Rural Land Management Board
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Summary
Meeting Overview
The Rural Land Management Board convened on April 24, 2019, at 3:30 PM in the Council Chamber, with Beth Cawood Overman presiding as the meeting officer. The board addressed three agenda items during the session, focusing primarily on matters related to agricultural easements and land management within the county's Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program.
The meeting included two informational presentations covering a new PDR farm easement participant and an easement monitoring update, providing the board with current status reports on the county's agricultural preservation efforts. The third agenda item, concerning a housing request for Farm 14-2008 Elk Horn Farm, LLC submitted by Steve Coleman, was tabled for future consideration.
No formal votes were taken during this meeting, and no public comments were heard. The session served primarily as an informational briefing for board members on ongoing PDR program activities and pending matters requiring future board action.
Appointments
The meeting addressed one appointment matter involving the Rural Land Management Board.
John McNamara resigned from his position on the Rural Land Management Board. No additional details were provided regarding the timing or circumstances of the resignation.
No other appointments, reappointments, or nominations were discussed during this meeting.
Contested Items
The April 24, 2019 meeting faced a significant procedural challenge that prevented the body from conducting official business.
Lack of Quorum
The primary contested item was a procedural dispute regarding the absence of sufficient members to establish a quorum. Without the minimum number of members required to be present, the meeting could not proceed with any voting or official actions that required formal approval.
This procedural issue effectively halted the meeting's ability to address substantive agenda items that required official votes or decisions. The lack of quorum represents a fundamental parliamentary procedure requirement that must be met before a governing body can conduct binding business.
The outcome was that no official actions could be taken during this meeting session, requiring any pending matters to be postponed until a future meeting when sufficient members would be present to establish the required quorum.
*Note: Specific details about which members were present or absent, the exact quorum requirements, and transcript timestamps are not available in the provided source materials.*
New PDR Farm Easement Participant
Elizabeth Jensen presented information about her farm located on Evans Mill Road as a new participant in the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program. Jensen discussed her ongoing conservation efforts on the property and her decision to participate in the PDR easement program.
Key Discussion Points: • Jensen outlined her farm's conservation practices and land management approach • She explained her motivation for joining the PDR program to preserve the agricultural character of her property • The presentation covered details about her Evans Mill Road farm operation
The agenda item served as an informational presentation to introduce Jensen as a new PDR program participant. No formal action was required, as this was a presentation to inform the meeting attendees about the new easement participant and her conservation commitments under the program.
The PDR program allows farmers to sell development rights to their property while retaining ownership and continuing agricultural operations, helping preserve farmland and rural character in the community.
Easement Monitoring Update
Charlie Farmer presented an update on the organization's easement monitoring activities during this agenda item 0:00. The presentation provided details on the current status of easement reviews and outlined the monitoring process being implemented.
Farmer reported on the number of easement reviews that have been completed to date, though specific figures were not detailed in the available materials. The update covered the systematic approach being used to monitor easements under the organization's oversight.
The presentation focused on the procedural aspects of easement monitoring, explaining the steps involved in the review process. This informational update was designed to keep board members and attendees informed about the ongoing work related to easement oversight and compliance.
No specific concerns were raised during this agenda item, and no action was required from the board. The update served as a routine progress report on the organization's easement monitoring responsibilities and current activities in this area.
Farm 14-2008 Elk Horn Farm, LLC – Steve Coleman, Housing Request
Bruce Simpson presented a housing request on behalf of Elk Horn Farm, LLC for Farm 14-2008. The request sought approval for a residence associated with the farm property.
However, the board was unable to take action on this agenda item due to a lack of quorum at the meeting. Without sufficient board members present to constitute a quorum, no official vote could be conducted on the housing request.
As a result, the Farm 14-2008 Elk Horn Farm, LLC housing request was tabled until a future meeting when a quorum of board members would be available to properly consider and vote on the proposal.
The item will need to be rescheduled for consideration at a subsequent board meeting where adequate attendance allows for official action to be taken.