Weyerhaeuser Rothschild
Attendance:
Steve Bradley, Mike Harelson, Steve Courtney, Tom Jerow, Dean Kaatz,
Dan Trainer, George Rogers, Terry Charles, and Matt Duvall.
Weyerhaeuser Welcome
Terry Charles welcomed attendees to Weyerhaeuser Rothschild and provided
history and background of the Rothschild plant.
Initial Business
Dean Kaatz called the meeting to order, welcomed attendees, and asked
for introductions. Dean reviewed meeting notes from April 16th in
Portage County. He noted that the Partnership meeting in July had
been skipped. Dean also notified the Partnership that the Board of
Directors had met on September 4th.
Item I: Central Wisconsin Basin Educator
Matt Duvall introduced himself as new UWEX Basin Educator in Central
Wisconsin and described his current vision of how he will approach
his new position. Matt also extended an invitation to the Partnership
to collaborate with him in work that might extend beyond the boundaries
of previous relationships between the Basin Educator and the Basin
Partnership.
Item II: Basin LTE Support Application
Tom Jerow provided details on the competitive application for two
years of LTE support. Tom explained that the LTE support was intended
to help the Basin Partnership become self-sustaining. Matt Duvall
added that Extension and DNR staff are being told that, within the
next two years, their responsibilities will change so that they will
no longer be serving as primary support for the Basin Partnerships.
Matt added that Extension and DNR staff will most likely continue
to participate in the Partnerships, but only as active members. Partnerships
will need to develop their own independent infrastructure to provide
for meeting planning, minutes, membership recruitment, etc. Dean Kaatz
added that, if our application is successful, the LTE would be tasked
with the strategic planning to enable the Partnership to accomplish
that goal. Tom Jerow added that a strategic planning subcommittee
would be formed so that the entire Partnership will not be saddled
with discussions that can sometimes stifle interest in Partnership
meetings.
Dean Kaatz suggested that the discussion of
strategic planning leads well into the question of whether or not
the Basin Partnership should pursue a more closely aligned formal
relationship (and potentially merger) with the Golden Sands RC&D.
This question elicited a lengthy and
healthy discussion between all attendees on
identifying the role and goals of the Partnership and reinvigorating
an active membership. General consensus was that regardless of the
success of the LTE application, the Partnership is in serious need
of a significant strategic planning effort. Matt Duvall indicated
that he would discuss more fully the issue of a more formal alignment
with Golden Sands with Bill Ebert and all of the County LCDs, and
Matt will provide a summary of these discussions when available.
(It is worth noting here that, since this meeting,
we were informed that our application for LTE support was not successful).
Item III: Conservation Project Status Reports
A. Friends of Mill Creek
Steve Bradley provided a status report on the Friends of the Mill
Creek. The Friends of the Mill Creek successfully provided a watershed
tour on Saturday, September 27th, and despite cold raining weather,
28 people learned about a variety of water quality conservation practices
through the watershed. Tom Jerow suggested that the future success
of the Friends of the Mill Creek will benefit from technical analysis
to determine where resources are best focused.
B. Barrier Islands
Tom Jerow indicated that the Barrier Islands project has stalled due
to a current lack of interest from Wisconsin Public Service, but that
a meeting is being scheduled to discuss the Barrier Islands project
in detail. See Tom for details on the date, time, and location for
that meeting. Based on Dan Trainers suggestion, Dean Kaatz indicated
that the CWBP will provide a formal letter to Wisconsin Public Service
to express support for the Barrier Islands project. Tom Jerow indicated
that he will draft the letter and provide it to Dean.
C. Plover River Alliance
George Rogers indicated that the Plover River Alliance has been pursuing
a conservation easement on Greg Wysocki’s property, and that
this easement is nearly complete. George indicates that this easement
has been long and difficult in the making, but that hopefully, future
easements will be more simple and quick with this model easement in
place.
IV. Other Business
Dean Kaatz set the next meeting for Wednesday, January 21st in the
Portage County Courthouse Annex conference room 5. The theme of this
meeting will be strategic planning. More details will be forthcoming
in the near future.
Break for Lunch
Weyerhaeuser Rothschild Tour
Terry Charles and Stephanie Duxbury-Weir provided presentations and
a tour.
The Central Wisconsin Basin Partnership
extends a sincere thanks to Terry, Stephanie, and everyone at Weyerhaeuser
for their gracious support of the Partnership, for supplying excellent
meeting facilities, and for providing an interesting presentation
of their noteworthy programs.