APB agenda 032002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

the possibility of putting something on the plat. Stancil added that if you have any feedback between now and the next meeting, send it to staff and we'll come back with some ideas on potential changes based on what we heard tonight. 05 Other discussion included the original setting up of the program and why it was based on 80 acres. Strayhorn noted that when the program was originally set up it had intended on getting more VAD program participation by farming neighbors encouraging others to join when they didn't have the minimum acreage on one farm and, it is time for a change, as it didn't work out. It was noted that the APB had discussed at length a lower acreage recommendation about a year ago and forwarded to the county attorney a simplified agreement form that participants sign when they joint the VAD program. However, the final VAD agreement form had not been formally approved by the county attorney nor returned to the APB. Once that step has been completed the APB could move forward. Commissioner Jacobs offered to assist with this. He suggested that the APB document the thought process for the Board of County of Commissioners to show how the APB derived at the acreage recommendations. Stancil closed in noting that staff would bring back examples for the acreage ideas at the next meeting. C. Update — Board of Commissioners Annual Retreat Stancil reported that much of the time spent at the retreat was related to the latest state budget cuts and how the county would be affected. Kleese asked about the Preservation Trust Fund at the state level getting cut and if it would affect what happens in the county on agricultural preservation issues. Stancil noted that the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund was only funded about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars this year. They had already notified the counties that they wouldn't be funding any easements and possibly only transaction costs. We are still planning to try to submit for some transaction costs. He also reported that the Clean Water Management Trust fund is looking at having to freeze their grant cycles. Commissioner Jacobs reported that there is also the 3 million dollar commitment on the bond schedule spending period. And, conservancies with Clean Water Management Trust fund were receptive about trying to use some of their funding since there wasn't farmland preservation money to buy easements in protected watersheds. Once these funds become available again, that idea may still be an option. Vice chair, manager and commissioner to meet with David Price to bring up two agricultural things — 1) money for farmers market structure in Hillsborough, 2 -have his staff look at finding money for conservation easements for agriculture. There is an interesting wrinkle in federal regulation for state's being eligible for matching monies from the federal government, that is a county has to have its program funded for a certain number of years in a row. It was put in by states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, who have been doing farmland preservation for a while. North Carolina, however, has only done it sporadically and if we stop this year, we'll go right back to zero. We'd like to see if 4