CEA_05-27-10_Meeting_Minutes0
MEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
Held in the Executive Session Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North
Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on May 27, 2010 at 8:00 a.m.
PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Robert Solenberger; Todd Lodge; John Marker; and Charles
Triplett, Planning Commission Liaison.
ABSENT: Ritchie Wilkins, Vice - Chairman; Jim Lawrence. Treasurer; and Gene Fisher. Board of
Supervisors Liaison.
STAFF PRESENT: Eric R. LaATence, Secretary; and Bev Dellinger, Secretary III.
PUBLIC MEETING:
1. April 22, 2010 Meeting Minutes
On a motion made by Mr. Marker and seconded by Mr. Solenberger, the April 22, 2010 minutes
were approved as presented.
2. Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation — Conservation Easement Effort
Mr. Denman Zirkle stated that he appreciates the opportunity to speak with this Committee about
conservation easements. Secretary Lawrence included information in the agenda that was
provided by the Foundation. One page outlines battlefield land in the Winchester cluster in
2003, showing approximately 2,012 acres available for protection. The same outline completed
in March of 2010 shows approximately 1,455 acres are available for protection; a 557 acre
reduction in seven years. Mr. Zirkle further stated that the Foundation has a listing of land
owners who they hope may be interested in conservation easements. They have not yet made
any contact with these land owners until speaking with the CL-A to get suggestions on how to
approach the land owners, or even if they should try to approach them. Right now these land
owners receive the Foundation's newsletters, published twice a year.
Mr. Zirkle continued by reviewing with members the maps he provided showing the core
battlefield tracts — Kernstown Battlefield, Apple Pie Ridge, Star Fort, Stephenson's Depot,
Opequon Fords Old Charlestown Road, Opequon Fords Berryville Pike, and Redbud Run.
The Foundation plans on having a renovated website on line by the end of this year and it will
focus not so much on battlefields, as on what the visitor's experience can be in the Valley
looking at these battlefields.
Mr. Zirkle asked members to contact him with any ideas or suggestions and within the next three
months, he would like to give the updated presentation to the Board ot'Supervisors.
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Minutes of May 27, 2010
3. Fundraising Efforts
a. GIFT — Give $1 for Frederick's Tomorrow
Chairman Kearns asked members for their input into creating a website and having a rack
card printed up. Secretary Lawrence stated that Mr. Gray in the Planning Department can
get a webpage going, but we're not artists. We can get the functionality up and running
in order to get the GIFT idea on line, but it won't be a colorful marketing tool at this
time. Chairman Kearns believes we can get it going and once there are some funds, we
could pay someone to re -do the webpage. Chairman Kearns asked members to
participate, along with her, in actually going out and selling the GIFT concept to
retailers. Members decided on which rack card they like. After Chairman Kearns obtains
the GIFT website, she'll have the rack cards printed.
4. Nominations to fill Vacant CEA Bond Member Seat
Concerning Mr. John Gavitt's vacant seat on the CEA, Chairman Kearns stated she talked to
Elaine Cain, who is an accountant at Yount, Hyde & Barbour, and she would be very happy to
become a CEA member. Mr. Solenberger made a motion to nominate Ms. Elaine Cain to the
Conservation Easement Authority. Mr. Lodge seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Chairman Kearns will pass this along to Mr. Fisher and he can present it to the Board of
Supervisors.
5. Next Meeting Date June 24, 2010
6. Other
Secretary Lawrence stated he had a discussion last week with Kevin Schmidt of VDACS who
helped us get the Snapp property, and Mr. Schmidt commented there are various other grant
opportunities. Mr. Schmidt forwarded some contact names to Secretary Lawrence and he will be
calling around to see if there are any other grants we can use. If we can receive a $130,000
grant, we can close on the Wright easement; we have until March 2011 to complete the process.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted..
Diane Kearns, Chairman
Eric R. Lawrence, Secretary
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Minutes of May 27, 2010