Walworth County board backs continuation of Knowles-Nelson stewardship program, members urge monitoring of state-level changes

The Walworth County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously June 10 to adopt a resolution supporting continuation of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, a state conservation grant program.

The resolution was advanced by Supervisor Brian Holt and seconded by Supervisor Kenneth Monroe; the motion carried on an affirmative voice vote. The board received brief discussion about how state-level changes to the program could affect county responsibilities and costs.

Why it matters: supervisors said the stewardship program could affect how counties manage parklands and forest property if the state acquires or changes the status of land obtained through the program. Supervisor Brian Holt, who said he had supported the resolution at Finance Committee, asked County Administrator Liberta for guidance on county impacts and urged colleagues to watch developments in Madison. "I did vote for it in at the finance committee, but and I did ask, Administrator Liberta about concerning how this deals in how this pertains to Walworth County," Holt said.

Supervisor Joanne Lauffenberg asked whether the county has a clear estimate of potential costs. "Does anyone know how much this would cost with state overall? No? Okay," she said. The board did not receive a specific dollar estimate during the meeting.

Meeting discussion included a caution—paraphrased from the record—that if the state acquires large forest parcels under stewardship programs, those lands can become state-owned, which can reduce local property tax revenue while leaving counties responsible for some maintenance tasks. The board did not take additional action beyond passing the resolution; committee records cited in the agenda show the Park Committee, Public Works Committee and Finance Committee had recommended the resolution.

The resolution will be filed with the county records; supervisors said they will monitor pending state legislative or administrative actions that could change the stewardship program’s terms.