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RES-2016-049 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION <br /> Approval of Agricultural Conservation Easement between <br /> Orange County and the Eno River Association <br /> and <br /> Robert and Gail Pope <br /> WHEREAS, agriculture in Orange County is an important facet of the economy and time <br /> honored way of life in the County; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County has an adopted goal promoting the preservation of farmland in <br /> the County; and <br /> WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation <br /> easements on prime farmland within water supply watersheds; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Captain John S. Pope farm includes approximately 73 acres in the Back <br /> Creek protected watershed, consists of a majority of prime agricultural soils, and is located in <br /> an agricultural community with good access to farm markets; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County and the Eno River Association have agreed to collaborate on the <br /> joint acquisition of a conservation easement that will protect the prime farmland and riparian <br /> corridors that exist on the Captain John S. Pope farm with a conservation easement; and . <br /> WHEREAS, matching funds have been awarded for this project from the North Carolina <br /> Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to help purchase the <br /> agricultural conservation easement; and <br /> WHEREAS, a conservation easement on this approximately 73 acres would ensure the <br /> preservation of this farmland for future generations and help to compensate the owners for <br /> this long-term commitment; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> does hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the agricultural and watershed protection <br /> conservation easement to land owned by Robert and Gail Pope; 2) approve the execution of <br /> this conservation easement agreement with Robert and Gail Pope, in accordance with the <br /> terms of the proposed easement agreement, subject to final review by staff and the County <br /> Attorney; 3) authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the easement agreement on behalf of <br /> the Board, with a closing to occur on or about July 31, 2016; and 4) authorize County staff to <br /> sign any and all closing documents upon consultation with the County Attorney. <br /> This the 21st day of June, 2016. <br /> Earl McKee, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> Don Baker, Clerk to the Board <br />