I heard people using this phase from time to time at work. The situation is: when an issue was discussed again and again without resolution, one day a person would say "hey we got to put a stick in the ground on this..." it basically means we need to set a deadline or make a decision on the issue, etc...
From web:
"During any project there comes a time to draw a line in the sand and put a stick in the ground and say, 'This is it. We're ready,'... Source
"They've got to put a stick in the ground and say they're not going to be all things to all people,"... Source"
