Conservation Commission -Minutes-20090923
Approved 4/19/10
Conservation Commission
City of Muskego
Minutes of Meeting Held on Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Commissioner Pilak called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM and led those in attendance in
the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call - Commissioners: Ms. Karen Hartwell, Ms. Julie Holubowicz, Mr. Bill Miller,
Mr. Leonard Pilak, Ms. Sharon Roy, Mr. Howard Schneider and
Conservation Coordinator Tom Zagar.
Absent: Ald. Neome Schaumberg (excused)
The meeting was posted in accordance with the open meeting law.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES – A motion was made by
Commissioner Miller to approve the minutes of the meeting held November 18, 2008.
Seconded by Commissioner Roy ; motion carried.
PROJECT UPDATES
Conservation Coordinator Zagar updated the commissioners on the following projects:
Engel Conservation Area—Another Eagle Scout project was done by Mike Senk. He
built four wetland crossings, essentially four piers that cross the wet areas on the wetland
trail on the north side of the property. This will enable use of the trail year-round as
people will be able to cross the wet areas in the spring. There are three Girl Scout projects
proposed to be done this fall as the girls needed projects for their gold awards: (1)
construction of benches, (2) construction of a trail and (3) prairie seed collection. On
October 9, the high school science club, about 50 students, will meet and do seed
collection and adding wood chips to a trail.
Blattner Reserve—This reserve was burned last spring and seeded with very diverse
savannah seed mix.
Restoration of City-owned Lands in Bass Bay Tributary—These are the lands on the
south end of Moorland Park and includes city lands that are near the Candlewood Creek
subdivision. A good portion of the Moorland Park site is being farmed. Soy beans were
planted in this area. Herbicide applications have been done in other areas with plans to
burn the area in the fall which is in preparation for a seeding that will happen a year from
now.
Conversion of Park Turf to Prairie—Portions of Bluhm Farm Park, Kurth Park,
Manchester Hill Park, Denoon Park and Schmidt Park that are turf grass and under
utilized for active purposes were killed with Round-up-type herbicide, two or three times
this season, in preparation for seeding prairie seed. The prairie seed needed will come
from the collection of seed in other projects as well as purchasing additional prairie seed.
Collectively, this involves about 16 acres.
Conservation Commission Meeting – September 23, 2009 – Page 2
Erosion Control Project on Holz Island—Little Muskego Lake—The city was
awarded approximately $30,500 grant from the WDNR (Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources) for the restoration of the shoreline. The project is expected to start
this fall with the installation of some fiber logs. The geosynthetics company in
Waukesha has these logs in stock. The work that needs to be done on the west shore will
be put out for bids this fall as that work is more involved and requires rip rap.
Realistically, looking at next season for completion of the project. Commissioner
Schneider inquired if it was a matching grant. Conservation Coordinator Zager stated it
was to be matched with in-kind work equity, personnel time and volunteerism. There is
$10,000 being matched from the lake district as well as looking for other sources of
funds. In response to Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Holubowicz’s inquiries,
Conservation Coordinator Zagar said the project has taken a long time due to the
permitting needed and then applying for grant money. In late August, notification of the
grant award was received. The grant will end at the end of 2010; however, extensions can
be requested if there is still work to be done. The work will involve on the east side,
putting in coconut fiber logs to fill the void and also tree drops to serve as wave barriers
with plantings behind it. Then, on the west, where there is more intense wave action, the
work will involve rip rap installation and vegetate the rip rap with plantings and shrubs.
OLD BUSINESS
Conservation Easement for Ridges Conservation Site—At the last meeting, staff was
directed to meet with Muskego Lakes Land Conservancy to work out the issue. Before
that time, the staff did review the easement language and it was decided at staff level that
it was a larger policy decision about placing the easement to a third party for city lands.
There was other acreage that it could be open to if they went down that road. They are
holding back on the issue at this time. A letter will be sent to the Conservancy about
bringing the issue forward to the Common Council to let the Common Council handle
this larger policy issue if they want to put conservation easements on such lands. If they
then want to move forward, the attorney will be asked to review the language.
NEW BUSINESS None
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW None
CLOSED SESSION
At 7:14 p.m. Commissioner Miller moved to convene into closed session pursuant to
Wis. Stats §19.85(1)(e) Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public
properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public
business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, more
specifically the purchase of public parkland. Commissioner Schneider seconded.
Upon a voice vote with all members voting yea, the motion carried.
OPEN SESSION
At 7:55 p.m., Commissioner Miller moved to reconvene in open session. Commissioner
Hartwell seconded; motion carried.
Conservation Commission Meeting – September 23, 2009 – Page 3
ADJOURNMENT—Commissioner Hartwell moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:57 PM.
Carried by all.
Stella Dunahee, CPS
Recording Secretary