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 28, 2024  
5:30 PM  
Fish Camp County Park Net House  
3359 Fish Camp Rd, McFarland  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Thoresen called the Park Commission meeting to order at 5:30 PM.  
Staff Present: Joleen Stinson, Sharene Smith, Lael Pascual, Alex DeSmidt, Chad  
Haanen, David Rowe.  
Others Present: Janice Kellog, George Corrigan, Kim Walz, Connie Hagen.  
6 -  
Present:  
NANCY BOGUE, STEFANIE BROUWER, ANALIESE EICHER, TOM THORESEN,  
GRACE MORAN and DON POSTLER  
1 - KRISTIE GOFORTH  
Excused:  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the July 24, 2024 Park Commission  
2024  
MIN-157  
Attachments: 2024 MIN-157 PC Minutes 7-24-24  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by POSTLER, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments) - None  
D. Presentations  
1. Friends of Lake Kegonsa Society (FOLKS)  
Friends of Lake Kegonsa Society (FOLKS) is a non-profit organization whose primary  
focus is to protect and enhance the environmental and recreational values of Lake  
Kegonsa and its surrounding resources. They are an entirely volunteer run organization  
with ~400-450 members who mostly live on or near Lake Kegonsa. FOLKS focuses a lot  
of their volunteer energy to improve Fish Camp County Park. Their volunteers maintain  
the shoreline gardens, lead public educational events and assist with land restoration  
along the new Lower Yahara River Trail. FOLKS has donated time and funding to  
renovate the historic net house and contributed funding to the new kayak launch. FOLKS  
also contributes to water quality improvement projects, such as local leaf pick-up,  
stocking walleye, carp removal and water quality testing.  
2. Lower Yahara River Trail Phase 2 and Fish Camp County Park Accessibility  
Improvement Project Completion  
The Lower Yahara River Trail phase II is open! This project took five years for planning,  
permitting and contruction. It is a 1.6 mile asphalt paved trail with 4,200-feet of boardwalk  
through wetlands and a 90-foot bridge over Door Creek. The trail begins at Fish Camp  
County Park and extends east along the northern shore of Lake Kegonsa into Lake  
Kegonsa State Park. A new accessible floating kayak launch, walk-in kayak ramp, and  
accessible fishing pier were added to Fish Camp County Park, through a separate but  
concurrent development project. Over $150,000 in privately raised funds contributed to  
the accessible fishing and boating improvements. Dane County Parks will host a ribbon  
cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24 at Fish Camp County Park to  
celebrate the completion of both of these projects.  
E. Reports to Committee  
1. Proposed 2025 Park Fees Posted  
The proposed 2025 fees were posted on the Dane County Parks website, a press release  
was sent out, and it was included in the most recent parks newsletter advertising the  
public hearing on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. To date, no communications have  
been recevied related to the proposed 2025 fees.  
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Wednesday, September 4, 2024  
public hearing for 2025 fees  
Heritage Center upper level  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison  
2. Wednesday, September 25, 2024  
Brigham County Park  
3160 County Highway F, Blue Mounds  
G. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda - None  
H. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law - None  
I. Closed Session  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by BROUWER, that the Meeting enter  
into closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Ayes:  
BOGUE, Vice Chair BROUWER, Supervisor EICHER, Chair THORESEN, MORAN  
and Supervisor POSTLER  
1 - Second Vice Chair GOFORTH  
Excused:  
The Commission (or Committee) met in closed session for the purpose of deliberating or  
negotiating the purchasing or acquiring of property where open discussion of bargaining  
positions and strategies would discourage bargaining and harm the public's interest in  
obtaining properties. The authority for this possible closed session is Wis.Stat.19.85(1)  
(e).  
J. Return to Open Session  
A motion was made by POSTLER, seconded by EICHER, that the Meeting exit out  
of closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Ayes:  
BOGUE, Vice Chair BROUWER, Supervisor EICHER, Chair THORESEN, MORAN  
and Supervisor POSTLER  
1 - Second Vice Chair GOFORTH  
Excused:  
K. Adjourn  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by MORAN, that the Meeting be  
adjourned. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
Meeting adjourned 6:47 PM.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.