ATCP 50.34(4)(a)2.2. To finance engineering services provided in connection with a conservation practice for which bond revenues may be used under subd. 1.

ATCP 50.34(4)(b)(b) The department may not use bond revenue funds to reimburse a county for services provided by county employees, or by independent contractors working for the county.

ATCP 50.34(5)(5) Unspent funds. The department may not use grant funds awarded to a county under sub. (1) to reimburse the county for costs that the county incurs after December 31 of the grant year, or pays after January 31 of the following year. Unspent funds remain with the department, for distribution under a future year’s allocation plan.

ATCP 50.34(5m)(5m) Inter-county transfers. The department may approve an agreement between counties to transfer uncommitted grant funds if all of the following apply:

ATCP 50.34(5m)(a)(a) The grant funds subject to the transfer were not previously extended by the transferring county.

ATCP 50.34(5m)(b)(b) The county transferring the grant funds certifies to the department that it has an uncommitted portion of its allocation equal to or greater than the transfer amount, and has approval of its land conservation committee to make these funds available for transfer.

ATCP 50.34(5m)(c)(c) The county receiving the grant funds has made a commitment to use the transferred funds on one or more specific projects, and has the approval of its land conservation committee to accept the transferred funds for cost-sharing on the specific projects.

ATCP 50.34(5m)(d)(d) The counties apply for the transfer of grant funds on a form provided by the department. The department may require any information on the form reasonably necessary for the department to approve the transfer of funds.

ATCP 50.34(6)(a)(a) If a grant under sub. (1) funds a landowner contract that is signed by December 31 of the grant year but not completed by December 31 of that year, the department may extend funding for that contract in the next year’s grant allocation to the county if all of the following apply:

ATCP 50.34(6)(a)3.3. The county land conservation committee files with the department, by December 31 of the initial grant year, a written request that identifies the projects for which the extended funds will be used, and the total funds to be extended. The department may, for good cause, accept an extension request filed between December 31 of the initial grant year and February 15 of the subsequent grant year.

ATCP 50.34(6)(a)4.4. The department has not previously extended funding for the same contract from one grant year to another.

ATCP 50.34(6)(b)(b) A county may transfer a funding extension under par. (a) from one landowner cost-share contract to another provided that the department approves an extension of both projects. Extended funds may not be used on new cost-share contracts.

ATCP 50.34(7)(a)(a) A county land conservation committee shall keep all of the following records related to grants under sub. (1):

ATCP 50.34(7)(a)1.1. Copies of all county contracts with landowners, including any provisions related to operation and maintenance of installed practices.

ATCP 50.34(7)(a)2.2. Documentary proof of all information that the county land conservation committee certifies to the department under this section.

ATCP 50.34(7)(b)(b) A county land conservation committee shall retain records under par. (a) for at least 3 years after the committee makes its last payment to the landowner, or for the duration of the maintenance period required for the conservation practice under subch. VIII, whichever is longer. The committee shall make the records available to the department and grant auditors upon request.

ATCP 50.34 HistoryHistory: CR 01-090: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 08-075: am. (6) (a) (intro.) and 1. Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09; CR 13-016: am. (1) (b), cr. (1) (d), am. (3) (a), (d), cr. (5m), am. (6) (a) 3., (b) Register February 2014 No. 698, eff. 5-1-14; CR 23-024: am. (1), (3) (intro.), (a), (c), (d), (4) (a) 1., 2., (5m) (intro.), (b) to (d), cr. (5m) (e), am. (6) (a) (intro.), 2., 3., (b), (7) (a) 1., (b) Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24; correction in (3) (c) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2024 No. 821.

ATCP 50.35(1)(1) Under s. 92.14 (10), Stats., the department may award a grant identified in the annual allocation plan to any person for services and activities including information, education, and training. The department shall enter into a grant contract with the grant recipient for the payment of these grant funds. The contract shall include relevant terms required under this section and ss. ATCP 50.34 and 50.36, and appropriate restrictions on reimbursement of costs.

ATCP 50.35(2)(2) A person applying for a grant under s. 92.14 (10), Stats., shall file a written grant application by April 15 of the year preceding the year for which the department awards the grant. The grant application shall include a proposed budget and supporting documentation. The department may require a grant applicant to apply on a form provided by the department.

ATCP 50.35(3)(3) Contracts under this section may be extended for a period of one year if all of the following apply:

ATCP 50.35(3)(a)(a) The grant recipient submits a written extension request by December 31 of the initial grant year, and identifies how the unspent funds will be used in the subsequent grant year. The department may, for good cause, accept an extension request filed between December 31 of the initial grant year and February 15 of the subsequent grant year.