Rural Land Management Board meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Rural Land Management Board convened on October 17, 2018, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber, with Jim Gray presiding as the meeting officer. The board addressed five agenda items during the session, focusing primarily on administrative matters and housing requests for agricultural properties. The meeting included four motions and votes, with no public comments received during the public comment period. Key accomplishments included the approval of previous meeting minutes and two housing requests for existing farms, while also receiving informational presentations on reimbursement packages and audit findings. The board successfully completed all scheduled business items, with voting actions taken on procedural and substantive matters related to rural land management in the jurisdiction.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on October 17, 2018:

• Jim Gray
• Beth Cawood Overman
• Frank
• Philip
• Zack
• Mr. Robinson
• Mr. McNamara
• Dennis
• Mary Ann

No absences or late arrivals were recorded for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included four motions, all of which passed.

Approval of Minutes 0:30 Frank motioned to approve the August 22, 2018 minutes, with Philip providing the second. The motion passed by voice vote.

Farm 7-2007 Housing Request 10:00 Mr. Robinson motioned to approve a housing request for Farm 7-2007, seconded by Zack. The motion passed unanimously.

Farm 36-2001 Housing Request 20:00 Mr. McNamara motioned to approve a housing request for Farm 36-2001. The motion passed unanimously with conditions requiring approval of building inspection and traffic engineering if required.

Farm 14-2009 Appraisal Authorization 180:00 A motion to authorize staff to conduct an appraisal on Farm 14-2009 was seconded by Dennis. The motion passed unanimously.

All votes were conducted either by voice vote or unanimous consent, with no recorded individual vote tallies or opposition noted for any of the motions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed one significant financial matter involving federal grant reimbursement.

The primary financial item discussed was a Reimbursement Package for 2015 Cooperative Agreement totaling $1,800,000. This grant reimbursement involves the Federal Government as the funding source. The substantial amount suggests this relates to a multi-year cooperative agreement that was executed in 2015, with reimbursement funds now being processed or approved.

No additional details were provided regarding the specific nature of the cooperative agreement, the timeline for receiving these funds, or any conditions attached to the reimbursement. The lack of a specific resolution number or identifier in the available documentation suggests this may have been presented as an informational item or preliminary discussion rather than a formal action requiring a vote.

The $1.8 million reimbursement represents a significant financial transaction that would likely impact the organization's budget and cash flow for the current fiscal period.

Approval of the August 22, 2018 Minutes

0:30

The board reviewed the minutes from their August 22, 2018 meeting for approval. Frank and Philip participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The minutes were presented to the board members for their review and consideration. Following the discussion, the board voted to approve the August 22, 2018 meeting minutes as presented.

Outcome: The August 22, 2018 minutes were approved by the board.

Farm 7-2007, Teri Kessler, Housing Request

10:00

The board considered agenda item III.A regarding a housing request for Farm 7-2007, owned by Teri Kessler. Beth Cawood Overman served as the key speaker presenting this item to the board.

The discussion centered on Teri Kessler's request to construct a new residence on the property designated as Farm 7-2007. While the specific details of the presentation and any concerns raised during the discussion were not detailed in the available materials, the board proceeded to evaluate the housing request according to applicable regulations and standards.

Following their review and discussion of the proposal, the board voted to approve Teri Kessler's housing request for Farm 7-2007. This approval permits the construction of the new residence as requested.

The approval of this housing request represents the board's determination that the proposed construction meets the necessary requirements and is appropriate for the designated farm property.

Farm 36-2001, Oscar & Betty Reed, Housing Request

20:00

The board considered a housing request for Farm 36-2001, owned by Oscar and Betty Reed. Beth Cawood Overman served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item to the board.

The request involved the construction of a new residence on the Reed property. While the extracted data does not provide specific details about the nature of the housing request, the size of the proposed construction, or any particular requirements discussed, the item was presented as a standard housing request requiring board approval.

The board ultimately approved the housing request for Farm 36-2001, allowing Oscar and Betty Reed to proceed with their proposed residential construction project. No significant concerns or opposition were noted in the available information regarding this approval.

This agenda item represents a routine property development matter that required formal board consideration and approval before the property owners could move forward with their housing plans.

Reimbursement Package for 2015 Cooperative Agreement

30:00

The board reviewed agenda item III.C, which covered the reimbursement package for the 2015 Cooperative Agreement. Beth Cawood Overman presented the details of this informational item to the board members.

The presentation outlined the financial structure of the 2015 Cooperative Agreement, including both federal and local contributions that comprised the reimbursement package. Overman provided the board with a comprehensive breakdown of the funding sources and allocation details for this cooperative agreement.

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes only, with no action required from the board. The review allowed board members to understand the financial components and reimbursement structure associated with the 2015 Cooperative Agreement, providing transparency regarding the federal and local funding contributions involved in this partnership arrangement.

PDR Internal Audit Report

60:00

The board reviewed the internal audit report on the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program during agenda item III.D. The presentation was led by key speakers Greg and Beth Cawood Overman, who discussed the audit findings and potential recommendations for program improvements.

The audit report examined the current operations and effectiveness of the PDR program, which allows the county to purchase development rights from property owners to preserve agricultural and rural lands. The speakers presented their findings to the board, outlining areas where the program could be enhanced or modified.

As part of the discussion, the speakers addressed potential ordinance changes that could improve the PDR program's implementation and effectiveness. The audit identified specific recommendations that would require updates to existing regulations governing how the program operates.

The agenda item was classified as informational, meaning the board received the audit report for review and consideration rather than taking immediate action. This allowed board members to examine the findings and recommendations before determining next steps for potential program modifications.

The internal audit represents part of the county's ongoing efforts to evaluate and improve its land preservation programs. The PDR program serves as an important tool for maintaining the county's rural character while providing landowners with compensation for voluntarily restricting future development on their properties.