President’s
Message: from Bruce Haukom
This is my final installment as President of WCCA, and I want to thank the Executive Board members for all the work they have done in 2004. Accomplishments of this organization are only as good as the participation of the membership. Work conducted by our representatives on the Comm 83 and Comm 87 Committees was exceptional. Two of our members were actually appointed as the chairman of these respective committees - Duane Greuel, Chair along with Scott Rogalsky on Comm 83, and Ted Rohloff, Chair along with Leslie Roll on Comm 87. I would like to thank Harriet Pedley for her liaison position on the DATCP Land and Water Conservation Board, continuing to represent our interests with that organization. The DNR NR115 Committee, represented by Phil Gaudet and Karl Kastrosky kept us continually informed on the evolving shoreland rules. Phil’s work was key to him being presented with the Professional of the Year Award for 2004. I’m sure Phil & Karl also appreciated the work done by the WCCA NR115 sub-committee in advising them on these important matters.
Thanks also to all our state agency partners for their support of our organization without which we could not be as effective in meeting our goals. Our private partners that have provided information and displays of their products and services have been important in giving us their perspectives as well as providing funds for our annual scholarship program.
I want to express my appreciation to our next president, Dick Mace for what I feel were two exceptional conferences. His efforts received very high marks for conference content. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t thank CeCe Tesky for the entire organization, for her individual efforts in producing the 35th anniversary history booklet which will provide information to all future participants of this organization. Our entire Executive Board worked very hard in providing memorabilia for this 35th event. Thanks especially to Scott Godfrey, Leslie Roll, Mary Greenman and Dawn Schmidt for your individual efforts. Finally, I want to thank Ken Christopherson for his many years of work with WCCA and most recently as our Program Coordinator. He has decided to leave that position to spend more time with his wife and family. His wealth of experience and friendly personality allowed him to perform his duties above all our expectations. Have a good retirement Ken, and don’t be a stranger.
Also, thanks to our other paid employees of this organization which help insure everything runs relatively smoothly - Mary Greenman, Secretary/Treas., Michelle Staff, Web Page Coordinator, and Jim Clark, DeCoder Editor.
I also very much appreciated all of you that had expressed your concern during my heart surgery last January. Our organization has always been more than just a professional association, but has also provided friendship during those times when our members have most needed it.
Have a good 2005 and don’t allow work related stress effect your enjoyment of what is really important to you.
EastCentral District
Report
Submitted by
Lesley Roll
Tis the season that the East Central District gets together to discuss all that they have learned this past year. OK, maybe not, but our intentions are always good.
Door County was the host to the December meeting. The meeting was held at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay. Crossroads at Big Creek is a non-profit educational, environmental, and historical facility. From the sounds of it, the facility was quite unique with a lot to offer from lecture hall, laboratory, and classrooms, along with availability of hiking, biking, and pet walking trails for the public.
Winnebago County presented the main topic of how they dealt with residential substantial damage assessment reports. Through the spring of 2004, Winnebago County was hit with substantial flooding throughout the County. The damage assessment reports are required of communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program in the event of a major flood occurrence. Winnebago County illustrated the techniques they used involving computer mapping, on-site inspections, and assessment report preparation.
Mike Klitzke, FEMA, was also a guest speaker. Winnebago County emphasized the assistance that Mr. Klitzke and FEMA can provide. Mr. Klitzke reviewed his role in working hand-in-hand with Wisconsin DNR in the Floodplain Management Program. In addition to residential damage assessments, he will be doing ordinance review for mandatory updates to ensure compliance with federal requirements. It was also noted at the meeting that Dick Koch has returned to the floodplain program and is working out of the Green Bay office in a LTE capacity.
Also, included in this information packed day was a tour of the Whitetails Unlimited National Headquarters in Sturgeon Bay.
I would like to thank Dave Sautibin, Door County Senior Zoning Administrator, for taking such good minuets so I could “use” them for this article.
SouthEast District
Report
Submitted by
Michelle Staff
After another fierce election, I was re-elected as our district representative. Gary Heinrichs from the DNR attended our district meeting and discussed the new model floodplain ordinance. The floodplain ordinance was amended to be in compliance with federal floodplain standards. With the Declaration of the Federal Disaster from this years flooding in our state, the federal government has station a FEMA employee to help with the floodplain adoption process. Mike Klitzke from FEMA with be working with Gary, reviewing ordinances to verify that they comply with both the state and federal floodplain standards. In addition, Gary discussed the responsibilities of counties to inspect structures which have been substantially damage by flood waters as required by the federal government.
Our district briefly discussed the changes to Comm 87 which will be in effect on February 1, 2005. We also talked about POWTS maintenance per Comm 83 and the proposals of the Special Committee on Septage Disposal. You can view their proposals and committee meetings at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/2004studies/SDISP/index.htm.
