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under Kate Dixon have inspired him. He looks forward to a continuing partnership with Orange <br />County in the future. <br />Kate Dixon thanked the Board. She said that she mast enjoyed the partnership with <br />Orange County. <br />b. Resolution -Purchase of Steep Bottom Branch Conservation Easement <br />The Board considered a resolution for the purchase of a conservation easement on <br />64 acres of an identified Natural Heritage site awned by Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC), as <br />part of the County's partnership with TLC on this project; authorize the County Attorney and <br />staff to purchase the conservation easement at a cast of $83,700, with the expedited transfer of <br />funds prior to December 31, 2003, submitting the final easement approval to the Board in early <br />2004. <br />Rich Shaw with ERCD said that this is an important natural heritage site with the <br />New Hope Creek Watershed. It is located west of Old NC 86 and just north of the intersection <br />of Arthur Minnis Road and New Hope Church Road. The TLC owns two adjoining tracts totaling <br />64.7 acres -one that TLC has awned since 1997, and the other that TLC purchased recently <br />from Judge Stanley Peele and Mrs. Carolyn Peele. Orange County and TLC decided to share <br />the cost of purchasing the Peele tract with the County's share totaling a little over $89,000. <br />Since that time, an opportunity has arisen to expedite the installment payments, lowering the <br />County's cost to $83,700. Far simplicity and consistency of ownership, TLC agreed to awn the <br />property and convey a conservation easement to the County. The two tracts together will be <br />known as the Steep Bottom Branch Preserve. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Carey to <br />approve and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution as stated below, authorize the County <br />Attorney and staff to purchase the conservation easement of 64 acres owned by the Triangle <br />Land Conservancy at a cost of $83,700, with the expedited transfer of funds prior to December <br />31, 2003. The final easement will be submitted for official Board approval in early 2004. <br />RESOLUTION FOR THE PURCHASE OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO PROTECT <br />STEEP BOTTOM BRANCH NATURAL HERITAGE SITE <br />WHEREAS, one of the primary goals of the Orange County Lands Legacy program, established <br />by the Board of County Commissioners in April 2000, is the protection of identified natural areas <br />that are part of the N.C. Natural Heritage Program, and <br />WHEREAS, Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC}, a private, non-profit land trust with like <br />conservation goals, acquired 29 acres of the Steep Bottom Branch Natural Heritage site in 1997 <br />to help protect this site, and <br />WHEREAS, in 2001, Judge and Mrs. Stanley Peele began discussions with Triangle Land <br />Conservancy and subsequently Orange County regarding preserving an adjoining 35-acre tract <br />in their ownership that also contained a portion of the Natural Heritage site, and <br />WHEREAS, in 2002, TLC and the County agreed to jointly purchase the Peele property at a <br />bargain sale price, and <br />WHEREAS, TLC and the County agreed to allow TLC to purchase the Peele property in late <br />2002 with a subsequent conservation easement granted to Orange County to reflect the joint <br />and strengthened protection for this site and the County's participation in the purchase, and <br />