# Rural Land Management Board - May 8, 2017 > Auto-transcribed civic record · May 8, 2017 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/4246 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/4246?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2017-05-08 - **Last revised**: July 15, 2026 - **Length**: 2,398 words > ⚠️ **Auto-generated content.** Audio from the official Granicus video was auto-transcribed with OpenAI's open-source Whisper large-v3-turbo model, run locally by The Lexington Times. Structured facts were extracted with GPT-4o; the narrative summary was written by Anthropic Claude. Verbatim wording may contain errors. See [methodology](https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/about/methodology) or [report a correction](mailto:editor@lexingtonky.news). --- ## Meeting Overview The Rural Land Management Board met on May 8, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 101 East Vine Street in Lexington, Kentucky. Mayor Jim Gray presided over the meeting. The board addressed six agenda items, including updates on federal cooperative agreements and contracts spanning fiscal years 2016 and 2017, as well as several motions related to farm appraisals and valuations. The board took four votes during the meeting and heard no public comments. All agenda items were approved, including motions to authorize an increase in the per acre value of Farm 1-2015, to authorize appraisals on seven farms (Farms 1-2017, 2-2017, 3-2017, 4-2017, 88-2002, 7-2012, and 8-2013), and to take action on Farm 8-2015. ## Attendance The following individuals were present at the meeting on May 8, 2017: * Marianne * Don Robinson * Zachary * Barry * Don Ross * Sam Miller * Ann No attendees were recorded as absent or late. ## Votes and Decisions The meeting included four motions, all of which passed unanimously. **Authorization to Increase Farm 1-2015 Per Acre Value** [timestamp: 00:28:32] Marianne moved to authorize an increase to the per acre value of Farm 1-2015 as discussed in closed session. Zachary seconded the motion. All five members voted in favor: Marianne, Don Robinson, Zachary, Barry, and Don Ross. The motion passed unanimously. **Authorization to Conduct Farm Appraisals** [timestamp: 00:33:27] Marianne moved to authorize the conduct of appraisals on Farms 1-2017, 2-2017, 3-2017, 4-2017, 88-2002, 7-2012, and 8-2013. The appraisals would be funded by the 2015 Cooperative Agreement and LFUCG FY2016-2017 Funding. Zachary seconded the motion. All five members voted in favor: Marianne, Don Robinson, Zachary, Barry, and Don Ross. The motion passed unanimously. **Agricultural Land Easement on Farm 8-2015** [timestamp: 00:35:40] Marianne moved to place an agricultural land easement on Farm 8-2015. The motion was contingent upon Lexington Fayette Urban County Government's irrevocable appropriation of the purchase price in its fiscal year 2018 budget. The easement shall run in perpetuity and be subject to this condition. Zachary seconded the motion. All five members voted in favor: Marianne, Don Robinson, Zachary, Barry, and Don Ross. The motion passed unanimously. **PDR Budget Request Increase** [timestamp: 00:41:38] Marianne moved to increase the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) budget request from $2 million to $5 million. Zachary seconded the motion. All five members voted in favor: Marianne, Don Robinson, Zachary, Barry, and Don Ross. The motion passed unanimously. ## Budget and Financial Actions The meeting addressed two primary financial matters: **Appraisal Funding Under 2015 Cooperative Agreement** Funding was approved for appraisals on seven farms under the 2015 Cooperative Agreement. The farms included in this funding were: - Farm 1-2017 - Farm 2-2017 - Farm 3-2017 - Farm 4-2017 - Farm 88-2002 - Farm 7-2012 - Farm 8-2013 **PDR Program Appropriation** An appropriation of $5,000,000 was approved for the PDR program. This funding included an increased budget request for the program. ## Contested Items **Rank Order of Substitute Farms for 2015 Grant** Councilmember Penn raised a procedural concern regarding the substitution of farms from the 2017 applicant pool into the 2015 grant program. The dispute centered on whether maintaining the rank order of substitute farms could expose the program to challenges from other applicants who might question the selection process. Penn's concern reflected the complexity of managing applicant pools across multiple grant years and the potential legal or administrative vulnerabilities that could arise from substitution decisions. The councilmember sought clarification on how to proceed with farm substitutions while protecting the integrity of the grant allocation process. The issue was resolved through guidance provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS clarified that multiple substitutions from the 2017 applicant pool could