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HomeMy WebLinkAbout190606 - Minutes, Ag Land Presv. BdMINUTES June 6, 2019 Meeting of the Washington County Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Board Chair Jeremiah Weddle. In attendance were Board Members Dean Boggs, David Roth, and Robert Meyers, as well as ex officio, Comm. Randy Wagner, and County reps Eric Seifarth and Chris Boggs. February 28, 2019 Minutes Mr. Meyers moved to approve the minutes from the February 28, 2019 meeting, seconded by Mr. D. Boggs, unanimously approved. Ethics Forms Mr. Seifarth mentioned that we are still waiting for ethics forms from two board members. They will be emailed. MALPP Priority Ranking – Proximity to Other Easements Mr. Seifarth filled the Board in on the current policy that in order to claim contiguity to other permanent easements and get the full 25 points on the MALPP Priority Ranking, the property must be contiguous to at least 20 acres of permanently preserved land. Previously, the Board voted that the easement that the property was contiguous to had to be settled at the time of the ranking. However, due to the nature of easement programs and the tendency for them to take extended periods of time to settle, the Board decided that an easement in progress, with good chances of settlement, can be counted as contiguous, per the Board’s ultimate discretion. Mr. Roth moved to approve the policy, seconded by Mr. Meyers, unanimously approved. NGFAP Properties Applying for MALPP Easements – Public Testimony Mr. Seifarth described the MARBIDCO NGFAP program and how it relates to MALPP easements. The nature of the NGFAP program, being a revolving fund dependent on future easement acquisition, opens up debate to the giving weight to properties in the program by giving the NGFAP properties the full 25 points in the ranking as being “contiguous to themselves.” John Scott Shank, III, Mary Creek and Michael Creek were in attendance to speak with the Board, all three in favor of giving the full 25 points to NGFAP properties. After the departure of Mr. Shank, Ms. Creek and Mr. Creek, the Board discussed further, coming to the conclusion that they should table the discussion until hearing more from MARBIDCO. Mr. Roth moved to table the issue until a later date, seconded by Mr. D. Boggs, unanimously approved. MALPP Easement Rankings Mr. C. Boggs informed the Board on the ranking process. The Board then reviewed the easement applications and awarded the points for the individual properties. There was a question as to what points to give the Long application for Water Availability – the Board tasked Mr. Seifarth and Mr. C. Boggs to contact Mr. Long the following morning to get info. Adjournment Mr. D. Boggs moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Roth, unanimously approved.