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Committee renews 5-year MOU with Kettle Moraine Land Trust; hears conservancy reports and park updates
Summary
Walworth County Parks Committee approved a five-year renewal with Kettle Moraine Land Trust, heard reports from Geneva Lakes Conservancy and KMLT about volunteers and education events, and received updates on park projects including a Jackson Creek preserve platform fundraising effort and a tested hydrant at White River County Park.
The Walworth County Parks Committee on March 17 approved a five-year renewal of its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kettle Moraine Land Trust (KMLT) and received reports from Geneva Lakes Conservancy (GLC) and KMLT on volunteer stewardship and educational programming.
Why it matters: the renewed MOU sets the county’s working relationship with KMLT for the next five years and clarifies which design and planning responsibilities will now be handled by county parks staff rather than the land trust. The committee also heard that local conservancies are expanding public programs and habitat work that support county parks.
KMLT MOU: staff summarized changes to section 3 of the MOU to reflect organizational and personnel changes at KMLT and removed a previous requirement that KMLT produce detailed comprehensive plans; those planning responsibilities will be carried out by county parks staff. The committee voted to approve the final draft as presented. The committee chair and staff described the change as a shift of conceptual design and detailed planning responsibilities to county staff while retaining partnership commitments to community engagement, stewardship and promotion of protected areas.
Conservancy reports and projects: Geneva Lakes Conservancy presenters described volunteer invasive-species removals, teacher workshops and family-focused events at White River County Park and other preserves. KMLT representatives outlined stewardship and preserve work across Walworth County, including Peterson Island Woods, Beulah Bluff and a Jackson Creek Preserve project. KMLT said it has a $20,000 project planned to improve public access at Jackson Creek Preserve and had secured about $9,000 toward that goal; the trust reported it will pursue additional grants and local donations.
Park updates and public comment: county parks staff reviewed top projects (Lakeland School courtyard, law enforcement courtyard improvements, White River Pavilion 2 parking expansion, Arts in the Park and kiosk refresh), noted an increase in winter cleanup and tree removal, and summarized the department’s operating and capital project status. Staff reported a citizen complaint on March 14 concerning a hydrant at White River Park; the county tested the water and found no chloroform or E. coli and that nitrate levels were within EPA guidance.
Related action: the committee also agreed to prepare a letter supporting the continuation of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program after a referral from the board; a motion to draft the letter and send support passed on a voice vote.
Ending: staff said they are continuing work on MOUs with Geneva Lakes Conservancy (pending their internal committee reviews) and will return further drafts at future meetings. The committee confirmed its next meeting for May 19.