be made sequentially until the full grant funding was utilized. This approach allowed the program to fill available grant resources while maintaining a defensible procedural framework based on established NRCS protocols. ## Update on 2015 Federal Cooperative Agreement/LFUCG FY-2016 Contracts; and 2016 Federal Cooperative Agreement/LFUCG FY-2017 Contracts [timestamp: 00:20:12] Beth Cawood provided an update on the status of farms operating under the 2015 and 2016 federal cooperative agreements with LFUCG. **Current Contract Status** The update reported that 1,167 acres are currently under contract. Upon completion of the current contracts, 30,120 acres are expected to be conserved in total. **Contract Adjustments** The discussion addressed changes to the 2015 grant contracts. Two farms withdrew from the 2015 federal grant, and the organization sought to replace them using substitute farms from the 2017 applicant pool. This substitution approach received approval from NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service). **Outcome** The update was approved. ## Motion to Enter into Closed Executive Session pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(b) [timestamp: 00:26:39] A motion was made and seconded to enter closed executive session pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(b) to discuss the potential acquisition of a real property interest. The speakers involved in this agenda item were Marianne and Don Robinson. The motion specified that the closed session was necessary because public discussion of the potential property acquisition is likely to affect the value of the real property interest under consideration. This rationale aligns with Kentucky Revised Statutes 61.810(1)(b), which permits closed sessions when discussion of real property acquisition matters could impact property values. The motion passed unanimously, allowing the body to proceed into closed executive session for this discussion. ## Motion to Authorize an increase in the per acre value of Farm 1-2015 [timestamp: 00:28:32] Following closed session discussion, a motion was made to increase the per acre value of Farm 1-2015. The increase was necessary because the property's valuation had surpassed its twelve-month expiration date and required updating. Key speakers on this agenda item included Marianne and Zachary. The motion passed unanimously. ## Motion to Authorize an Appraisal on Farms 1-2017, 2-2017, 3-2017, 4-2017, 88-2002, 7-2012, and 8-2013 [timestamp: 00:33:27] A motion was presented to authorize appraisals for seven farms identified as Farms 1-2017, 2-2017, 3-2017, 4-2017, 88-2002, 7-2012, and 8-2013. The appraisals would be funded through the 2015 Cooperative Agreement and LFUCG FY2016-2017 funding. Key speakers on this agenda item included Marianne and Zachary. The discussion took place following a closed session, during which the matter was deliberated. The motion passed unanimously. ## Motion on Farm 8-2015 A motion was presented to place an agricultural land easement on Farm 8-2015 [timestamp: 00:35:40]. The motion included a contingency requiring the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government to make an irrevocable appropriation of the purchase price in its fiscal year 2018 budget. Key speakers on this agenda item included Marianne and Zachary. The motion passed unanimously. ## Motion to Adjourn The meeting concluded at approximately 42 minutes and 21 seconds without a formal motion to adjourn. Instead, following the final vote on the agenda, all members present indicated their agreement to conclude the meeting. No discussion or debate took place regarding adjournment, and the meeting ended by consensus of the assembled members. --- ## Decisions - **Motion** — passed: Authorization to increase the per acre value of Farm 1-2015 as discussed in closed session - **Motion** — passed: Authorization to conduct appraisals on Farms 1-2017, 2-2017, 3-2017, 4-2017, 88-2002, 7-2012, and 8-2013, funded by the 2015 Cooperative Agreement and LFUCG FY2016-2017 Funding - **Motion** — passed: Motion to place an agricultural land easement on Farm 8-2015, contingent upon Lexington Fayette Urban County Government's irrevocable appropriation of the purchase price in its fiscal year 2018 budget - **Motion** — passed: Motion to increase the PDR budget request from $2 million to $5 million --- ## Full transcript ...a job, so I wanna be a paperback writer. Paperback writer! 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Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ¶¶ Oh, my God. Thank you. The End Thank you. We'll be right back. