CEA 08-28-14 Meeting MinutesConservation Easement Authority Page 201
August 28, 2014
MEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
Held in the Purple Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North Kent Street in
Winchester, Virginia on August 28, 2014.
PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Ron Clevenger, C. Robert Solenberger and Charles Triplett, Planning
Commission Liaison.
ABSENT: Todd Lodge, Vice Chairman; Elaine Cain, Treasurer; Bryan Green, John Marker, and Gene
Fisher, Board of Supervisors Liaison
STAFF PRESENT: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary; John Bishop, Deputy Director of Transportation;
Lindsey Felton, GIS Analyst; and Pam Deeter , Secretary II
OTHER: Ellen Murphy, Commissioner of Revenue; Jed Rau, Potomac Conservancy; and Tracy Lind,
Potomac Conservancy
PUBLIC HEARING
Welcome and Introduction
Adoption of Meeting Minutes
February 27, 2014 minutes were not approved because no quorum present.
Update on Recorded Easement Activities
Frederick County has had no new inquires. Mr. Rau commented that Potomac Conservancy has had a
few inquiries. Mr. Rau spoke with VOF (Virginia Outdoor Foundation) and VOF has only had one
easement from the Valley this whole year. The VOF usually has several and then they determine which
will be funded easements.
Chairman Kearns was asking why only one easement compared to previous years. Mr. Rau thinks it has
to do with the reduction of the Federal Incentives.
Mr. Rau explained to the committee that Potomac Conservancy is hosting Neighborhood Meetings. If
an individual has an easement or is supporting easement, the landowner looks at his neighborhood
within a two mile range and selects about 30 people that might be interested to come to a dinner and a
short presentation by Potomac Conservancy and Conservation Partners (Taylor Cole). Mr. Rau
suggested if anyone is interest in hosting a Neighborhood Meeting to contact him.
Conservation Easement Authority Page 202
August 28, 2014
Update on Effort to Create Information Conservation Easement Brochures and Videos
Mr. Bishop stated we had interviewed two property owners. Another property owner has confirmed
appointment and two more are interested and hoping to schedule an interview in the up-coming weeks.
The interviews can take several hours.
Committee watched two clips of the footage that has been taped.
The committee member agreed that the footage was great. Ms. Lind stated that each property owner is
asked the same question. Mr. Bishop stated that this footage is just the introduction or teaser video.
The professional people have not been interviewed yet. Mr. Bishop stated it will be a challenge to keep
the video at five minutes in length.
The committee agreed that it should be five individual informative videos. Mr. Lawrence included with
the agenda the information that was previously discussed about the video contents. Mr. Lawrence
suggested that if any member wanted to add or remove information this would be the time to discuss
this.
Chairman Kearns asked what questions was the landowner being asked and Ms. Lind said, she would
email the questions to the committee members. Chairman Kearns wondered if it would be good idea to
target the general public to see what their thoughts are on conservation easement. Mr. Lawrence
suggested maybe going into a new subdivision and getting some comments from citizen on easements.
Chairman Kearns suggested that we tape footage from all four seasons, with that in mind; the video
possibly won’t be complete until next spring. Mr. Bishop stated we still have to interview the
professional people (lawyer, accountant, and appraiser).
Chairman Kearns would like the committee to see the video first before going public. Mr. Lawrence said
we will do a press release. Chairman Kearns would like a press release after each video is released to
the public.
Ms. Felton contacted the person that put information on the cable station. He is willing to run the video
on the cable network.
Chairman Kearns is looking for suggestion of groups that would show the videos. The committee
suggested civic organization and neighborhood meetings.
Chairman Kearns would like to incorporate outdoor recreation in the video footage. Mr. Rau suggested,
running the video at an outdoor recreational retail store.
Mr. Lawrence suggested we take some footage of a Neighborhood Meeting.
Mr. Lawrence asked Mr. Rau to give an update on the funding of easement. Mr. Rau said the easement
money is not there because the Federal funding incentive program has decreased. Most Counties don’t
have financial support for easement. Some Counties have thought about rollback taxes to help create