ORD-2011-016 Conservation Easement for Sykes Dairy Farm and Budget Amendment #9

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WHEREAS, the Sykes dairy farm includes approximately 160 acres in the Cane Creek protected watershed, consists entirely of prime agricultural soils, and is located in an agricultural community with good access to farm markets; and WHEREAS, Orange County intends to accept an agricultural conservation easement that would help to conserve the natural and scenic values of this farmland; and WHEREAS, a matching grant was awarded to Orange County from the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program to help purchase the conservation easement; and WHEREAS, a conservation easement on this 160 acres would ensure the preservation of this farmland for future generations and help to compensate the owners for this long- term commitment; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the agricultural conservation easement to protect prime farmland owned by Sykes Family Limited Partnership; 2) approve the execution of this conservation easement agreement with Sykes Family Limited Partnership, in accordance with the terms of the proposed easement agreement, subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney; 3) authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the easement agreement on behalf of the Board, with a closing to occur on or about June 30, 2011; and 4) authorize County staff to sign any and all closing documents upon consultation with the County Attorney. This the 3rd day of May, 2011. A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger to adopt a resolution approving the acceptance by Orange County of the conservation easement and authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the conservation easement agreement, subject to final review by staff and County Attorney, with a closing and recordation of the document expected to occur on or about June 30, 2011, and approve Budget Amendment #9-A. VOTE: UNANIMOUS b. Bus Route 420 (Hillsborouqh to Chapel Hill) Service Chanqes The Board considered approving changes of Route 420 as proposed by Triangle Transit and Orange Public Transportation (OPT). Planning Director Craig Benedict introduced AI Terry, Orange Public Transportation Manager. He said that this item has to do with bus route 420, which is a route between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. This route was first initiated by OPT and the ridership was so good that it was picked up by Triangle Transit, which provided part of the funding. Two entities were hired to run the route - Chapel Hill Transit for peak service in the morning and afternoon and OPT for the midday service. This route has been doing well since 2008. The bad news is that Triangle Transit no longer wants to fund the midday service, which was about four routes that OPT was running. Triangle Transit was funding 50% of those midday routes. There were four routes midday and this will be pulled back to two. There will be some financial implications to this, but these have not been completely sorted out. The timeframe for the changes are that