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, October 26, 2022

5:30 PM

McCarthy Youth & Conservation County Park

4841 Co Hwy TT, Cottage Grove, WI 53527

A. Call To Order

Chair Ripp called the Park Commission meeting to order at 5:34 PM.

Youth Governance Member present: Emily Cai.

Staff present: Joleen Stinson, Chris James, Sharene Smith, Sammi Boyd.

Others present: Supervisor Ratcliff. Friends of McCarthy Park members: Karen Bailey,

LuAnne Wood, Dean Kalmerton, Paul Roltgen, Matt Darga, Amanda Depagter.

5 -

Present:

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

NANCY BOGUE

2 - ANALIESE EICHER and GRACE MORAN

Excused:

B. Consideration of Minutes

Minutes of the September 28, 2022 Park Commission

2022

MIN-334

Attachments: 2022 MIN-334 PC Minutes 09-28-22

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

approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0, YGP 1-0.

C. Fund Transfers - None

D. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)

2022

AUTHORIZING A PURCHASE OF LAND FOR DOOR CREEK WILDLIFE

RES-229

AREA

MILES, RIPP, CHAWLA, ROSE and RITT

Sponsors:

Attachments: 2022 RES-229

2022 RES-229_MAP

2022 RES-229_Area MAP

A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by THORESEN, that the Resolution

be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0, YGP 1-0.

E. Items Requiring Committee Action - None

F. Presentations - None

G. Reports to Committee

1. Friends of McCarthy Youth & Conservation County Park

The Friends of McCarthy Park volunteer in a number of different ways in the park.They

groom the cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, planted and maintain the pollinator

garden, develop the Ho-Chunk interpretive trail, host Ho-Chunk youth educational

programs, hold a youth service day annually and assist with land restoration.

2. History and Overview of McCarthy Youth & Conservation County Park

The vision for McCarthy Youth and Conservation Park began in 1974 with a donation of

180 acres of land that was owned by Russell and Ella McCarthy. They retained a life

estate and the property started converting to a park in the early 2000's. The McCarthys’

goal was for the park to become “a place where kids from the city could learn about

nature.” The park offers a group camp, hiking, cross-country skiing, equestrian trails

and camping, picnic opportunities, and a beautiful prairie/wetland restoration.

H. Future Meeting Items and Dates

November 9 - Heritage Center Lower Level Hybrid

November 23 - only held if pressing business

December 14 - Heritage Center Lower Level Hybrid

December 28 - only held if pressing business

I. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda - None

J. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law - None

K. 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:

5 - Chair RIPP, First Vice Chair THORESEN, GOFORTH, BROUWER and BOGUE

2 - Supervisor EICHER and MORAN

Ayes:

Excused:

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.

Supervisor Eicher arrived shortly after the closed session began.

L. Return to Open Session

A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by THORESEN, that the Meeting

exit out of closed session. The motion carried by the following vote: