[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6078273,"mediaKeyId","2960212-6b4d043ff94ecd2e6d80cd05ff6b3b97","parentId",2960212,"title","UW Extension staff announce regional housing summit May 6 and report local development activity","audioSeconds",177,"startMs",3135260,"endMs",3313105,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2960212-6b4d043ff94ecd2e6d80cd05ff6b3b97&start=3135&end=3313","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2960212-6b4d043ff94ecd2e6d80cd05ff6b3b97/thumbnail_3135260.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6078273/Vernon-County/Wisconsin/UW-Extension-staff-announce-regional-housing-summit-May-6-and-report-local-development-activity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078273-567ef41f3e444b85ce8c2a71285fc525/orig.mp4?Expires=1775482026&Signature=OdjzcLCQNGf5THlY3fhxTdeJ9rb2P8WplimS9u6kX1n~VmWOtnRN6J8NiF0P~dmuifdEmZsSTWRyt9UzHV0UJHKESI8qwYzn36QWA7abbXjkbwsmLNTEGYw2N4gU6hZutOlalnb8SeJq0C7d4jkDKmPcJSwJd-bLMEqm8TReuWayj-a2y9RiZKX2cHjtFy8hbXk~4OOle~eu67hdiUuDFunzupUj1062WVAwIg3bP57CLcMuVml1b50~jLjYLR7dZ1QzItlvqH52v-3KQEBRcgRBihuNkCQ40x1bwB0ze4DsxbOp3ZK3mWrvZCE5rP3p1GHtU-xAj-6oob3MZFr92g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","WI / Vernon County","date","2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","article","Hannah, a Vernon County UW Extension staff member, told the committee that a regional housing summit for seven-area counties is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, in Hillsboro and that registration and a temporary agenda are open.

Hannah said the summit will include an optional tour of three housing units at the end of the day and that the county housing study is nearing completion with final recommendations expected in May. She said registrations are arriving from across Wisconsin and that the event draws interest from counties beyond the immediate region.

Committee members and staff also discussed several local development projects. Extension staff described a mixed-use project with about 60 units (reported as approximately 60'62 units) that includes ground-level space planned for a childcare facility and two retail storefronts; the project is expected to be market-rate rather than low-income affordable housing. Other developers are planning townhouses and apartment buildings; staff said some projects are roughly two years from completion.

Hannah and other Extension staff said the county's housing planning work includes outreach events such as an open house on the housing study and that the extension team is coordinating regional partners and developers.

Outlook: The housing summit will proceed on May 6; Extension staff will present final housing-study recommendations to the committee and county board when the study is complete.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Vernon County Conservation and Education Committee Meeting April 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","UW Extension staff said a regional housing summit will be held May 6 in Hillsboro and that several local residential development projects are in design or early construction stages; a county housing study is expected to be finalized in May.","taxTitle","Vernon County, Wisconsin","taxId",67955,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078276,"County told FEMA grant award rescinded; staff to continue flood work while awaiting design funding for dam decommissioning",38,924560,963020,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2960212-6b4d043ff94ecd2e6d80cd05ff6b3b97&start=924&end=963","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2960212-6b4d043ff94ecd2e6d80cd05ff6b3b97/thumbnail_924560.jpg","/articles/6078276/Vernon-County/Wisconsin/County-told-FEMA-grant-award-rescinded-staff-to-continue-flood-work-while-awaiting-design-funding-for-dam-decommissioning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078276-4e1b4802c3f81aa1b341e17253d4338a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775482026&Signature=LP3AYQQn4Ab2nHBXIYYPv9lqkNRh-Fx2ACPaXqU6k2rVQ~kiSh66dn0JGcaALfGN7WNE6mpMIFlYGbUqTPQjQVk1ljcpubFOeeqZfZToIe9fYKqtubvtnDUMlqH-l20IGXnJN25cyTWraE0in-zH2iFsnwLWuf1g4zpVp7c7Fs6XXZ3k3EVF-2VZlxSGZ2rtBcl74gxlWfgE567YrI1bA5M4QBOYhsRwnhyAdPlWS4Vpd6tZzELS1QlAKBH5vwFe9lkGAuFw4JjMIAN~kq9BMaSlpzxsFzNqYHztc9L9guLRVxbbOXMb996OlSHXWD-Wr8n-ecDo7qdHAVRHj5VGFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members were told that a federal grant the county had relied on for flood mitigation work has been rescinded. Meeting testimony said the county is likely to lose about $43,571 in FEMA-funded reimbursements paid to contractors and face clawback of approximately $105,000 in unused grant funds.

