Rural Land Management Board

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Rural Land Management Board convened on August 28, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding as the meeting's presiding officer. The board addressed six agenda items during the session, taking four votes throughout the meeting while hearing no public comments from attendees.

The meeting focused primarily on administrative updates and informational presentations related to the board's ongoing land conservation efforts. Board members approved the minutes from their previous July 24, 2019 meeting and received several important updates on the organization's operations. Key informational items included an update on the internal audit process, a comprehensive easement monitoring report detailing the status of protected properties, and progress updates on current easement acquisition efforts.

The board also learned about new funding opportunities, receiving an update on a funding award from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that will support future conservation initiatives. Additionally, the meeting included the introduction of Joel Kennimer, who was presented to the board as a new appraiser who will be working with the organization on property valuations for easement acquisitions.

Overall, the meeting served as a routine business session focused on keeping board members informed about ongoing operations, financial developments, and staffing changes, with most agenda items being informational in nature rather than requiring formal board action beyond the approval of previous meeting minutes.

Attendance

The Board meeting on August 28, 2019 had ten members present and two members absent.

Present: • Beth Cawood Overman • Margaret • Jennifer • Will • Phil • Christine • Robert • Elizabeth Jensen • Healy • Gloria

Absent: • Zach • Nick Carter

Late: • None

No members arrived late to the meeting. The meeting proceeded with a quorum of ten present members.

Votes and Decisions

The Board conducted four votes during the August 28, 2019 meeting, all of which passed by voice vote.

Motion 1: Long-Range Planning Committee Chair Board member Healy made a motion to confirm Margaret as chair of the long-range planning ordinance bylaws update group. The motion passed by voice vote without opposition.

Motion 2: Application Form Review Will motioned to refer the updated application form to the law department for review, with Healy providing the second. The motion passed by voice vote.

Motion 3: New Farm Owner Policy Will made a motion to adopt a policy for new owners of farms with pending Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) applications. Elizabeth seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote.

Motion 4: Legal Review of Acknowledgment Letter The final motion was made by Will to refer an acknowledgment letter to the law department for approval. Robert seconded the motion, and it passed by voice vote.

All four motions were approved unanimously through voice votes, with no recorded opposition or abstentions. The votes addressed administrative matters including committee leadership, policy adoption, and legal review procedures for various Board documents and processes.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Board addressed one significant financial item during the August 28, 2019 meeting.

The Board discussed a reimbursement of $659,000 from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for farm easements. This grant funding represents reimbursement to the district for conservation easement activities conducted in partnership with the federal agency.

The substantial reimbursement amount reflects the district's ongoing collaboration with NRCS in implementing agricultural conservation programs that protect farmland and natural resources within the district's jurisdiction.

Appointments

The Board made one appointment during the August 28, 2019 meeting.

• Margaret was appointed to the long-range planning ordinance bylaws update group.

The appointment was approved as part of the Board's regular business to fill positions on various municipal committees and working groups.

Approval of the July 24, 2019 Minutes

The Board considered the approval of minutes from their July 24, 2019 meeting. This routine agenda item involved reviewing the written record of the previous meeting's proceedings to ensure accuracy and completeness.

The minutes were presented to the Board for their review and approval. Board members had the opportunity to examine the document and raise any concerns about the accuracy of the recorded discussions, decisions, or other meeting details.

Following the Board's review, the July 24, 2019 minutes were approved. This approval formally establishes the minutes as the official record of that meeting's proceedings.

The approval of meeting minutes is a standard procedural item that ensures proper documentation of Board activities and maintains transparency in the organization's governance processes.

Update on Internal Audit

The Board received an informational presentation on internal audit findings during the August 28, 2019 meeting. Beth Cawood Overman served as the key speaker for this agenda item.

The presentation provided the Board with an update on internal audit activities and findings. The discussion focused on audit recommendations that had been identified through the internal review process.

Board members engaged in discussion regarding the audit findings and the recommendations presented. The item was treated as an informational update, allowing the Board to stay current on internal audit activities and oversight matters.

No specific action was required from the Board on this agenda item, as it served as a status update on ongoing internal audit work and findings. The presentation ensured Board members remained informed about internal controls and audit recommendations within the organization.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Easement Monitoring Report

Charlie Farmer presented an informational report on easement monitoring to the Board during the August 28, 2019 meeting.

The presentation provided an update on the district's ongoing easement monitoring activities, though specific details about the monitoring findings, locations covered, or compliance issues were not detailed in the available meeting materials.

As an informational item, no formal action was required or taken by the Board following Farmer's presentation. The report served to keep Board members informed about the status of easement oversight within the district's jurisdiction.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps and detailed content of the presentation were not available in the source materials.*

Update on Easement Acquisitions

Beth Cawood Overman provided an informational presentation to the Board regarding recent easement acquisitions and their impact on land conservation efforts.

The presentation covered the status of current easement acquisition activities, though specific details about individual properties, acquisition costs, or timelines were not provided in the available meeting materials. The discussion focused on how these easement acquisitions support the organization's broader land conservation objectives.

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes only, with no action items or decisions required from the Board. The update allowed Board members to stay informed about ongoing easement acquisition work and its contribution to conservation goals.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item. Additional details about the properties involved, acquisition costs, or specific conservation outcomes discussed during the presentation are not included in the available meeting documentation.*

New Funding Award from NRCS

Beth Cawood Overman presented information to the board regarding a new funding award from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The presentation provided details about this funding opportunity and its potential impact on the organization's operations and programs. The discussion was informational in nature, with board members receiving an overview of the award parameters and requirements.

This agenda item served to keep the board informed about new funding streams available through federal conservation programs administered by NRCS. No formal action was required from the board regarding this funding award at this time.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Introduction of Appraiser, Joel Kennimer

The Board was introduced to Joel Kennimer, the new appraiser from Paul Moore Appraisal Services. This was an informational presentation to familiarize Board members with the appraiser who would be working with the organization.

Joel Kennimer served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presumably providing background information about his qualifications and experience in property appraisal services. The introduction was part of the Board's standard practice of meeting new service providers who work with the organization.

This was an informational item with no action required from the Board. The presentation allowed Board members to become acquainted with Kennimer and understand his role in providing appraisal services through Paul Moore Appraisal Services.