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A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Carey to approve <br />the resolution as stated below. This motion also includes the letter to the legislative delegation as <br />described by Commissioner Jacobs. <br />RESOLUTION <br />Approval of Farmland Conservation Easement between the County of Orange and Victor and <br />Lucille Walters <br />WHEREAS, The County of Orange has an adopted goal promoting the preservation of farmland in <br />the County; and <br />WHEREAS, agriculture in the County is an important facet of the economy and way of life in the <br />County; and <br />WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy program is the acquisition of conservation <br />easements on prime or threatened farmland within water supply watersheds; and <br />WHEREAS, the Walters farm has a strong conservation track record in the Back Creek Watershed, <br />with Victor Walters named as Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1953; and <br />WHEREAS, a grant in the amount of $107,000 has been awarded to the County from the N.C. <br />Farmland Preservation Trust Fund for this project; and <br />WHEREAS, a conservation easement on this farm provides awin-win scenario -ensuring the <br />preservation of this farmland far future generations and providing return on the property for the <br />Walters family: <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange <br />do hereby approve the execution of this conservation easement with Victor and Lucille Walters for <br />70.83 acres in Cedar Grove Township, in accord with the terms of the attached easement <br />agreement, and authorizes the Chair to sign the easement agreement on behalf of the Board, with a <br />closing to occur on or before July 31, 2001. <br />BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board accepts the grant award of $107,000 from the <br />Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, and authorizes the Chair to sign the grant agreement. <br />This, the 5th day of June 2001. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />b. Resolution of Support - Stillhouse Creek Stream Restoration Project <br />The Board considered a resolution supporting a stream restoration project with the Orange <br />Soil and Water District and the N.C. Division of Water Quality for Stillhouse Creek on County-owned <br />lands near the Government Services Center. <br />David Stancil said that as discussion took place last year on the River Park, it led to a <br />discussion about Stillhouse Creek and the erasion near the Government Services Center. The State <br />Division of Water Quality was approached about the possibility of funding some of the bioengineering <br />needed to protect the stream from further erosion. This would include planting of new vegetation along <br />the corridor of the stream and the placement of rock or log weir in the stream channel to redirect the flow <br />away from the stream banks. The State has agreed in principle to pursue the project. The State will pay <br />for the planning and engineering for the project in exchange for a conservation easement. The <br />easement is about 30-50 feet along the stream. He made reference to page five of the agenda packet <br />and said that he did explore the impact on the County's space needs study. Prior to an easement being <br />developed in August, any future stream crosses should be identified and shown on the conservation <br />easement. The area will also be planted with native vegetation. The recommendation is to approve the <br />resolution so the State can move forward with the process. He will bring back a draft conservation <br />easement and a project plan in August or September. <br />