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, September 27, 2023

5:30 PM

Halfway Prairie Schoolhouse

9770 State Highway 19, Cross Plains

A. Call To Order

Chair Thoresen called the Park Commission meeting to order at 5:30 PM.

Staff Present: Joleen Stinson, Chris James.

Youth Governance Member Steve Hoang present.

Others Present: Dan Behringer, Jody Morey, Roger & Marie Kahl, Mike Weber.

4 - STEFANIE BROUWER, DAVE RIPP, TOM THORESEN and KRISTIE GOFORTH

Present:

Excused:

3 - NANCY BOGUE, ANALIESE EICHER and GRACE MORAN

B. Consideration of Minutes

Minutes of the Wednesday, September 6, 2023 Park Commission

1. 2023

MIN-271

Attachments: 2023_MIN-271_PC_MINUTES_9-6-23

A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Minutes be

approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0, YGP 1-0.

C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)

1. 2023

RES-178

AUTHORIZING A STATEMENT OF WILLINGNESS AND INTERIM TRAIL

USE / RAIL BANKING AGREEMENT FROM THE WISCONSIN

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE GREAT SAUK AND

WALKING IRON TRAILS

CHAWLA, DOOLAN, ROSE, RIPP, ENGELBERGER and EICHER

Sponsors:

Attachments: 2023 RES-178

2023 RES-178 FISCAL NOTE

2023 RES-178 MAP

A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by RIPP, that the Resolution be

recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0, YGP 1-0.

D. Items Requiring Committee Action

1. Set 2024 Park and Permit Fees

2024 Proposed Fee Changes

2023

ACT-182

Attachments: 2024 Proposed Fee Changes

Dane County Parks held a public hearing on proposed 2024 park fees on September 6,

2023. Meeting notifications included a press release, facebook event, event on the

website calendar, website posting and inclusion in the bi-weekly emailed newsletter.

There were no written comments received leading up to the public hearing and no

attendees at the public hearing. Dane County Parks received one email since the public

hearing, in support of the proposed new veteran/military discounts.

A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the 2024 park

fees be approved as presented. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0, YGP

1-0.

E. Presentations

1. Friends of Old Halfway Prairie School

The Friends open up the school on holidays and Sunday afternoons 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

from Memorial Day through Labor Day so that visitors can view the inside of the school in

its authentically restored condition. The tours are free but donations are accepted. The

Friends also work closely with area school districts to accommodate field trips. Those

who visit the site get to experience how schooling was implemented when all grades were

in one room. The building holds student desks, a teacher's desk, chalkboards, a wood

stove and a piano. There are pictures of different classes that attended the school along

with books and historic documents. Park staff noted that the Parks Collaborative

Friends Grant Program is currently accepting applications and Commissioner noted the

group may be eligible for tourism grants from Travel Wisconsin.

2. History of Halfway Prairie School

The one-room building is Dane County’s oldest existing rural elementary schoolhouse.

The school operated from 1844 to 1961 until consolidated with other area schools. The

current exterior construction conceals the original framework of logs.The land was

donated for school purposes in 1844 by Mary Fowler, a widow and member of the British

Temperance Immigration Society. When the school closed in 1961, it was left abandoned

for three years until the Dane County Park Commission purchased it for one dollar to

open a wayside park and historical site. In early 2020, Dane County purchased

approximately 74 acres of land surrounding Halfway Prairie School.

F. Reports to Committee

1. Indian Lake County Park and Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area Draft Master Plan Update

Dane County Parks has completed a draft master plan that provides recommendations

for future management, recreation use and park facility development at Indian Lake

County Park and the adjacent Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area. The planning process

evaluated existing cultural, natural and historical features in the planning area and

incorporated public, stakeholder, and staff input to create the recommendations found

within the report. The process included an interactive website and series of public

information, local unit of government, and stakeholder meetings from March of 2022

through summer of 2023. In addition, a survey was distributed to park patrons during the

summer of 2022 to solicit comments on existing park facilities, future management and

park development ideas. Some of the proposed draft improvements to existing park and

wildlife area facilities that are recommended include upgrades to all parking lot areas, a

new picnic shelter, additional hiking and cross country ski trails, dog park improvements

and improved access to the group camp. Dane County Parks staff presented the draft

plan recommendations to the Town of Berry Board on Monday, September 18, 2023. A

hybrid public information meeting was held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Forty-nine

people registered to participate virtually and about 15 people attended in person. Public

feedback will continue to be solicited until the end of October 2023.

2. Pheasant Branch Conservancy Land Use Agreement with WDNR

In 1994, Dane County acquired 160 acres for the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and then

sold the southern 60 acres to the DNR to help fund the acquisition. Since then, Dane

County Parks has been managing the DNR's property. This land use agreement

formalizes Dane County's ability to continue the management of the DNR's portion of the

Pheasant Branch Conservancy. The agreement was approved at last night's Public

Works & Transportation Committee meeting.

2023

ACT-161

15 YEAR LAND USE AGREEMENT - PHEASANT BRANCH

CONSERVANCY

Attachments: LandUseAgreement_PheasantBranch.pdf

G. Future Meeting Items and Dates

1. Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - Hybrid Meeting

Heritage Center lower level

3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison

2. Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Cherokee Marsh Natural Resource Area East Trailhead

5720 River Rd, Waunakee

H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda

Dan Behringer asked about the status of reopening the DNR's Lower Wisconsin State

Riverway Mazomanie Unit on the Wisconsin River.

Roger Kahl requested that school bus turn-around space needs be considered when

planning new or expanding parking lots on Dane County Park properties.

I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law