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, June 25, 2025  
5:30 PM  
Viking County Park  
Boat Launch Parking Lot  
2525 County Highway B  
Stoughton, WI 53589  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Thoresen called the Park Commission Meeting to order at 5:30 PM.  
Staff Present: Alex DeSmidt, Lael Pascual, Sharene Smith, Joleen Stinson.  
Others Present: Gene Delcourt, Stacy Levin, Alison Volk.  
5 -  
Present:  
ANALIESE EICHER, TOM THORESEN, GRACE MORAN, KRISTIE GOFORTH and  
DON POSTLER  
2 - NANCY BOGUE and STEFANIE BROUWER  
Excused:  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the May 28, 2025 Park Commission  
2025  
MIN-094  
Attachments: 2025 MIN-094 Park_Commission_Minutes_05-28-2025  
A motion was made by POSTLER, seconded by MORAN, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0, EICHER abstained.  
Chair Thoresen requested to move the Action Items and Presentations up on the  
agenda. There was unanimous consent by Park Commission members.  
D. Items Requiring Committee Action  
1. Acceptance of sculpture donation from the Harry Whitehorse Int'l Wood Sculpture  
Festival to be installed at Fish Camp County Park  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by POSTLER, to accept a wood  
sculpture by artist Thorsten Schütt called “We Will Miss the Water” from the  
Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival to be installed at  
Fish Camp County Park. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival Sculpture Donation  
Memo  
2025  
RPT-149  
Attachments:  
Request for Acceptance of Donated Sculpture from the Harry  
Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival  
2. Conservation Fund Grant Application from the Village of Belleville for a trailhead  
purchase, Sugar River NRA  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by MORAN, to direct staff to  
prepare the resolution to award a Dane County Conservation Fund Grant to  
the Village of Belleville. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
E. Presentations  
1. Buy, Protect, Sell Program, Makar Parcel  
Alison Volk from American Farmland Trust presented its Buy, Protect, Sell  
Program, through which they purchase farmland, place a conservation  
easement on it, and resell it to an emerging farmer. They are requesting a Dane  
County Conservation Fund Grant to help acquire the agricultural conservation  
easement on a 21-acre property in the Town of Verona. The buyer and seller  
have been identified, and closing is anticipated this fall.  
American Farmland Trust Memo and Maps  
2025  
RPT-164  
Attachments:  
American Farmland Trust Memo Requesting a Dane County  
Conservation Fund Grant  
2. History of Viking County Park and the first Dane County Dog Park  
Viking County Park is historically significant as Dane County’s first dog park.  
Today, it features off-leash dog areas, picnic space, open fields, and multi-use  
trails. A key trail on the south end connects directly into Stoughton’s Amundson  
Park, linking county and city recreation areas.  
C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)  
AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR  
DANE COUNTY PARKS TO DEVELOP A CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM  
1. 2025  
RES-048  
CHAWLA, ROSE, POSTLER, MARREN, ENGELBERGER and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-048  
2025 RES-048 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by GOFORTH, seconded by EICHER, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote.  
AUTHORIZING A PURCHASE OF LAND FOR BABCOCK COUNTY PARK  
CHAWLA, POSTLER, FRIES, ENGELBERGER and RITT  
2. 2025  
RES-064  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: RES-064  
RES-064 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-064 MAP  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING FROM  
WisDOT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAPITAL CITY TO GLACIAL  
DRUMLIN TRAIL CONNECTOR PATH  
3. 2025  
RES-065  
PETERSON, ROSE, POSTLER, FRIES, ENGELBERGER and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-065  
2025 RES-065 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
AUTHORIZING A PURCHASE OF LAND FOR MCCARTHY YOUTH AND  
CONSERVATION COUNTY PARK  
4. 2025  
RES-066  
PETERSON, POSTLER, FRIES, ENGELBERGER and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-066  
2025 RES-066 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-066 MAP  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
ADOPTING THE 2025 - 2030 DANE COUNTY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE  
PLAN  
5. 2025  
RES-067  
CHAWLA, EICHER, POSTLER, BOLLIG, ROSE, MARREN, ENGELBERGER and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-067  
2025 RES-067 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-067 PARKS OPEN SPACE PLAN REPORT  
2025 RES-067 PARKS OPEN SPACE PLAN MAP  
2025 RES-067 PARKS OPEN SPACE PLAN REGIONAL TRAILS  
MAP  
A motion was made by MORAN, seconded by EICHER, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
F. Reports to Committee  
G. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 5:30 pm  
Stewart Lake County Park  
3106 County Highway JG  
Mount Horeb, WI 53572  
2. Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 5:30 pm  
Sugar River Wildlife Area Davidson Unit  
1855 State Highway 69  
Verona, WI 53593  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
J. Closed Session  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by POSTLER, that the Meeting enter  
into closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
5 -  
Ayes:  
Supervisor EICHER, Chair THORESEN, MORAN, Second Vice Chair GOFORTH  
and Supervisor POSTLER  
The Commission (or Committee) plans to meet 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).  
K. Return to Open Session  
A motion was made by GOFORTH, seconded by MORAN, that the Meeting exit out  
of closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
5 -  
Ayes:  
Supervisor EICHER, Chair THORESEN, MORAN, Second Vice Chair GOFORTH  
and Supervisor POSTLER  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
Commissioners gave tribute to Grace Moran at her final meeting, expressing  
appreciation for her service and dedication, as she steps down due to moving  
out of the county.  
L. Adjourn  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by MORAN, that the Meeting be  
adjourned in honor of Grace Moran. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
Meeting adjourned 6:52 PM.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.