Staff said the removed funding had been intended to support a range of activities: hiring staff time to lead the project, entering historical flood-damage records into the statewide WebEOC system, acquiring tablets for field damage surveys, developing an RTIS flood dashboard, and contracting for hydro-enforced digital elevation models to inform agricultural conservation planning.

Cassie (staff member) said the county will continue the flood-mitigation work using existing staff, but without federal reimbursement for staff time. Staff described outreach to Senator Tammy Baldwin's office and Representative Derrick Van Orden's office seeking programmatic and appropriations support for the design phase; they said NRCS currently holds the project pending design-phase funding.

Committee members raised insurance and liability questions. Staff said the county's insurer had indicated concern over leaving dams in place and that, if the county did not move forward with decommissioning, the insurer might drop coverage for certain structures because of perceived risk. The county is awaiting design-phase funding for decommissioning and continues to pursue federal and state support.

Staff also described plans (previously included in the grant scope) to train municipalities on a mobile damage-survey app (Survey123) and to compile historical damage records back to February 2007 in WebEOC for individual-assistance and public records.

Outlook: The committee directed staff to continue work where feasible and to keep the board informed while pursuing alternative funding sources; staff will report to the county board and update the committee when new funding or design progress is secured.

","Staff reported the county's FEMA grant under the resilience program was rescinded, risking reimbursement of about $43,571 and clawback of roughly $105,000 in unused funds; committee heard updates on dam decommissioning design funding with NRCS and on insurance and liability concerns.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078280,"County conservationist outlines prairie planting plan at county farm; department reports net revenue for month",114,277395,391880,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2960212-6b4d043ff94ecd2e6d80cd05ff6b3b97&start=277&end=391","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2960212-6b4d043ff94ecd2e6d80cd05ff6b3b97/thumbnail_277395.jpg","/articles/6078280/Vernon-County/Wisconsin/County-conservationist-outlines-prairie-planting-plan-at-county-farm-department-reports-net-revenue-for-month","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078280-6cccbe0a8e1744b21140f4ad9d4ab840/orig.mp4?Expires=1775482026&Signature=F-VCIemiqXtY1MLMxNP467mLaKw4rgU~ndtSzBqqSIayq1NcXspnIITzmnDlfvms3XiXzNGKXPyRGi0gWuzkcgAD2HitLRmpd4a42eEx2~rUwBLjfUJJmLKbtP-JjlnOT2HzCK-oy2kOeFTfsbprp354TO-wGR-npwCpaf4k1m7JKRMAI5x8HZdzOpAgmqbJ39tBlxMlO8IkS0nIRK3iFI9dmO-2gqzA6XCOj4nL300pm0Z-eLU72QMeI1hdTgsO9vrjPEzJ2EnESHVyTLH68GN~vdGF8rs~RoxLMe-JlqazYhNypALiG2NO3njWmjikHOldzj-0J1eGClcGq4lIYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","David, Vernon County's county conservationist, told the Land and Water Committee that most of the county farm will be planted to prairie this spring and that the BSN Valley Stewardship Network will provide prairie seed for roughly 10 acres.

David said the planting work is planned to begin the week of May 5, pending approval of funding by Buildings and Facilities for part of the work. The department plans to use a new no-till seed drill on most areas; one parcel labeled 4b may require broadcast seeding because of rough ground and remaining honeysuckle.

Staff explained one grass-waterway area was adjusted to about 2 acres and will be planted with a native cool-season grass mix rather than full prairie seed to suit hydrologic conditions. David said the prairie mix used is similar to the mix used by the local stewardship group and is formulated to have at least three species flowering across the June'September window as it matures.

On department finances, the committee heard that total expenses for the month were $42,220.18 and March reimbursements and other revenue totaled $74,809.87, leaving revenue exceeding expenses for the period. Staff identified a metallic-mining fee line as a recurring revenue source tied to annual renewals for quarries and mining operations; a portion of those fees is remitted to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Committee members asked whether tree plantings for a requested windbreak (to shelter a highway shop) required a formal motion; staff said no formal vote was required unless county funds were being spent beyond already budgeted amounts and that buildings-and-facilities purchasing the trees would clarify funding sources.

Next steps: staff will circulate the prairie seed mix composition to committee members, proceed with site preparation and begin planting when funding approvals and site readiness are confirmed.

