Weather slows down cutting in county forest; gun range update

Due to wet conditions, tree harvesting is down in Taylor County.

At the July 12 Forestry & Recreation Committee meeting, Lucas Williams, county forest administrator, said he is “optimistic that if it gets dry later in the summer, [harvesting] will pick up.” Following this update, Scott Mildbrand, chairman, asked Williams if he has informed the county finance director of the probable impact the lack of harvesting will have on the budget. Williams stated he will discuss financial implications with the county financial director, Tracy Hartwig, in the next week.

In a follow up email on July 12, Williams reported $94,668.08 in revenue from timber sales this year, which is well below the $563,586.19 average annual timber sales of the past five years. He noted the past five years were record high years.

Gun range

The Rib Lake gun range project will not be started until next year. Since the last meeting, Williams met with Jeff Nass, an NRA gun range consultant. Nass advised Taylor County “wait until next year and make sure [it does] it right,” per Williams. The grant application is not due for another year, so Williams is working on it as he has time.

The range will have a 300 yard-range with a backstop at 200 yards, a 100 yard-range, a 50 yard range, and a 30foot pistol range.

Williams estimated the range will cost roughly $100,000 dollars. If the project is approved for the $75,000 grant due next summer, the remaining $25,000 will need to be contributed by donors. Williams plans to present the cost to the Rib Lake Fish and Game Association and the Taylor County Sportsman’s Club once he has the official list of expenses.

Ash borer

In anticipation of ash borer decimating ash tree populations, the forestry committee discussed how to cut the trees before they are killed. If there is a frost in fall without snow, the committee may consider incentivizing loggers to quickly cut the ash by offering improved rates or contract extensions on other jobs. The committee made no formal action on a plan to encourage cutting ash in suitable frost conditions, but several members expressed interest in the idea.

The next committee meeting will be on August 9 in the Taylor County board room at the courthouse.