Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Carey suggested that when the staff goes back for calculations that they <br />proceed as if the 15% debt threshold stays in place. He would also like to see same estimate of <br />the operational impact of these projects coming online within the next two years. <br />Commissioner Gordon endorsed the 15°~ threshold. <br />Commissioner Carey also asked to factor in the impact of the lottery proceeds. Donna <br />Coffey said that they expect the first deposit of lottery proceeds in October. <br />2. Lands Legacy Action Plan for FY 2006-08 <br />Environment and Resource Conservation Director Dave Stancil said that this is the draft <br />action plan of what has been identified through conversations with advisory boards and previous <br />action plans for the next two years of Lands Legacy. He made reference to the status report <br />{Attachment 1 b) and said that it has been five years since the first action plan, and since that <br />time they have been able to protect 1,700 acres of future park sites, natural areas, wildlife <br />habitat, watershed buffer lands, prime farmland, and cultural and archaeological sites. They <br />have contributed financially to acquisition and conservation of another 1,100 acres. They have <br />been able to leverage a lot of money -almost $4 million to date. He thinks that they have made <br />a lot of headway towards erasing the parkland deficit that was referred to in 2001. <br />Regarding challenges, there are a lot of unprotected natural heritage sites and there is a <br />long list of farmers interested in participating in the farmland easement program. <br />He made reference to page 10 and reviewed the table of priorities: Bingham Township <br />Park, Farmland Easements, Jordan Lake Macrosite, Seven Mile Creek Preserve, Upper Ena <br />Riparian Buffers, New Hope Preserve and Trails, University Natural Areas, and Faucette's Mill <br />Historic Area. <br />Commissioner Carey asked how firm the estimates are for the costs in the first table and <br />Dave Stancil said that they are general estimates. They realize that there are more projects <br />than they have funds. <br />Commissioner Foushee made reference to page 2 of the advisory board comments, and <br />the comment by the Commission for the Environment about continuing to explore potential pilot <br />project to restore or reconstruct a piedmont prairie site. Dave Stancil said that there might be <br />same funds available to help recreate some of the piedmont prairies, which were fairly common <br />about 200 years ago in North Carolina. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that the Jordan Lake Macrosite is a commendable <br />undertaking and he asked the Board to consider asking the staff to send this action plan <br />material to Chatham County Commissioners and encourage them to preserve land. <br />Commissioner Gordon and Chair Jacobs said that they support the plan. <br />Chair Jacobs said that, since there is an improved relationship with Orange-Alamance <br />Water, he suggested that at the next Eno Confluence in October, that they discuss whether <br />Orange-Alamance is willing to work with the County in conservation easements along McGowan <br />Creek. <br />Chair Jacobs asked staff to put in a Manager's Memo or an agenda where they are with <br />payment-in-lieu. He thinks that one of the questions has to do with a 20-year old plan. If the <br />County has achieved most of the plan, then he wants to know what's next. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to <br />adjourn the meeting at 9:58 p.m. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Barry Jacobs, Chair <br />Donna S. Baker <br />Clerk to the Board <br />