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2 <br /> 1 Dave Stancil made reference to Attachment 1, Lands Legacy 10-year Retrospective, and <br /> 2 noted how the program has been successful over the last ten years. He said that now the <br /> 3 County is going through a period of focusing on the stewardship of land that it currently owns. <br /> 4 This has become a priority with the recession. <br /> 5 Rich Shaw went through the draft action plan, which began on page 11 and <br /> 6 represented on the screen as well. The plan identifies some project areas to work on over the <br /> 7 next two years: <br /> 8 - Previously-approved projects <br /> 9 - Site stewardship <br /> 10 - Natural areas and wildlife habitat <br /> 11 - Joint Town/County open space <br /> 12 - Grant funds <br /> 13 <br /> 14 The summary list of priority projects includes: <br /> 15 <br /> 16 First Priority sites: <br /> 17 <br /> 18 1. Future Bingham Township Park <br /> 19 2. Seven Mile Creek Preserve/Mountain to Sea Trail <br /> 20 3. Jordan Lake Macro-site <br /> 21 4. Upper Eno Riparian Buffers <br /> 22 5. Hall's Mill and Faucette's Mill Historic Sites <br /> 23 <br /> 24 Second Priority sites: <br /> 25 <br /> 26 6. Bolin Creek Corridor <br /> 27 7. Farmland Conservation Easements <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Dave Stancil said that the focus will be on projects that have been in the works for <br /> 30 awhile and projects that may have a lot of return or partnership and grant opportunities. The <br /> 31 ability to work with partner organizations is vital. He emphasized that this is only a blueprint <br /> 32 and the Board of County Commissioners makes the final decisions on a case-by-case basis. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 Commissioner Pelissier asked about the rationale for having the Bolin Creek corridor <br /> 35 and farm easements as second priorities. She said that the Bingham Township Park will <br /> 36 probably use up the majority of the monies available. <br /> 37 Dave Stancil said that some of the projects in the works now have funds that are <br /> 38 encumbered and are not listed in the funding sources. This money is what is available now for <br /> 39 any new projects. <br /> 40 Commissioner Pelissier said that she needs more clarification on what has been <br /> 41 encumbered. Dave Stancil said that he would provide a chart with this information. <br /> 42 Regarding the priorities, Dave Stancil said that it was a hard call because all of them <br /> 43 are top priorities. One of the reasons that farmland conservation easements was down on the <br /> 44 list was because a lot has been accomplished in this respect. There is not a lot of money left <br /> 45 in the conservation easement fund. Regarding the Bolin Creek Corridor, it would require a lot <br /> 46 of partnership and funds. <br /> 47 Commissioner Gordon said that she is generally supportive of working on the <br /> 48 previously approved projects and on the priority sites. She would also like more information on <br /> 49 what is encumbered. <br />