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Supervisors review mapping tools, local drainage concerns and conservation budget pressures
Summary
Board members reviewed pictometry and DNR contour data, reported drone inspections that found no beaver dams in a complaint area, and debated the conservation budget and whether to pause land purchases; members cited a conservation budget of about $567,000 and discussed REAP levy requirements.
Supervisors and staff reviewed the county's mapping resources and drainage monitoring, and spent substantial time on conservation budget lines and options for land purchases.
Committee member (S3) and Staff member (S2) described where pictometry and a DNR two-foot contours layer live and noted how to access contour tools in the portal; S2 said the DNR two-foot contours came from about 2020. Committee member (S3) also reported drone surveys of ditches where residents had complained of beaver dams but said none were found across the area they inspected.
Committee member (S1) provided a multi-year review of conservation budgets, saying "This year's budget is $567,000" and that conservation revenues were about $66,000, leaving the balance to general-basic funds. S1 also noted that "Counties must levy at least 22 cents per thousand of assessed taxable property value for conservation to be eligible for REAP," citing the levy requirement for REAP eligibility discussed during the meeting.
Concerns were raised about ongoing conservation land acquisitions and their impact on tax rolls; Committee member (S1) suggested talking with Kelsey to explore a moratorium on additional land purchases. Members also reviewed object codes and personnel lines to clarify which expenses belong in administration, operations or special projects; they discussed part-time staff and how health insurance and benefits feed into the totals.
Next steps: Staff was asked to assemble multi-year budget figures and reports for review at the next meeting; a bond-related conservation meeting was moved and staff were asked to post the updated meeting time.
