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Tara Fikes said that they are accepting applications for the use of HOME funds during <br />the month of February. The application is available on the websites of Orange County and the <br />Town of Chapel Hill. <br />Commissioner Carey asked about the timeframe of their proposed request for funds for <br />the property management position. Chair Jacobs suggested plugging this into the budget cycle <br />and putting it on the list of priorities. <br />Delores Bailey said that they were hoping to have it in this year's budget cycle. <br />9. Items for Decision--Regular Agenda <br />a. Voluntary Agricultural District Designation: Ranells-Bergmann Property <br />The Board considered an application from Noah Ranells and Ben Bergmann for <br />certification as qualifying farmland within the Cane CreeklBuckhorn Voluntary Agricultural <br />District. <br />Dave Stancil said that aver 2,Q00 acres are enrolled in this program. One of the biggest <br />challenges over the last several years has been the original rule that provided for an 80-acre <br />minimum lot size. This item is the first to come in under the new rules adopted last year that <br />allow smaller farms to be designated. <br />This is a property of 61 acres located in Bingham Township on Buckhorn Road. It is <br />known as Fickle Creek Farm. This would also be the first farm to qualify in the Cane <br />CreeklBuckhorn Agricultural District. The process far approval involves review by the <br />Agricultural Preservation Board and assessments by the Tax Assessor's office and the natural <br />resource conservation service. The Agricultural Preservation Board considered this at the <br />meeting on January 12t" and recommended the designation of Fickle Creek Farm as certifed <br />qualifying farmland and recommends that it be placed in the Cane CreeklBuckhorn Voluntary <br />Agricultural District. The Board's action would formally place this in the voluntary agricultural <br />district program, which would give the program 2,10Q acres. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to <br />certify Fickle Creek Farm as qualifying farmland and designate it as part of the Cane <br />CreeklBuckhorn Voluntary Agricultural District. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />b. Discussion Regarding Inclusion of School Merger Option in School Eguity <br />Considerations <br />Chair Jacobs said that this is an outgrowth of the retreat discussions. The County <br />Commissioners will be discussing school equity issues on February 16t", and they should <br />decide whether or not and how much time to devote to this matter at the work session. He <br />distributed the homework assignment discussed at the retreat, and they also sent this <br />information to the chairs of the school boards, asking them the same questions that the Board <br />answered: What is your definition of equity? What school program aspects would you be most <br />interested in having funded outside of the per pupil allocation for school current expense? And <br />an additional question for the OCS, Do you want more funding? If so, how do you see that <br />coming about? <br />Commissioner Carey said that he had asked the Board to consider this and his position <br />has been clear. He said that they could decide whatever they wish and whether merger needs <br />to be discussed as an element of the equity formula. He said that, regardless of what the Board <br />does, merger would continue to be an element of public discussion related to the equity issue. <br />He hopes that the Board continues to keep it as a possible option or as an element of the equity <br />discussion in terms of school funding. He said that he understands that the Board may not want <br />to continue the discussion of merger, but he does want to. <br />