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. okay welcome everybody I don't see any public and normally we have people sign attendance sheets so we need attendance sheets if anyone shows up help me remember also like to recognize today we have a person Sam Miller sitting down here within RCS sitting in with John for John Graham today If you all have met him, opportunity to meet him. Plus, Ann. Okay. First thing we have on the agenda is new business, and this is basically an update on our activity on older contracts, and I think Beth is going to take us through that. Okay. So this is basically the update that I sent you all in the email on Friday, but just to walk through it again. So with our 2015 federal grant and our LFUCG FY16 funding, we have nine farms under contract totaling 634 acres. One farm has been appraised and the offer is being extended. One farm appraisal is being ordered. Seven substitute appraisals will be ordered for the two farms that withdrew from this grant, the farm with the cell tower and the farm in the multiple 10-acre tracks. and authorization will be given after closed session today for those appraisals. We have three farms under contract that had appraisals expiring in May. One of those supplemental appraisals is complete and the per acre value increased and will be discussed in closed session today. The other two supplemental appraisals have been ordered. Other than the three appraisals with May expiration dates, There are no other expirations until September, and NRCS expects to close those farms by the deadline. So for our 2016 federal grant and our LFUCG FY17 funding, we have six farms under contract totaling 532 acres. We have two farms with pending offers. We have one farm owner with two farms who declined both offers. and so the farms that apply to PDR this fall can be used as immediate substitutions for those two farms if they meet the federal guidelines. So our total acreage under contract right now is 1,167 acres. Our total acreage already conserved is 28,953, and after those contracts close we will have 30,120 acres conserved. What does that total amount come to, Beth, on those closing? On the ones that are already closed? And the ones that, for this, for 16, for the, what you're talking about, all the farms that have either closed or the ones potential closed, how much is that in this particular year? We will cross 30,000 acres, so it'll be 30,120. No, dollar-wise. Dollar, this, that group, that, how much is that, are we spending in that? the farms that you just discussed. Oh, I'll have to calculate and send that to you. I've got the budget spreadsheet with me and can check on that. Okay. Okay. All right, I don't see any public here. We don't have any announcements, so that's pretty much the open session meeting today. So, yes, sir, do you have any questions? Yes, sir, Mr. Penn. Of those seven substitutes, are they in the rank order? For which year? They are the farms. They are in rank order for 15. No, for they are new applicants from last fall and are applicants that have been rolling over. So they would have been on our 2017 grant. and NRCS said instead to use them as substitutes for money that's already in place. So they're on the 17 ranking? No, we don't have to do a 2017 application because we have money left over for those two large farms that withdrew in 2015. They would have been 2017, yes. But they're on 2016. 2015, yes. I can show you all. That's all right. I just didn't want us to get out of rank order. And when you start substituting, if you're not careful, what happens is you're not in rank order. They don't fit anywhere. You pull them out of 16, you pull them out of 15, out of the other. And according to our ordinance, they're supposed to be in rank order by the year they applied to use them. And so all I was trying to do was to see what year we were pulling those out of, because I don't want some other farm to step up and say, well, you stuck that farm in ahead of me. You know, I'm not questioning what you're doing. I'm just questioning how we defend people that have been rolled over and rolled over and rolled over. Okay. This is the method that we use each year. So what is happening is that instead of – so usually these are the farms that applied last year in this fall and the farms that had been rolling over. and they're all ranked. And then we took all the ones that are eligible for a federal match, and we generally would have put them on a new federal application this year, but instead NRCS said we've already got all this money in place from our 2015 grant, from two that withdrew, so we have to still submit applications, but we'll be submitting applications for money that's already in place both locally and federally. So we don't have to ask for new money. So we're putting in those on our 2015 grant. So these are ranked, but they may be out of order because the federal will match them and won't match some of the others that are in order. Yes. And I've got their ranking that I'll show you all in closed session. I just want to understand. I'm not trying to change anything. I just want to understand my