Orange County NC Website
<br />b) VAD Breakfast: Hughes provided options for the VAD breakfast. After discussion, the APB board <br />approved by consensus to hold the event at the Schley Grange Hall on Nov. 29 th, starting at 8:00 am, <br />wrapping up at 10:00 am. The APB asked Hughes and Sandbeck to decide on an agenda and present the <br />final details at the Nov. meeting, before the breakfast. <br /> <br />6. Discussion Items: Food Council update <br />Mike Ortosky discussed the Food Council’s progress and organizational structure and the workgroups. Some <br />of the items that the workgroup are working on include: food access, food economy, food waste reuse. <br />The Council is working on a Memorandum of Understanding with the municipalities. Economic <br />Development supports hiring a Food Council Coordinator, to work out of the County Manger’s office. <br />Ortosky also discussed and asked for the support and endorsement of the APB for a trust fund to support <br />local agricultural projects and local foods in Orange Co. The funds for the trust account would be from the <br />tax dollars collected for properties that change from Present Use Value taxation to a non-agricultural use. <br />The tax dollars are typically three years of pro-rated taxes for change of use on the property. The APB <br />discussed supporting and endorsing this proposal. Ideas for using the funds for agricultural preservation <br />included: purchase conservation easements on farmland; fund the agricultural grant program; and have <br />emergency funds available for farms after severe storms. Ranells moved approval for the APB to support <br />and endorse the PUV trust fund proposal, add the APB to the Food Council’s proposal document, and write <br />a letter of support to the BOCC. Compton seconded; motion approved. <br /> <br />7. Informational Items/Future agenda items: <br />a) Ag Economic Dev. Update: Ortosky reported the success and progress of the Agricultural Small Grant <br />program, with $100,000 grants funded. He noted that the Food Council was interested in working closer <br />with the APB to learn more about the programs offered, and possibly coordinate. Perhaps there could be a <br />joint meeting once or twice a year to encourage interaction between the groups. Compton suggested <br />inviting Food Council members to the VAD breakfast. Ortosky will provide names for the invitation. <br />b) Quilt Trail update: Hughes updated the APB of their support to start a Quilt Trail in Orange County if <br />funding could be found. Hughes represents the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District on a non-profit <br />group, Piedmont Conservation Council, Inc., (Orange Co. pays yearly dues), and this group has applied for a <br />grant to fund a Quilt Trail for the Piedmont Counties. Hughes also talked to the Orange County Visitors <br />Center, along with DEAPR staff, Town of Hillsborough, and local artists, and has both financial and staff <br />support to help promote the Trail if funding is received. The funding will be awarded in spring of 2019. <br />c) Ordinance Language updates: Hughes reported that some changes and updates to the Farmland <br />Preservation Ordinance are needed to keep up with changes. Staff will work on these updates, then share. <br />d) New maps: Sandbeck and Hughes have worked with Margaret Jones in Orange County Land Records to <br />develop new maps with the VAD/EVAD and Century Farms, which is on display on the side tables. <br />e) Membership update: Hughes reported that there is vacant position on the Board, and reported that <br />Kim Woods had expressed an interested to return to the Board. Finley moved to recommend the <br />appointment of Kim Woods to the vacant position (at large); Ranells seconded; motion approved. Sandbeck <br />will reach out to Woods, and have the paperwork completed for the approval by the BOCC. <br /> <br />8. Information sharing/new items on agenda: <br />Redding suggested changing the meeting times for the November and January meetings, to start at 6:30 <br />p.m. to allow members to get home earlier. Ranells moved approval; Finley seconded; motion carried. <br />Hughes asked the Board if they would consider moving the November meeting date up a week, due to a <br />conflict with the Thanksgiving Holiday. Compton moved approval; Finley seconded; motion carried. <br /> <br />Adjournment was at 9:10 p.m, approved by consensus.