Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Park Commission  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Monday, June 26, 2023  
5:30 PM  
Salmo Pond, 4809 Scherbel Rd  
Cross Plains, WI 53528  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Thoresen called the Park Commission meeting to order at 5:30 PM.  
Staff Present: Joleen Stinson, Chris James, Jon Ernst.  
Friends of Festge Park Board Members Present: Gary Nelson, Jeanette Hoard, Dennis  
Connor.  
Others Present: Mike Weber.  
4 - ANALIESE EICHER, DAVE RIPP, TOM THORESEN and GRACE MORAN  
Present:  
Excused:  
3 - NANCY BOGUE, STEFANIE BROUWER and KRISTIE GOFORTH  
Chair Thoresen requested to move the presentations to the top of the agendas. There  
was unanimous consent by Park Commission members present.  
D. Presentations  
1. Friends of Festge Park  
Friends of Festge Park President Gary Nelson shared the history of the Friends. They  
started removing buckthorn in the park in 2010 and incorporated as a 501(c)3 in 2013.  
They have 4-6 core volunteers and one of them is in the park every day year round.  
Jeanette Hoard passed out the Friends of Festge Park 2023-2024 annual work plan. The  
Friends of cleared buckthorn out of ~80 acres of forest and have ~40 acres to go. The  
Friends estimate the total value of volunteer hours from 2010-2022 at $957,831.  
Friends of Festge Park 2023-2024 Work Plan  
2023  
RPT-159  
Attachments: Fof 2023-2024 Work Plan  
Supervisor Eicher arrived at 5:46 PM.  
2. History of Festge County Park & Salmo Pond County Park  
Salmo Pond offers accessible fishing piers and picnic areas. It has a 3 acre pond  
(formerly a rock quarry) with a maximum depth of 15 ft. In 2022, a parking lot  
reconstruction project added stormwater basins and replaced the existing toilet building.  
The memorial Dan Wisniewski Accessible Fishing Area was named through a Park  
Commission action and a dedication ceremony was held last fall. The property is owned  
by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). In 1980, the WDNR and  
Dane County signed an agreement giving Dane County the authority to develop, operate  
and maintain a multiple-use recreation area in perpetuity.  
Nearby Festge County Park was established in 1963 after Otto and Evelyn Festge  
donated the original 15.9 acreage for this park. The scenic overlook was restored in  
2019, including a new seating wall and accessibility improvements. The park contains  
155 acres of wooded parkland with hiking trails winding through a mature stand of hickory  
and oak trees. Other features include two shelters, play equipment and shaded areas for  
family picnics.  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the May 24, 2023 Park Commission  
2023  
MIN-140  
Attachments: 2023 MIN-140 PC Minutes 05-24-23  
A motion was made by MORAN, seconded by EICHER, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0.  
C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)  
AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR LOWER YAHARA RIVER TRAIL PHASE 2  
1. 2023  
RES-070  
RIPP, ROSE, ENGELBERGER, JOERS and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-070  
2023 RES-070 FISCAL NOTE  
2023 RES-070 CONTRACT #15119  
A motion was made by RIPP, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0.  
2. 2023  
RES-082  
AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR FISH CAMP ACCESSIBLE KAYAK  
LAUNCH IMPROVEMENTS AT THE FISH CAMP COUNTY PARK  
RIPP and RATCLIFF  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-082  
2023 RES-082 FISCAL NOTE  
2023 RES-082 CONTRACT #15149  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 4-0.  
3. 2023  
RES-091  
AUTHORIZING ADDENDUM A TO A PURCHASE OF SERVICES  
AGREEMENT CONTRACT WITH CORRE INC.  
CHAWLA  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-091  
2023 RES-091 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by RIPP, seconded by EICHER, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0.  
4. 2023  
RES-092  
AUTHORIZING ADDENDUM C TO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL  
AGREEMENT CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY OF SAUK  
CHAWLA and RIPP  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: RES-092  
2023 RES-092 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by RIPP, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0.  
5. 2023  
RES-093  
AUTHORIZING GRANTS OF EASEMENT TO MADISON  
METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE DISTRICT- ICE AGE TRAIL JUNCTION  
NATURAL RESOURCE AREA  
CHAWLA  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-093  
RES-093 FISCAL NOTE  
RES-093 MAP  
A motion was made by MORAN, seconded by RIPP, that the Resolution Requiring  
2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote  
4-0.  
E. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Wednesday, July 12, 2023 - Hybrid Meeting  
Heritage Center lower level  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison  
2. Wednesday, July 26, 2023  
Goodland County Park  
2849 Waubesa Ave, Madison  
F. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda - None  
G. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law - None  
H. Adjourn  
A motion was made by MORAN, seconded by RIPP, that the Meeting be  
adjourned. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0.  
Meeting adjourned 6:33 PM.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.