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, August 23, 2023  
5:30 PM  
Mendota County Park  
5133 County Highway M, Middleton  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Thoresen called the Park Commission meeting to order at 5:30 PM.  
Staff Present: Joleen Stinson, Lael Pascual, Sharene Smith, Jon Ernst.  
Others Present: Aaron Mullins, Caryl Terrell, Mary Witt.  
7 -  
Present:  
NANCY BOGUE, STEFANIE BROUWER, ANALIESE EICHER, DAVE RIPP, TOM  
THORESEN, GRACE MORAN and KRISTIE GOFORTH  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the August 9, 2023 Park Commission  
2023  
MIN-239  
Attachments: 2023 MIN-239 PC MINUTES 08-09-23  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by MORAN, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0.  
C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)  
2023  
AUTHORIZING A PURCHASE OF LAND IN THE TOWN OF VERONA  
RES-139  
AND TOWN OF MONTROSE FOR THE SUGAR RIVER WILDLIFE AREA  
BARE and CHAWLA  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-139  
2023 RES-139 FISCAL NOTE  
2023 RES-139 SUBJECT MAP  
2023 RES-139 AREA MAP  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by EICHER, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0.  
2023  
RES-145  
AUTHORIZING DONATION OF FUNDS FOR CHAINSAW WORKSHOPS  
FOR WOMEN FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR DANE COUNTY PARKS  
CHAWLA  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-145  
2023 RES-145 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 7-0.  
D. Items Requiring Committee Action - None  
E. Presentations  
1. Heritage Center Private Rental Transition  
Beginning in 2024, the Heritage Center will begin transitioning back to its original  
mission: to provide educational and interpretive opportunities for youth and adult learning,  
volunteerism, outdoor recreation and Dane County Land and Water Resource Department  
organized community events. The Heritage Center will continue to host 2024 weddings,  
which were booked earlier this year. No other private events will be booked in 2024. In  
2025, the Heritage Center will transition fully to a Land & Water Education Center.  
2. Mendota County Park Improvement Project Update  
The upcoming improvements to Mendota County Park were made possible by a $1.5M  
gift to the Foundation for Dane County Parks from the family of Tom and Karen Ragatz.  
The Foundation for Dane County Parks is coordinating the request for proposals for final  
design and construction document development which will then be gifted to Dane County  
Parks. The proposals were due Monday 8/21 and the Foundation received four  
submissions. Anticipate design and construction document development through this  
winter 2023-24 and construction beginning sometime in 2024.  
3. History of Mendota County Park  
This land was first occupied by Native Americans, as this whole region was a sacred  
place because of the four lakes. A trading post was located just west of the parkland  
from 1832-37. In 1951, Dane County purchased the first seven (7) acres and the park has  
since grown to 19 acres. The park has always been very popular for camping, especially  
in the 1960's. There was a caretaker house on-site which was used until 1970. The  
master plan was developed in 2015-16. In 2021, the seawall was repaired and an  
accessible path along the channel was installed. The park's amenities focus on lake  
access, including a swimming beach with a clean beach treatment system, a shallow  
launch for small boats, a campground with a boat camping area, a reservable shelter,  
playground, basketball court and volleyball courts.  
F. Reports to Committee  
1. Proposed Dane County Parks 2024 Fee Changes  
Feedback received at the last park commission meeting was incorporated in the 2024  
proposed fee changes that are now posted online www.danecountyparks.com/about/fees.  
The public hearing is scheduled to take place September 6 at 5:30 PM at the Lussier  
Family Heritage Center. It will be a hybrid meeting. The press release announcing the  
proposed fee increases and the public hearing was sent on Friday, August 18.  
G. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Wednesday, September 6, 2023 - Hybrid Meeting  
2024 Fee Public Hearing  
Heritage Center lower level  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison  
2. Wednesday, September 27, 2023  
Halfway Prairie School  
9770 State Highway 19, Cross Plains  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda - None  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law - None  
J. Adjourn  
A motion was made by RIPP, seconded by BROUWER, that the Meeting be  
adjourned. The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0.  
Meeting adjourned 6:30 PM.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.