Posted: 8/17/04
County opposes catch and release proposal
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
The Houston County Board passed a resolution at its August 10 meeting opposing a catch-and-release fishing proposal for Winnebago Creek.
Their action came at the urging of Kermit McRae and Joyce Iverson, who were representing the Houston County Economic Development Authority (EDA).
Iverson passed out a letter and resolution that warned of a negative economic impact from the controversial proposal.
The letter will be signed by county auditor Pete Johnson and sent to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Gene Merriam. It states in part, ìThe fact that lodging facilities, restaurants, and bait dealers have already experienced a slow down in economic activity as a result of the experimental and special regulations currently in place, should demand careful examination of the potential long range impact.î
McRae said the EDAís response was appropriate because other regions have experienced a negative business impact when catch and release laws have gone into effect.
The DNR has proposed making a 12.4 mile stretch of Winnebago Creek, from Camp Winnebago to New Albin a catch-and-release stream. The plan, which would last until 2014, would also ban the use of live bait. The purpose, according to the DNR, is to produce more and bigger trout.
The catch and release proposal has received a cold reception from many local anglers and landowners along the creek. Signs have been posted along the creek stating ìWinnebago Valley, family fishing not fly fishing.î Some landowners have threatened to close off their land to anglers, and even close snowmobile trails.
An open house on the subject hosted by the DNR is set for Thursday, August 26 from 3-8 p.m. at the Four Seasons Community Center in Caledonia.
Airport plan coming
In other action at the 90-minute meeting, the board approved a contract with the firm of Mead and Hunt for $57,922 to prepare an Airport Layout Plan.
County engineer Allenhenke told the board that the plan will include talking to flyers, preparing an abbreviated master plan, updating the Airport Layout Plan, and holding meetings with the public, flyers, and county board.
The Federal Aviation Administration will pay for 95 percent of the project.The cost to the county will be $2,896. ìWeíre getting a pretty big bang for the buck,î Henke said.
The next step will be to set up an agreement with Mead and Hunt for basic services, define the scope of services, and get a cost estimate for implementing the plan, Henke said.
Road money needed
In other highway department news,
ï The board approved advertising a project to replace a bridge on Rooster Valley Road in Black Hammer Township. Township bridge funds are administered by the county.
ï Third district commissioner Ann Thompson said she attended an Association of Minnesota County policy committee meeting in St. Paul on August 4. People there felt that transportation would be high on the list of state lawmakers next year. ìThereís a lot of feeling there that they have gone way too long without getting a cohesive policy,î Thompson said.
They have proposed that counties hold bake sales to pay for road improvements as a way to draw attention to the problem.
ìWe need some money in the system for everybody, both metro and rural,î second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher said. He said a county road hadnít been changed from gravel to pavement in nine years. ìWeíre barely able to keep up with maintaining what we have.î
Kermit McRae of Caledonia suggested that the county board write to the Minnesota Department of Transportation to ask them to put new overlays on Highways 44, 76, and 16. Highway 44 is particularly important, he said, because it has an overlay of blacktop on concrete, and it could come off in sheets ìany day.î
Board members agreed it was a good idea, and that they would do this.
Other business
ï The board approved a fiscal agent agreement with Houston County Victimís Services and Mediation Agency.
ï The board approved dropping Darla Zahn from .8 full-time-equivalent (FTE) to .6 FTE. Zahn works with a grant-based dental education program. The change is due to larger sharing of the load with other counties, and the fact that Zahn can do the job in three days a week, public health director Linda Grupa told the board.
ï The board approved a request from the La Crosse County Department of Health for $1,450 for surveillance and control of mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus and La Crosse Viral Encephalitis in rural Houston County. The work will include monitoring habitat, trapping mosquitoes, treating breeding sites, and educating the public.
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