June.9.2026 LWUWEXT Minutes

Land & Water and UW-Extension Committee June 9th, 2026, 8:00 A.M. In Person at County Board Room, Montello WI. Meeting was virtual/recorded. Meeting Minutes Attendance: Ken Borzick, John Bennett, Eli Schmudlach, Larry Haygood, Pat Kilbey, Ron Barger, Pat Wagner, Hannah Zellmer, and Jacob Hansen. Chairman Borzick called the Meeting to Order Motion Bennett, 2nd Schmudlach to approve Agenda as presented. Motion Carried. Motion Bennett, 2nd Haygood to approve May 2026 Minutes. Motion Carried LWCD Report: Kilbey gave report. Recycling Ordinance needs to be updated due to DNR mandates and should be ready for Committee at next meeting. 9-Key element plan writing is on-going. Kilbey met recently with Buffalo Lake District and others for status update. Department Staff recently attended Westfield Biology class to see presentations on stream monitoring they have been doing. Student’s presentations were very impressive and well put together. Field work was reported on a couple of on-going erosion issues on farms. Construction should start soon. Kilbey is working with DNR for MDV funding and possible watersheds to target. Slow process but progress is being made. Technician has been busy with Zoning assistance and recent heavy rains causing erosion control plans to fail. Agronomist is in middle of cover crop sign-ups and have many sign-ups coming in. Discussion followed. Demo Farm field day is planned for August at Delwin Farms. Department was recently made aware of special soil health field day funding we are eligible for due to County writing a 9-Key plan. This field day would be located in the 9-key area (Buffalo Lake watershed). Agriculture Report: Bennett reported corn has grown a lot in last week with heat and humidity. 1st cutting of hay has been completed. Lakes Report: Haygood reported the spring meeting was cancelled due to speakers backing out. They will look to reconvene in the fall. Golden Sands: Borzick reported last meeting was procedural as officers were elected. There was discussion from other Counties on manure storage closures and bedrock issues with manure spreading. Discussion followed on manure/groundwater issues. Borzick and Bennett reported on recent LCC Member training. Good topics were discussed and it was a good training. One topic of interest was Waushara County recently having their LWRM plan rejected by State Land/Water Conservation Board. Discussion was had on LWRM plan and when Marquette County was due. Discussion followed. May 2026 Land and Water Department expenses were reviewed and discussed. UW-Extension Department Educator Reports – Pat Wagner, Area Extension Director, directed the committee to review the May Educator Report in SharePoint. Both staff members, Christa VanTreeck and Hannah Zellmer, submitted written May reports. VanTreeck was absent as she is currently programming at 4-H Summer Camp while Zellmer was present to share a summary of her May report. She also shared a written copy of the Extension Human Development and Relationships Institute Annual Impact Report. She highlighted the programs she offers in Marquette County and beyond and answered questions. Area Extension Director Report – Wagner shared that she has begun the process of 2027 budgeting across Area 12 counties. Extension vouchers/monthly expenses were reviewed and no questions were raised. Other Official Meetings held Fair Committee – John Bennett reported on progress towards planning for the 2026 Marquette County Fair. He distributed rack cards to those in attendance for promotion of the fair in July. No other official meetings held. Next Land and Water and UW-Extension Committee meeting will be August 11, 2026 at 8:15 a.m. in the Services Center. Meeting adjourned by Chair Borzick. Respectfully submitted, Pat Kilbey and Pat Wagner