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RESOLUTION <br />Approval of Agricultural Conservation Easement between <br />Orange County and Bill and Michelle Lee <br />WHEREAS, Orange County has an adopted goal promoting the preservation of farmland in the <br />County; and <br />WHEREAS, agriculture in Orange County is an important facet of the economy and way of life <br />in the 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 Lee Farm includes approximately 70 acres in the Little River protected <br />watershed, consists of a majority of prime soils, and is located in an agricultural community with <br />good access to farm markets; and <br />WHEREAS, a matching grant of $163,000 was awarded to Orange County from the federal <br />Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program to help protect the future of this farm with an <br />agricultural conservation easement; and <br />WHEREAS, a conservation easement on this approximately 70-acre section of the farm would <br />ensure the preservation of this farmland for future generations and compensate the owners far <br />this long-term commitment; <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does <br />hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the agricultural conservation easement to protect <br />prime farmland owned by Bill and Michelle Lee; 2) approve the execution of this conservation <br />easement agreement with Bill and Michelle Lee, in accordance with the terms of the proposed <br />easement agreement, subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney; and 3) authorize <br />the Chair and the Clerk to sign the easement agreement on behalf of the Board, with a closing <br />to occur on or about June 30, 2007. <br />This the 15th day of May, 2007. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />c. Proclamation Recognizing Disability Awareness Month (added item) <br />The Board considered a proclamation recognizing the month of May 2007 at Disability <br />Awareness Month. <br />