Agenda - 02-20-2007-6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION Approval of Agricultural Conservation Easement between Orange County and Fickle Creek Farm WHEREAS, Orange County has an adopted goal promoting the preservation of farmland in the County; and WHEREAS, agriculture in Orange County is an important facet of the economy and way of life in the County; and WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation easements on prime or threatened farmland within water supply watersheds; and WHEREAS, Fickle Creek Farm includes approximately 61 acres in the Cane Creek protected watershed, consists of a majority of prime soils, and is located in an agricultural community with good access to farm markets; and WHEREAS, in 2006 Orange County designated Fickle Creek Farm as part of the Cane Creek /Buckhorn Voluntary Agricultural District; and WHEREAS, a matching grant was awarded to Orange County from the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program to help protect the future of this farm with an agricultural conservation easement; and WHEREAS, a conservation easement on this 61 -acre farm would ensure the preservation of this farmland for future generations and compensate the owners for this commitment: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the agricultural conservation easement to protect prime farmland owned by Noah Ranells and Ben Bergmann; 2) approve the execution of this conservation easement agreement with Noah Ranells and Ben Bergmann, in accordance with the terms of the proposed easement agreement, subject to final review by staff and the county attorney; and 3) authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the easement agreement on behalf of the Board, with a closing to occur on or about March 31, 2007. This the 20th day of February, 2007. Moses Carey Jr., Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board