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interests that the County needs to work on with the Forest Service and others within the course of the <br />year. The Manager recommends approval of the ongoing agreement and adoption of the <br />memorandum of understanding. He also recommends that the Commissioners send the listing of <br />additional concerns to the state counterparts as specific items to address for the work plan for the <br />year. <br />In answer to a question from Commissioner Jacobs, John Link said that the County has <br />been paying for their portion of forest service during the interim time according to the contract. <br />Commissioner Jacobs wanted to assure the public that the County has never lapsed in either their <br />payments ar in their commitment to sound forestry practices. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked District Forester James Ellis about his concerns. District <br />Forester James Ellis said that the County is asking the Forest Service to do things that they cannot <br />da. For example, on page five of the memorandum of understanding, a number of items have been <br />added that are not on Form 4808. The Forest Service is not able to provide the County with a map <br />and acreage as requested under item "b" on page five. Under item "d", page five, the Forest Service <br />uses a much broader standard. Also, it is not required by law to list the reforestation plans an Farm <br />4808. He said that, for the most part, the Forest Service does not know the owner of the property that <br />is being lagged. The Forest Service is only present at logging operations to be sure that the <br />operators are in compliance with the forest guidelines. He said that the Forest Service has no legal <br />right to enter onto the property and inspect logging operations, but only for fires and insect disease. <br />He said that it appears that the County is trying to get the Forest Service to do something that the <br />County does not have the legislative authority to do. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the list on pages nine and ten and asked Mr. <br />Ellis if he would be willing to sit dawn with the Board and discuss these items. Mr. Ellis said that <br />same of these items had nothing to da with forestry. As an administrator, he would prefer to meet as <br />concerns came up that are related to forestry. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that it would be helpful if the items that are related to forestry <br />were highlighted. He made reference to the natural areas inventory in the County and said that he <br />was hoping that the County and the Forest Service could talk about how to inform people, before they <br />log, that a site is on the County's natural areas inventory. Also, he made reference to the fact that <br />Orange and Chatham Counties had the most significant number of organic farms in North Carolina. <br />He said that one of the Forest Service's major operations requires a fair amount of spraying of <br />herbicides, which destroys an organic operation. <br />James Ellis said that the division has presented a bill to the department this year to ask for <br />a notification law. Regarding herbicides, there is a law that requires adjacent landowners to be <br />notified when spraying occurs. <br />Chair Halkiatis assured James Ellis that the Board of County Commissioners had as its #1 <br />goal, the protection of people, land, and rights in this County. There have been some serious air <br />quality issues in the County in the last couple of years. This is why the Commissioners got involved in <br />the open burning issues. He said that it seems that the Forest Service on the statewide level has <br />limited authority to do anything in which the County has expressed an interest. He said that the <br />County Commissioners have nothing but respect far the Forest Service and would never ask them to <br />da something that they legally cannot do. <br />Colonel Bill Breeze had signed up to speak on this item. He said that he has been in <br />forestry since 1950. He has 175 acres planted and is in the process of planting 78 more acres. He <br />made reference to a meeting last week about forestry and said that none of the County <br />Commissioners attended this meeting. He said that he has sold timber on several occasions and has <br />never been disappointed with the timbering that was done. He said that the Forest Service has been <br />of assistance to him when his equipment caught fire and also when he had bugs in his pine trees. He <br />feels that if the County Commissioners put restrictions on forestry that it will impact the people who <br />are selling the timber. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to <br />approve and authorize the Chair to sign the annual agreement with the N.C. Department of <br />Environment and Natural Resources and the accompanying Memorandum of Understanding. <br />