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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 3, 2019 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-i <br /> SUBJECT: Approval of FY 2019-20 Forest Service Contract <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR), <br /> Financial Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> FY 2019-20 Contract David Stancil, 245-2510 <br /> 2018 Summary of Accomplishments Paul Laughton, 245-2152 <br /> Christian Hirni, 245-2514 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve the annual agreement between Orange County and the North Carolina <br /> Forest Service, a division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer <br /> Services (DACS), for protection, development, reforestation, management and improvement of <br /> forestlands in Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: Each year, Orange County and the N.C. Forest Service enter into an <br /> agreement under authority of Sections 113-54 and 113-59 of the N.C. General Statutes to <br /> provide for the continuation of active protection of Orange County forestlands by the Forest <br /> Service. The Forest Service is a component of the Division of Forest Resources within DACS, <br /> and includes regional, district and county offices. The District 11 office is located in Orange <br /> County on NC 86 south of Hillsborough, headed by District Forester Jennifer Roach. The <br /> County office is located in Boone Square Shopping Center in Hillsborough. <br /> The County and District offices of the Forest Service are actively involved with County staff from <br /> several departments and participate in many joint activities, both in terms of statutory <br /> responsibilities and coordinated public education efforts. Responsibilities of the District and <br /> County Forester include: <br /> • Promotion and practice of forest management to develop and improve forestlands, and <br /> promote reforestation, <br /> • Protection of water quality, <br /> • Protection of forestlands from insects and diseases, <br /> • Controlling forest fires in the County, <br /> • Detecting and extinguishing fires that break out, and investigating the origin of forest <br /> woodland and field fires, <br /> • Enforcement of State forest fire laws, <br /> • Provision of mutual aid in times of emergency, and <br />