Land Conservation & Forest Management Committee - Regular Meeting — Minutes

Chippewa County Land Conservation & Forest Management Committee Regular Meeting September 16, 2026 Chippewa County Courthouse, Room 302 12:00 PM 1. Call to Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 12:00 PM. 2. Roll Call Members Present: James Flater, Joel Seidlitz, Charles Bomar, Rocky Kempe, Nina Eisold, Ken Schmitt Supervisor Seidlitz arrived at the meeting at 12:02 PM. Members Absent: Matthew Peterson Other County Board Supervisors Present: Dennis Bachman Others Present: Agency staff present at times throughout the meeting were A. Albarado (Co. Administrator), C. Cavey (UW-Stevens Point via Teams), A. Foehringer (DNR), N. Luoma (MRP-APHIS), L. Christman, K. Clow, M. Hansen, J. Puig, L. Schweikert, E. Theiler, D. Wold, and J. Schemenauer - Recorder (LCFM). Members of the public present at times throughout the meeting were P. Krumenauer and D. Mansur. 3. Members of the Public Wishing to Be Heard (Comments will be limited to 5 minutes per speaker.) D. Mansur addressed the Committee. He indicated he has an issue with a neighboring landowner who has a feedlot for horses/heifers next to his property line. The runoff from the feedlot goes onto his property, and he is concerned about contamination of his well. He provided a summary of issues to L. Schweikert (copy on file). 4. Consent Agenda (Unless separation of an item is requested, all items will be adopted under one motion.) Motion: Approved Result: Passed (6 - 0) Mover: James Flater Seconder: Rocky Kempe Ayes: James Flater, Joel Seidlitz, Charles Bomar, Rocky Kempe, Nina Eisold, Ken Schmitt Nayes: None Absent: Matthew Peterson 1. Approve the Agenda 2. Approve the Minutes - July 15, 2026 3. Schedule Next Meeting Date - October 21, 2026 5. Reports 1. Chippewa County Annual Well Testing Update Presentation - Cayla Cavey, UW-Stevens Point C. Cavey presented an oral report. The report was supported by a presentation titled: Chippewa County Well Water Monitoring Program: Seven Rounds of Well Water Monitoring Success, (UW-Stevens Point, UWEX), (Distributed 9/10/26 - copy on file & attached). The report summarizes the well water monitoring program in Chippewa County that UW-Stevens Point has been conducting and recent testing results. There was general discussion. Discussion focused on: 1. Bacteria and pesticide testing in Chippewa County. 2. Enforcement of standards for private wells that test high for nitrates. L. Schweikert stated there are currently no groundwater standards to enforce in the State of Wisconsin like there are for surface water. 6. Business Items 1. Elect an LCFM Committee Member to Sit on the WI Land and Water (WLW) West Central Area Association Board - Lynda Schweikert L. Schweikert presented an oral report regarding the West Central Area Land & Water Conservation Association and the appointment of one committee member and one conservation staff person from each participating county to the board. There was general discussion. Motion to nominate Charles Bomar to sit on the WI Land and Water (WLW) West Central Area Association Board: Seidlitz/Schmitt. Motion to close nominations: Flater/Eisold. Vote carried by voice vote. Motion: Approved Result: Passed (6 - 0) Mover: Joel Seidlitz Seconder: Ken Schmitt Ayes: James Flater, Joel Seidlitz, Charles Bomar, Rocky Kempe, Nina Eisold, Ken Schmitt Nayes: None Absent: Matthew Peterson Motion carried by voice vote. 2. Deadline for 2026 Wildlife Crop Damage Assessment in Chippewa County - Nicole Luoma, MRP-APHIS N. Luoma presented an oral report. The report was supported by a form titled: Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program, Deadline for Wildlife Crop Damage Assessments Announced in Chippewa County, (Distributed 9/10/26 – copy on file & attached). The form proposes that 12/20/26 is the last day that wildlife crop damage assessments can be requested for the 2026 cropping year under Wisconsin’s Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program. Motion to approve 12/20/26 as the last day that wildlife crop damage assessment can be requested for the 2026 cropping year, as presented: Schmitt/Seidlitz. Motion carried by voice vote. Motion: Approved Result: Passed (6 - 0) Mover: Ken Schmitt Seconder: Joel Seidlitz Ayes: James Flater, Joel Seidlitz, Charles Bomar, Rocky Kempe, Nina Eisold, Ken Schmitt Nayes: None Absent: Matthew Peterson 3. 2026 Commodity Price Approvals - Nicole Luoma - MRP-APHIS N. Luoma presented an oral report. The report was supported by the following materials: 1. Form titled: 2026 Crop Price Proposal, Chippewa County, (Distributed 9/10/26 – copy on file & attached). The form establishes 2026 crop prices in Chippewa County for crops that wildlife damage appraisals have been submitted. 2. Table titled: 2026 Chippewa County Crop Prices & Sources, (Distributed 9/10/26 - copy on file & attached). The table shows the price average of local markets nearest the county seat and the prices are averages from all sources. Some are a yearly average, some reflect fall prices only. There was general discussion. Discussion focused on the APHIS compensation formula and payment caps. Motion to approve the 2026 Commodity Prices, as presented: Kempe/Flater. Motion carried by voice vote. Motion: Approved Result: Passed (6 - 0) Mover: Rocky Kempe Seconder: James Flater Ayes: James Flater, Joel Seidlitz, Charles Bomar, Rocky Kempe, Nina Eisold, Ken Schmitt Nayes: None Absent: Matthew Peterson 4. Horse Trail Extension to Rock Lake - Matt Hansen M. Hanson presented an oral report. The report is supported by a map titled: Rock Lake Horse Trail Expansion, (LCFM – Distributed 9/10/26 – copy on file & attached). The map shows the proposed extension of the horse trail system in the County Forest to Rock Lake Campground. There was general discussion. Motion to approve the horse trail expansion, as presented: Flater/Schmitt. Motion carried. Motion: Approved Result: Passed (6 - 0) Mover: James Flater Seconder: Ken Schmitt Ayes: James Flater, Joel Seidlitz, Charles Bomar, Rocky Kempe, Nina Eisold, Ken Schmitt Nayes: None Absent: Matthew Peterson 7. Agenda Items for Future Consideration The Chair mentioned that if anyone has any future agenda items, to contact himself or L. Schweikert. 8. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at: 01:01 PM Result: Passed (6 - 0) Mover: Ken Schmitt Seconder: Rocky Kempe Ayes: James Flater, Joel Seidlitz, Charles Bomar, Rocky Kempe, Nina Eisold, Ken Schmitt Absent: Matthew Peterson