mind. Yeah. Because. No, I know it's confusing with all these several years and substitutions. And that's something new, which is great that it's new, but it's new within RCS that we're allowed to substitute multiple farms until we use the full grant. They used to just allow us to do one farm for one farm, and now they allow us to keep substituting farms until we utilize the entire grant. So it's a positive change. But I'll go over that in close session. Thank you. I see the problem. All right, any other questions or comments? Okay, I'm going to entertain a motion to enter into closed session presented to KRS 61810-1B to discuss the potential acquisition of real property interest, the public discussion of which is likely to affect the value. Second. Okay, we have a motion by Marianne, a second by Don Robinson. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Okay, we're in closed session. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we're back in open session. We have some motions. Are you all putting these on the screen for us? The first motion is to authorize an increase in the per acre value of Farm 1-2015 as discussed in closed session. That should come up. It's right here. So we just need the people to move, approve, and vote. Yeah, it's on your screen. That motion is on your screen right now. Okay, well, mine is. We have a motion and a second right now, so we should be getting the box. Oh, Nick. Okay, take that off. Okay. Well, we have the wrong seconder on there. Okay, are you clearing it out so we can... Just start it over and someone make the motion and someone else second it. Wait a minute, Nick's got on there again. She's in the next spot. Has she logged on as Nick? I think when we shifted, I think she was in the next spot. There we go. Okay, we got the right motioner in there now. Okay, now for a second. Okay, we have a second. Zachary, all right. Now we can vote. Let me see your hand. Hold them up. Yeah, don't be punching that computer over there. Put Barry down in the spot. Can you do that? We don't have Don Ross. I'm not on the list. Okay, Don doesn't have his name up, so. he's not logged in or something Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So this motion has passed unanimously. All right, we need the next motion come up, which will be on authorizing appraisals. Okay, that motion is up. We have a mover and a seconder. No, it's right. It says Mariana. No, it's right. Up here. Oh, at the top? I don't know why it says that at the top. That's the old motion. Still showing. We just need to box us. All right. Do we need to re-motion on this one? No, it should be on the screen. It's on the screen now. But we don't have a load, but... But there's... Yeah. She's got... We don't have a motion and a second on this one now, but I... Okay, here we go. Okay. All right. All right. All right. I think we got all that. Okay, do you all have the next motion on that will be on the screen for farm? Okay. Not yet. I know, but I'm asking the team over here. I'm asking the techie people. Okay, I'm going to read. I'm going to read the additional information on this. It's just the language, so you're all in the record. We're going to do a motion on Farm 8-2015, as discussed in closed session, to place an agricultural land easement on the farm that shall run in perpetuity and be subject to and contingent upon the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, having irrevocably approved in its fiscal year 2018 budget an amount equal to the purchase price to be used for the purchase of this easement. Irrevocably appropriated. Okay, you all right with that? Extra language, that's what we did before. Okay. Same we did before. Okay, we have a mover on that one. Looking for a seconder. You're a little late. there's still a second row burn up there's seconder back in all right Okay, that motion carries as well. And this last one I don't believe will be in here on the budget, right? So you need to make that verbally? Yes. Okay. Well, thank you. She can type it in? Okay. Okay. Okay, the final motion is to increase the PDR budget request to $5 million. I think she's going to put it in here, so you might have a chance to type it in. Are you going to type that in? Motion to increase PDR budget to $5 million. You might say from $2 million to $5 million. From $2 million to $5 million. Sorry. Now I can get my car out of hock. No, we need to vote on this one on the machine. There we go. Thank you. Okay, on this last motion, we need the motion and second to her again. I had to change the language. All right, now we can do the vote. Okay, that's the final motion, and that carries as well. As far as I know, we don't have anything else today. How about a motion to adjourn? No, I don't think they're going to do that on there. you don't need a formal motion to adjourn do you all in favor leave the building Thank you.