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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: October 20, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~}- - q <br />SUBJECT: N.C. Forest Service Contract for FY 2009-10 <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services, ERCD, PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Financial Services <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proposed FY 2009-10 Contract <br />2008-09 NCFS Accomplishment <br />Summary <br />Planned Conservation Seminar Series <br />Summary <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2590 <br />Frank Montes de Oca, 245-6100 <br />Gary Humphries, 245-2450 <br />John Howard, 732-8105 <br />Jacob Pressley, 732-8152 <br />PURPOSE: To approve the annual agreement between Orange County and the North Carolina <br />Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Division of Forest Resources for <br />protection, development, reforestation, management and improvement of forestlands in Orange <br />County; and to receive information about Forest Service accomplishments in 2008-09 and <br />planned collaboration with County resource conservation activities in 2009-10. <br />BACKGROUND: Each year, Orange County and the N.C. Forest Service enter into an <br />agreement under authority of Sections 113-54 and 113-59 of the N.C. General Statutes to <br />provide for the continuation of active protection of Orange County forestlands by the Forest <br />Service. The Forest Service is a component of the Division of Forest Resources within DENR, <br />and includes regional, district and county offices. The District 11 office is located in Orange <br />County on NC 86 south of Hillsborough, headed by District Forester John Howard. The County <br />office is led by County Forest Ranger Jacob Pressley and is located in Boone Square Shopping <br />Center in Hillsborough. <br />The County and Division offices of the Forest Service are actively involved with County staff <br />from several departments and participate in many joint activities, both in terms of statutory <br />responsibilities and coordinated public education efforts. Responsibilities of the Division and <br />County Forester include: <br />• Promotion and practice of forest management to develop and improve forestlands, and <br />promote reforestation, <br />• Protection of water quality, <br />• Protection of forestlands from insects and diseases, <br />• Controlling forest fires in the County, <br />• Detecting and extinguishing fires that break out, and investigating the origin of forest <br />woodland and field fires, <br />