I will be in contact with Duane Greuel from Wood County, to bring our district the latest on this issue. In addition, we briefly talked about impact fees and if any counties were imposing any impact fees on developers. At this time, no county was imposing impact fees but we discussed the possible of counties imposing impact fees as park fees.
The final discussion of the day was about the infamous NR115. After politely asking Gary Heinrich to leave, the district decided to schedule a separate meeting to discuss the final draft of NR115 which is scheduled to be release before Christmas. We thought it would be in our best interested to go into greater length with the draft than the latest version. Our special meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 7, 2005 at 9:30 at the Waukesha County Administrative Center. At that meeting we will go into greater length of the final draft and summit those comments to the WCCA Executive Board in January.
It was a great Fall Conference at Green Bay and I was happy to make the pilgrimage to Lambeau Field. Please visit the WCCA web site to view pictures from the Fall Conference (www.wccadm.com). As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at michelles@co.jefferson.wi.us.
West Central
District
Report
Submitted by Doug Clary
The West Central Zoning Administrators met on December 8th, 2004 at the Eau Claire County Courthouse. Some new faces were present, along with some familiar faces, but they are now associated with different counties. I hope I get this right.
St. Croix County has hired Robert Bezek (Minnesota DNR) as Code Administrator. Jenny Shilcox (St. Croix County) was hired as their Zoning Specialist in charge of shoreland issues and ordinance revisions. Alex Blackburn (Pierce County) was hired as their Zoning Technician in charge of subdivision review/lot creation.
Barron County has hired David Gifford (Barron County) as their Zoning Administrator. Elaine Fillion (Barron County) was hired as their Assistant Zoning Administrator. Rick Brown (private sector installer) was hired as their Zoning Technician in charge of sanitation. And finally, Jeremy Musill (graduate) was hired for the new position of zoning technician in charge of code enforcement.
Pierce County has hired Emily Lunde (Cedar Corporation) as their Zoning Specialist.
Eau Claire County has hired Rod Eslinger (St. Croix County) as their Zoning Administrator.
Gary Lepak, Gary Heinrichs and Michael Klitzke of the
Wisconsin DNR gave a presentation and answered questions regarding the new
Floodplain Ordinance Model, the FEMA Mapping Initiative and the substantial
damage clause in the FEMA regulations.
We also discussed the issues/points of consideration raised by the
Executive Committee regarding the drafts of NR 115.
NR 115 Update by Phil Gaudet,
The NR 115 Advisory Committee met on November 16th to review the 4th draft of
NR 115. The DNR will prepare a 5th draft based on comments from the meeting.
The 5th draft should be on the DNR web site about mid-December. No Advisory
Committee meeting will be held unless enough of the Advisory Committee members
want another meeting to discuss the 5th draft according to the DNR.
One of the more significant changes in the 4th draft was the vegetative buffer
depth requirement changed back to 35 feet (as it exists now) from the 50 feet
that had been in the previous drafts. Also, the nonconforming section has been
changed quite a bit regarding limits on the footprint of a structure within the
setback to the ordinary highwater mark.
The Natural Resources Board will be reviewing the proposed NR 115 in spring
2005 according to the DNR. The WCCA Executive Board will be reviewing the
proposed NR 115 at its annual meeting on January 13 and 14th in Wausau. All
WCCA members are asked to review the 5th draft as soon as you can and get your
comments on the draft to your district representatives or the WCCA NR 115
subcommittee member from your district. It is hoped that the NR 115
subcommittee and the Executive Board can prepare written comments to be
submitted to the Natural Resources Board and DNR before the spring meeting of
the Natural Resources Board.
You can find more information on the DNR website which includes all the drafts
of 115.
REMEMBER:
The membership renewals will be due in January 2005, along with any updates you might have for the membership directory. A copy of the membership renewal form can be found below. Please forward all directory changes Mary Greenman – the sooner the better!
WISCONSIN COUNTY CODE ADMINISTRATORS
RENEWAL/APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Name:
Home Address: Phone: (
)
City: State: Zip:
Current Employer: Work Phone: ( )
Business Address:
Title/Position:
Area of Expertise: Years of Experience:
Would you be willing to
serve on the WCCA Executive Board?
Would you be willing to
serve on a WCCA committee? If “Yes”, which committee or committees?
Membership fees include the dues for the current operating year, 1 copy of the WCCA directory, subscription to the association newsletter and reduced registration fees for the spring and fall educational seminars.
With my signature below I acknowledge that I have read the statement of principles of the WCCA (see reverse side) and agree to abide by those principles.
Signature of Applicant Date
Membership Category: Full $40.00 Associate $40.00
This is an additional renewal from this office $30.00
NOTE: Renewal applications for the first member from any office is $40.00, and $30.00 for each additional member from the same office. Please submit applications from the same office in the same envelope.
Please submit this completed form along
with your payment to the office below.
Make checks payable to the Wisconsin County Code Administrators.
WCCA % Mary Greenman
VILAS
COUNTY ZONING OFFICE
330 COURT STREET
EAGLE RIVER WI
54521-0369