[Amended by Ord. No. 53-2008; 5-18-2021 by Res. No. 57-2021, effective 6-4-2021]
(1) 
Appointment. The County Board hereby assigns administration of the County Forestry Department to the Forestry, Land, and Recreation Committee of the County Board.
(2) 
Definitions.
ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV)
A vehicle as defined in § 340.1(2g), Wis. Stats.
BOARD
The Oneida County Board of Supervisors.
CAMPING
The use of any shelter such as a tent, trailer, or motor vehicle for temporary residence or sleeping purposes.
CLOSED ROAD OR TRAIL
A road or trail will be considered closed when designated as such by the presence of gates, signs, rocks, or earthen berms.
COMMITTEE
The Oneida County Forestry, Land, and Outdoor Recreation Committee of the Oneida County Board of Supervisors.
COUNTY
Oneida County.
COUNTY FOREST
Those lands owned by Oneida County and entered under the County Forest Law § 28:11, Wis. Stats., either as Forest Lands or as Special Use Designation Lands.
COUNTY FOREST ROAD SYSTEM
That system on which Oneida County receives State of Wisconsin, Department of Transportation road aids and are indicated as County Forest roads in the County Forest Fifteen-Year Plan.
COUNTY FOREST FIFTEEN-YEAR PLAN
The Oneida County Forest Fifteen-Year Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
DEPARTMENT
The Oneida County Forestry Department.
DIRECTOR
The Oneida County Forest Director.
D.N.R.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
MOTORIZED VEHICLE
An engine powered device designed for transporting people or materials, including but not limited to, automobiles, snowmobiles, trucks, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, mini-bikes, go-carts, dune buggies, air-boats, air-cushioned craft, golf carts, and heavy equipment both wheeled and tracked.
(3) 
Powers and Duties. Subject to budget limitations, the Committee is responsible for the activities and functions required of it in the administration of the County forest and County recreation areas as provided in this General Code and in accordance with the County Forest Fifteen-Year Plan.
(a) 
An annual work plan will be prepared along with the Department's annual budget for approval through the County Board's budget process. The work plan and budget shall serve as a directive to the Committee and shall establish the limits as well as the purpose for which expenditures may be made. It shall also be in conformity with the long range goals set forth in the County Forest Fifteen-Year Plan.
(b) 
The Committee shall direct and supervise the Department. It shall employ a Director as its agent in the management and regulation of the County Forest and the County recreational facilities as set forth in County Code § 1.02 (2)(d). It shall employ such additional competent personnel as the Board may authorize to direct, perform and enforce the administrative and management functions of this chapter.
(c) 
The Committee shall establish and maintain a forest headquarters for office space and the housing of machinery, tools, equipment and supplies needed in conducting forestry operations.
(d) 
In conformity with such procedures established by the Committee or County Board rules, the Committee may purchase, acquire, sell, trade or dispose of instruments, tools and equipment required for the operation of the Department.
(e) 
The Committee may negotiate for the acquisition of lands for the purpose of inclusion into the County Forest or for recreation purposes. This may be done by purchase, gift, exchange, or bequest and such acquisitions shall be presented to the County Board for its ratification before it may be consummated.
(f) 
With Board approval and after obtaining Department of Natural Resources approval, the Committee may grant permits to prospect for ore or minerals upon County lands under the jurisdiction of this Committee. The Committee may issue permits to remove sand, gravel, or other nonmetallic materials from County lands only to units of government or to contractors if those contractors are using the materials for public works. The County Board retains the power to grant permits for metallic mining operations on County lands.
(g) 
The Committee shall prepare and present an annual report of the Department's activities to the County Board. The report shall include statistics showing work accomplished and at what cost. Such reports shall be in sufficient detail so that performance of the Department may be measured.
(4) 
Administration of the Forest.
(a) 
The Committee shall do all things possible for the protection of the forests, whether from fire, insects, disease, trespass, damage by animals or other causes, in cooperation with the D.N.R.
(b) 
The Committee shall be responsible for the location of survey lines and the appropriate monumentation of corners of County forest lands.
(c) 
The Committee shall construct, improve and maintain a system of forest roads, trails and firebreaks and purchase and secure easements for access ways required to cross privately owned lands.
(d) 
The Committee shall conduct forest improvement work, including thinning, pruning, reforestation, and tree release by either mechanical or chemical means.
(e) 
The Committee shall cooperate with the D.N.R. in the determination of the allowable annual cut by establishment of cutting compartments and other necessary items for such plan.
(f) 
The Committee shall manage the County forest resource and sell timber stumpage in accordance with a County Forest Fifteen-Year Plan and in cooperation with the D.N.R.
(5) 
Administration of Outdoor Recreation.
(a) 
The Committee shall have the management and regulatory control of all County recreation areas and, in the exercise of its authority over such matters, it shall have the powers and duties enumerated in this subsection.
(b) 
Subject to budget limitations and in accordance with the Outdoor Recreation Plan approved by the Board and provisions of this chapter, the Committee shall establish, construct and maintain, wherever the County deems desirable within the forest and on County Forest Special Use Lands, recreation areas, including but not limited to, picnic grounds, designated campgrounds, waysides, public access roads and boat landings, scenic areas, and trail networks, and shall designate, mark and preserve places of natural or historic interest and significance. Management and regulatory control of all County recreation areas is specifically designated to this Committee.
(c) 
In cooperation with the D.N.R., the Committee shall do all things necessary for the protection of the County recreation areas, boat landings and special use areas, whether from fire, insects, disease, trespass, vandalism, damage by animals or other causes.
(d) 
The Committee shall cooperate with the D.N.R. on matters relating to game and fish management within the County forests.
(e) 
The Committee is authorized to enter into agreements with the D.N.R. for projects under Fish and Game Aids (§ 23.09(12)), Wildlife Habitat Aids (§ 23.07(17)), Snowmobile Trail funding programs and ATV/UTV Trail Programs and Recreational Trail Program Grants (Ch. 350), and any other applicable Wisconsin Statutes.