","The county's conservation staff presented a prairie planting plan for the county farm with a partner providing seed and said planting would begin the week of May 5 pending buildings-and-facilities approval. Staff also reviewed monthly Land and Water department finances, reporting revenues exceeding expenses for the month.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078284,"Vernon County committee approves resolutions to pursue two land acquisitions; project-loan agreement postponed",616,1869821,2486815,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2960212-6b4d043ff94ecd2e6d80cd05ff6b3b97&start=1869&end=2486","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2960212-6b4d043ff94ecd2e6d80cd05ff6b3b97/thumbnail_1869821.jpg","/articles/6078284/Vernon-County/Wisconsin/Vernon-County-committee-approves-resolutions-to-pursue-two-land-acquisitions-project-loan-agreement-postponed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078284-2fa8767413c2daf985f43d7c4dea503a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775482026&Signature=WJYEDjf6pQ~eGo-5NlVJzlbSlkLZwUpSSxw3uRCuUb9qaOkG~v4aYoyswuGgp~1-1Wj73Z03W1WC5nXBW2wKwUlnEPXJIiEZa1MBUUvHW5Vkf9EYBH6vce7MM7GAWRhxZdIng-OMMqN2iJ7P7phuqUx7ja7aHGXbG7u6bgEMuh-FzTLLNDPXq1TkCkTkxj2-fqQaIOaoC-cIFcyDshy4EnnlMOrwh5Dl70w6DdDBKMYb918A540nXKKtm5iLp7Bor~VgKQyTXQUpEUg0u-uH1fi7PVRT27rRTr8adJCxmu1ikSQrWYdZ50Y~dvk6hbzhfNf4llYkb01GBW3ZHX4pmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vernon County Land and Water Committee on a voice vote approved separate resolutions authorizing staff to apply for state funding to pursue acquisition of the Duck Egg property and the Avalanche property.

Committee members voted to move both resolutions forward after staff described the application process, appraisal timing and potential financial impacts of using state project-loan funding.

The resolutions authorize staff to apply for project loan funding that, if accepted, would require the county to dedicate a larger share of future timber-sale revenue to repay the state loan. Committee members said the change in the state's model would move the county from a 20% to a 40% share of timber-sale proceeds toward loan repayment for properties acquired with project loans; staff said the 40% share applies only if a project loan is actually used.

County forester and acquisitions lead Nick (staff member) told the committee the county's current loan balance from prior acquisitions is $893,000, and that the state expects a 40% repayment level under project loans. He said the county can still apply without committing to a project loan and that appraisals, township reviews and townships'involvement would occur if the county moves forward.

Tom Hawk, identified in the meeting as a public forest land specialist by staff during discussion, told the committee the Avalanche property might not score highly in the Knowles-Nelson ranking because only about 30 acres of woodland are present and the parcel is not adjacent to existing county forest boundaries, which affects ranking for the Wisconsin County Forest System.

Committee members discussed the county's 15-year forest plan and the \"blocking boundary\" that defines where the county can apply for county-forest status. Staff said the blocking boundary can be adjusted through the county board and that updating it would allow more parcels in-county to be considered for acquisition and enrollment.

When the project-loan memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would formalize a 40% repayment share was presented (agenda item 12), staff recommended taking no action this month. The committee agreed to postpone signing the MOA and to revisit it after appraisals and additional township input; no MOA was signed at the meeting.

The resolutions to apply for funding for the Duck Egg and Avalanche properties passed by voice vote; meeting minutes record the motions as carried. The meeting record does not specify individual roll-call votes or a numerical tally.

Staff noted possible next steps included obtaining appraisals, coordinating township reviews and, if pursuing a project loan, communicating terms with the state before final approval by the county board.

Outlook: Staff will pursue application steps and report back; the MOA and any decision to accept a project loan will return to the committee for action after appraisals and further information.

","The Land and Water committee voted to approve resolutions allowing staff to apply for funding to acquire the Duck Egg and Avalanche properties, while discussion about a state project-loan memorandum of agreement that would raise the county's revenue-sharing requirement from 20% to 40% was postponed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

UW Extension staff announce regional housing summit May 6 and report local development activity

County told FEMA grant award rescinded; staff to continue flood work while awaiting design funding for dam decommissioning

County conservationist outlines prairie planting plan at county farm; department reports net revenue for month

Vernon County committee approves resolutions to pursue two land acquisitions; project-loan agreement postponed