Minutes.doc

3 Environmental Resources Committee March 7, Educational Presentation/Outcome Monitoring Reports and Possible Action: A. County Forest Division 2017 Annual Report (Lovlien) Discussion: Lovlien discussed some of the program highlights including revenue and expenses, timber management, road and trail maintenance, wildlife management, recreation, public outreach and professional development. Action: MOTION / second by Wegner / Fifrick to accept the County Forest Division 2017 Annual Report. Motion carried by voice vote, no dissent. Follow through: Distribute annual report to County Board and plan holders. B. Environmental Impact Fund (EIF) Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS) Revolving Loan Fund Update Discussion: Frisch provided updates on the next steps with Administration working with MCDEVCO. A letter will be drafted in early April informing the municipalities of the end of the EIF grant program. The CPZ April newsletter will include information announcing the development of the POWTS revolving loan fund. C. Legislative and Budget Report: current and future legislative initiatives (Loveland Discussion: Loveland distributed a summary of the current bills that CPZ is monitoring and provided an update on the current legislative bills. It was noted the Legislature will be ending their session by the end of March. Action: None, for informational purposes only. Follow through: None. D. Department Reports- Park Recreation Forestry, Solid Waste, Conservation Planning and Zoning Discussion: Duncanson reported there are numerous activities occurring in Marathon County Parks before the transition to the next season begins. 6. Next Meeting date, time & location: Agenda items/future topics: Tentative/if needed: Wednesday, April 11, :30 p.m., 210 River Drive, Wausau. 7. Announcements and Requests: Wegner thanked the Committee and staff for the get well card. 8. Adjourn: There being no further business to discuss, Motion / second by Seefeldt / Drabek to adjourn at 3:07 p.m. Motion carried by voice vote, no dissent. Submitted by: Rebecca Frisch Director Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department March 7, 2018 cek 2

4 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT INFO: Paul Daigle, Land and Water Program Director COUNTYWIDE POWTS (SEPTIC SYSTEM) MAINTENANCE PROGRAM EXPANSION TO BEGIN FALL 2019 The Marathon County Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department (CPZ) administers a program that requires maintenance of over 14,000 Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS), commonly referred to as septic systems, installed on or after July 1, Wisconsin Statutes and Wisconsin Administrative Code now require that this maintenance program be expanded to include POWTS installed before July 1, The state has set an October 1, 2019, deadline for counties to begin the administration of the expanded maintenance program, which will take six to seven years to implement. This expanded program will require property owners to have their septic systems maintained at least once every three years by having a plumber, pumper, or other properly licensed professional visually inspect the POWTS to determine the condition of the septic tank, to ensure that aboveground manhole openings are properly locked, and to check if pumping is needed or if sewage is discharging onto the ground surface. Upon completion of this visual inspection, reports must be filed with the county. The purpose of this expanded maintenance program is to protect public health and our natural resources; it is not intended to force every property owner to upgrade or replace his or her private septic system. However, if an inspection report identifies a defective septic tank or sewage discharging onto the surface of the ground, the county must then require the owner to repair or replace the POWTS. The CPZ Department is currently developing a plan to add over 6,000 POWTS (i.e., those installed before July 1, 1980) to the current maintenance program. It is estimated that up to 1,250 septic systems may need to be repaired or replaced. In order to assure that financial assistance will be available to low-income residents, Marathon County is developing a revolving loan program for the replacement of failing POWTS. When the loan program begins, it is anticipated that the loans will be available to those most in need, with repayment due at the time of sale or transfer of the property. Further information will be provided to elected officials and individual property owners as these programs are developed and implemented. Questions may be directed to the Marathon County Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department at

5 March 28, 2018 Dear Municipal Official, Update on Environmental Impact Funds (EIF) In 2006 the agreement between Marathon County and American Transmission Company (ATC) concerning construction for the Arrowhead-Weston Transmission Line provided funds to Marathon County which became known as the EIF funds. The EIF provided grant funding assistance for non-reoccurring projects in Marathon County for the purpose of environmental remediation and/or natural resources protection. The grants were previously available to Marathon County and local municipalities. Recently, the Marathon County Board approved the creation of a new revolving loan fund that will utilize all current and future EIF funds for the purpose of providing financial assistance to property owners with failing Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS). The basis for this decision is to fully utilize these funds to address local environmental needs as well as financial needs of our citizens due to the possible end of the State s Wisconsin Fund grant program for failing POWTS. Please see attached article: Countywide POWTS Maintenance Program Expansion. Although this brings an end to the EIF program, the new POWTS revolving loan program is currently being developed. When the new loan program begins, it is anticipated that the loans will be available to those most in need, with repayment due at the time of sale or transfer of the property. Further information will be provided to elected officials and individual property owners as this new revolving loan program is developed and implemented. Questions may be directed to the Marathon County Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department at Sincerely, Lane Loveland Environmental Resources Specialist

6 March 20, 2018 Board of Directors David Worth President Jacob Prater Vice President Butch Pomeroy Treasurer Roger Zimmermann Secretary Nichole Besyk Greg Dahl John Houghton Justin Isherwood David James Nancy Turyk Susan Wurzer Executive Director Janet Smith Active Emeritus Directors Kerry Brimmer Robert Freckmann Alan Haney Jan Seiler Stanton E. Thomas Rebecca Frisch, Director Marathon County Conservation, Planning and Zoning 210 River Drive Wausau WI Dear Rebecca, For over twenty years, North Central Conservancy Trust has been working to protect natural landscapes such as the Waypost Camp in Marathon County. We would like to thank you for supporting our conservation easement project on the 88 acres of Waypost Camp on the shoreline of Mission Lake. The Marathon County Environmental Impact Fund grant we received has helped support our work of easement development and protection. A portion of the grant funds has been deposited into NCCT s easement stewardship fund, a restricted account that supports our easements now and into the future. We will monitor the Waypost Camp-Mission Lake Easement on a yearly basis and continue to protect this beautiful natural shoreline property in perpetuity. We are grateful for the Marathon County EIF, and we are pleased that you granted those funds toward this conservation easement, helping to forever protect green space along the shoreline of Mission Lake in Central Wisconsin, providing important habitat for wildlife and plant communities. This 88 acres brings the total number of acres NCCT has preserved in Marathon County to 432. Thank you again for supporting NCCT and our mission of land protection in Central Wisconsin. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Marathon County and the Waypost Camp. Finally, we continue to be an active and vital land trust because of you! With Gratitude, Janet Smith Executive Director NCCT PO Box 124 Stevens Point WI edncct@gmail.com (715)