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?  
Wednesday, July 23, 2025  
5:30 PM  
Sugar River Wildlife Area Davidson Unit  
1855 State Highway 69  
Verona, WI 53593  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Thoresen called the Park Commission Meeting to order at 5:30 PM.  
Staff Present: Alex DeSmidt, Lindsay Koehnke, Andy Paulios, Sharene Smith,  
Joleen Stinson.  
6 -  
Present:  
NANCY BOGUE, STEFANIE BROUWER, ANALIESE EICHER, TOM THORESEN,  
KRISTIE GOFORTH and DON POSTLER  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the July 9, 2025 Park Commission Meeting  
2025  
MIN-194  
Attachments: 2025 MIN 194 Park Commission Minutes 7-9-2025  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by BROUWER, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote.  
C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)  
CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER #01- WALKING IRON  
TRAIL-CONSTRUCTION- 6715 CTH 78, MAZOMANIE, WI- CONTRACTOR:  
ZENITH TECH INC  
1. 2025  
RES-103  
ENGELBERGER and DOOLAN  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-103  
2025 RES-103 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-103 CO#01  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by EICHER, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF WETLAND CREDITS FROM THE CHEROKEE  
MARSH - WISCONSIN AGRICULTURAL MITIGATION BANK  
2. 2025  
RES-093  
CHAWLA, POSTLER, ENGELBERGER and DOWNING  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-093  
2025 RES-093 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by POSTLER, seconded by BROUWER, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 6-0.  
AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR STATE OF WISCONSIN DNR URBAN  
FORESTRY REGULAR GRANT PROGRAM  
3. 2025  
RES-092  
CHAWLA, BARUSHOK, POSTLER, ENGELBERGER, DOWNING, DOOLAN and ROSE  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-092  
2025 RES-092 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by EICHER, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
DANE COUNTY CONSERVATION FUND GRANT AWARD TO THE VILLAGE  
OF BELLEVILLE  
4. 2025  
RES-091  
DOWNING, CHAWLA, ENGELBERGER and FRIES  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-091  
RES-091 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-091 MAP  
2025 RES-091 TRAIL MAP  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Resolution  
be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
AUTHORIZING A PURCHASE OF AN AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION  
EASEMENT FOR AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST BUY-SELL-PROTECT  
PROGRAM  
5. 2025  
RES-090  
CHAWLA, POSTLER, ENGELBERGER, DOWNING, FRIES, DOOLAN and ROSE  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-090  
2025 RES-090 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-090 MAP  
A motion was made by GOFORTH, seconded by BOGUE, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
D. Items Requiring Committee Action  
1. Friends Capital Grant Award for Anderson Park Friends  
Joleen Stinson provided an overview of the Friends Capital Grant Program and  
the Anderson Park Friends' grant application for tree removal.  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by BOGUE, that the Anderson Park  
Friends be awarded a $3,900 Friends Capital Grant to hire a certified arborist  
for tree removal. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
Friends Capital Grant Award Memo  
2025  
RPT-214  
Attachments:  
Memo to Park Commission for Capital Grant Award Anderson Park  
Friends  
E. Presentations  
1. History of Sugar River Wildlife Area  
Property stabilization on newer units of SRWA  
Davidson House  
Falk Wells Sugar River Wildlife Area restoration project  
Alex DeSmidt and Lindsay Koehnke provided an update on the Sugar River  
Wildlife Area, including recent property acquisitions between 2020 and 2024 that  
expanded the site by 861 acres. Efforts to stabilize and open new units include  
demolishing old farm buildings and adding parking lots, with the goal of public  
access by the fall gun deer hunting season. They also shared updates on the  
Davidson stone house, which recently received a new roof and the removal of  
the non-stone addition is planned for this winter. Construction on the adjacent  
Falk Wells wetland restoration project is expected to begin soon.  
2. DRAFT Proposed 2026 Park Fees  
Joleen Stinson presented an overview of the draft proposed 2026 park permit,  
reservation, and education program fees. Most proposed fee increases are  
modest and focused on areas not raised last year. Some replacement permits  
will increase to be consistent at $20. The special event permit will effectively  
increase by $25 as the application fee will no longer serve as a deposit, aligning  
with the recurring program permit structure. Charges for additional electric  
setups, utility marking, and mowing (primarily for grass parking) will also rise to  
reflect actual service costs, which have outpaced previous rates. For education  
programs, fees aim to remain as low as possible while covering actual material  
and staff costs. Increases are primarily tied to transportation expenses for  
camps and higher-cost field trips. A public hearing on the proposed fees is  
scheduled for August 27, with Park Commission action planned for September  
10, 2025. Commissioners supported the draft proposed 2026 fees and directed  
staff to clarify in the education program fee document that the fee goal is cost  
recovery, with scholarships available.  
Dane County Parks Fee History With DRAFT Proposed 2026 Fees for  
Discussion  
2025  
RPT-209  
Attachments:  
Park Permit Fee History With Proposed 2026 & Educational Program  
Fees Proposed 2026  
F. Reports to Committee  
1. 2025 Volunteer Appreciation Picnic: Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 5:00 PM  
Commissions are invited to attend the Volunteer Appreciation Picnic.  
2025 Volunteer Appreciation Picnic Save the Date  
2025  
RPT-210  
Attachments: 2025 Volunteer Picnic Save the Date  
G. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Wednesday, August 27 at 5:30 pm  
Public Hearing for 2026 Fees  
Heritage Center, Upper Level  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison  
2. Wednesday, September 10 at 5:30 pm  
Heritage Center, Upper Level  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
J. Adjourn  
Meeting adjourned 7:08 PM.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.