Item 8-c - Resolution of Approval – Conservation Easement on Walker Farm and Approval of Budget Amendment #4-A

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RES-2018-084 Attachment 1 4 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION Approval of Conservation Easement between Orange County and the Eno River Association and Norman C. Walker WHEREAS, Orange County has adopted goals that promote the preservation of natural areas, wildlife habitat, prime farmland, and open space in the county; and WHEREAS, Orange County established the Lands Legacy Program for the purpose of protecting the most significant natural and cultural resources through partnerships with landowners and other conservation entities; and WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation easements on prime farmland within water supply watersheds; and WHEREAS, the Walker Farm property includes approximately 77 acres in the Little River protected watershed, consisting of a majority of prime agricultural soils, and includes 5,000 linear feet of the North Fork Little River and one of its tributaries that drain to the Little River Reservoir—a drinking water supply reservoir for the City of Durham; and WHEREAS, Norman C. Walker, the owner of the Walker Farm property, wishes to grant a permanent conservation easement to Orange County and the Eno River Association, which will protect the prime farmland and riparian corridors that exist on the property; and WHEREAS, a conservation easement on this approximately 77 acres would ensure the preservation of this farmland and stream buffers for future generations and help compensate the owner for this long-term commitment; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the conservation easement for land owned by Norman C. Walker; 2) approve the execution of this conservation easement agreement with Norman Walker, in accordance with the terms of the proposed easement agreement, subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney; 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 June 30, 2019; and 4) authorize County staff to sign any and all closing documents upon consultation with the County Attorney. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board thanks Mr. Norman C. Walker for his civic- minded granting of this conservation easement through the Lands Legacy Program. This the 11th day of December, 2018. Penny Rich, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board