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, March 8, 2023  
5:30 PM  
Hybrid Meeting: Attend in person at the Heritage Center  
Lower Level, 3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison; attend  
virtually via Zoom  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Ripp called the Park Commission meeting to order at 5:30 PM.  
Staff Present: Joleen Stinson, Sharene Smith. Chris James attended virtually.  
Youth Governance Member Emily Cai attended virtually.  
Nancy Bogue, Stefanie Brouwer, Grace Moran, Tom Thoresen attended virtually.  
7 -  
Present:  
NANCY BOGUE, STEFANIE BROUWER, ANALIESE EICHER, DAVE RIPP, TOM  
THORESEN, GRACE MORAN and KRISTIE GOFORTH  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the February 8, 2023 Park Commission  
1. 2022  
MIN-572  
Attachments: 2022 MIN-572 Park Commission 02-08-23  
PC 2-8-23 Registration Report  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by THORESEN, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0, YGP 1-0.  
C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)  
1. 2022  
RES-346  
ACCEPTANCE OF WI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES  
GRANTS TO REPLACE SNOWMOBILE TRAIL BRIDGE & CROSSING  
CHAWLA, RIPP, DOOLAN, YANG, JOERS, RITT and ENGELBERGER  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2022 RES-346  
2022 RES-346 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 7-0, YGP 1-0.  
2. 2022  
RES-347  
ACCEPTANCE OF NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION  
GRANT SUB-AWARD FROM ICE AGE TRAIL ALLIANCE  
DOOLAN, CHAWLA, RIPP, YANG, JOERS, RITT and ENGELBERGER  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2022 RES-347  
2022 RES-347 FISCAL NOTE  
2022 RES-347 CONTRACT #15043  
A motion was made by THORESEN, seconded by EICHER, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 7-0, YGP 1-0.  
AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR TOKEN CREEK ROOF REPLACEMENTS  
3. 2022  
RES-372  
RIPP  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2022 RES-372  
2022 RES-372 Fiscal Note  
2022 RES-372 CONTRACT #15042  
A motion was made by GOFORTH, seconded by EICHER, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0, YGP 1-0.  
D. Items Requiring Committee Action - None  
E. Presentations  
1. Planning update on the Wisconsin River bridge and Walking Iron State Trail  
Dane County and Sauk County partnered to complete a feasibility study on constructing  
a recreation bridge crossing the Wisconsin River in 2021. The location is the former site  
of the Sauk City railroad bridge that was removed in 2018 after failure of a support pier.  
Dane County and Sauk County has since contracted MSA Professional Services, Inc. to  
complete construction documents and permits for the bridge. Dane County is actively  
working with the Wisconsin DNR and the DOT on a rail to trail conversion from the  
Wisconsin River bridge to the WI DNR’s Lower WI State Riverway parking lot on the west  
side of HWY 78. Dane County is in the process of amending the contract with Sauk  
County to hire MSA to complete a feasibility study and create construction documents for  
the rail to trail conversion on Dane County’s side of the Wisconsin River bridge. The trail  
surface type and trail user groups will be determined through the public planning process  
led by Dane County Parks staff, which will include a feasibility study and public input  
process.  
The Dane County Council of Snowmobile Clubs are advocating Dane County to allow  
snowmobiles on the future Walking Iron State Trail. Dane County is committed to having  
the Wisconsin River bridge open to snowmobiles to connect Dane and Sauk Counties to  
provide a safe crossing of the Wisconsin River. The Dane County’s side will connect to  
the existing snowmobile trail system, exact location to be determined. It may or may not  
be on the Walking Iron Trail railroad bed. Snowmobiles are prohibited on the Great Sauk  
Trail on the Sauk County side of the bridge.  
A Memorandum of Understanding regarding the acquisition, development and operation of  
the former rail corridor between the WDNR and Dane County will be brought to a future  
Park Commission meeting for a recommendation of approval. A resolution to amend the  
contract with Sauk County to hire MSA to complete construction documents for the trail  
on the Dane County’s side of the Wisconsin River bridge will be brought to a future Park  
Commission meeting for a recommendation of approval. Later this year, a resolution to  
authorize application for federal TAP grants will likely will be brought to a Park  
Commission meeting for a recommendation of approval.  
F. Reports to Committee - None  
G. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Wednesday, March 22  
Darren Marsh Parks and Lake Management Facility  
4212 Robertson Rd, Madison 53714  
2. Wednesday, April 26  
Schumacher Farm County Park Center for Rural History  
5682 State Highway 19, Waunakee 53597  
3. Updated 2023 Schedule for Outdoor Park Meetings  
2023 Park Commission Meeting Schedule  
2022  
RPT-597  
Attachments: 2023 PC Meeting Schedule  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda - None  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law - None  
J. Closed Session  
A motion was made by THORESEN, seconded by BROUWER, that the Meeting  
enter into closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
YGP Cai - Aye.  
7 -  
Ayes:  
BOGUE, BROUWER, Supervisor EICHER, Chair RIPP, First Vice Chair  
THORESEN, MORAN and GOFORTH  
CLOSED SESSION: The Park Commission entered into closed session per Wis.  
Stat.19.85(1)(e): The Commission may go into closed session for the purposes of  
deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public  
funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or  
bargaining reasons require a closed session.  
K. Return to Open Session  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Meeting exit out  
of closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
YGP Cai - Aye.  
7 -  
Ayes:  
BOGUE, BROUWER, Supervisor EICHER, Chair RIPP, First Vice Chair  
THORESEN, MORAN and GOFORTH  
L. Adjourn  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the be adjourned.  
The motion carried by a voice vote.  
Meeting adjourned 7:20 PM.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.