Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEAMinutes2024April25 MEETING MINUTES OF THE FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY Held in the Planning Department Conference Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on April 25, 2024. PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Todd Lodge, Vice-Chairman; Elaine Cain, Treasurer; Lowell Henderson, Patricia Scheulen-Ferrell, Philip Haines, Ryan Dougall, Charles Triplett, Planning Commission Liaison; and Judith McCann-Slaughter, Board of Supervisor Liaison ABSENT: Lowell Henderson STAFF PRESENT: Wyatt Pearson, Planning Director; John Bishop, Assistant Planning Director; and Pam Deeter. OTHER: Allison Teeter and Lorien Lemmon PUBLIC MEETING Welcome and Introduction The meeting was called to order by the Chairman Kearns at 9:00 a.m. and she determined there was a quorum. Annual Organizational Activities a. Election of Officers Chairman Kearns shared the present officers with the Committee. Mr. Lodge made a motion to nominate Mrs. Kearns and Mrs. Cain seconded the motion. The floor was closed for nominations. The vote was unanimous for Mrs. Kearns as the Chairman. Mrs. McCann-Slaughter made a motion to nominate Todd Lodge for Vice-Chairman and was seconded by Mrs. Cain. The floor was closed for nominations. The vote was unanimous for Mr. Lodge as Vice-Chairman. 13 Mrs. McCann-Slaughter made a motion to nominate Elaine Cain for Treasurer and was seconded by Mr. Lodge. The floor was closed for nominations. The vote was unanimous for Ms. Cain as Treasurer. Mrs. McCann-Slaughter made a motion to nominate John Bishop for Secretary and was seconded by Mr. Lodge. The floor was closed for nominations. The vote was unanimous for Mr. Bishop as Secretary. b. Adoption of Bylaws Vice-Chairman Lodge made a motion to approve the 2024 Bylaws as presented and seconded by Mrs. Cain. The vote was unanimously approved. Adoption of Meeting Minutes Correction to the meeting minutes of September 28, 2023. Chairman Kearns suggested we include the PDR program in Stafford County has a minimum of 20-acre minimum to the minutes. On a motion made by Vice-Chairman Lodge and seconded by Mrs. McCann- Slaughter the September 28, 2023, meeting minutes were approved with correction. Presentation Ms. Allison Teeter and Ms. Lorine Lemmon of Clarke County give a presentation on the Conservation Easement Program. Ms. Lemmon stated the purpose of the program is to protect properties with agricultural, scenic, historic, or natural resources for the future. Clarke County has a few options to help support landowners who are interested in an easement. Ms. Lemmon there are advantages to an easement. 1. Guarantee continued availability of vital resources. 2. Protect the quality of our water. 3. Increase state funding for Clarke County schools. 4. Promote tourism and economic growth. Options to help do an easement are donation, purchase appraisal value or DUR purchase. Conservation Funding could come from private donations, rollback taxes and grants. Landowner can maintain ownership of the parcel. The County places an easement on the parcel, and if the property owner wants to sell property the easement will remain. We do have yearly inspections of property to make sure they’re in compliance with the deed. Also, the Board of Supervisors reviews this program every 5 years. We send out a quarterly newsletter, mailings and we set up at special events. We also have a part time public relationship person. The key is targeting the right people and constantly being in the public eye. Ms. Lemmons was asked if they have easement in the process now. She stated we closed three last month, one will close in May and two more prospects. 14 Discussion Chairman Kearns asked how many easements does the County hold. Ms. Lemmon replied 163 easements. Chairman Kearns asked the Committee if they wanted to move forward with the PDR program and to see if we can get a recommendation from the Board of Supervisors to consider helping fund conservation easements. A Committee member suggested that we educate the students at the high school level. Some other events we might target are the 4-H Club, FFA, County Fair and garden fair. A suggestion was to contact Wendy at EDA she might have a list of events. A Committee member suggested that we contact VOF (Virginia Outdoor Foundation). The VOF usually likes the larger parcel and maybe they could give you prospective lead. Chairman Kearns and Committee thinks the program needs to be structured a little more and then move forward with the outreach program. Then if donations are received determine what the funds would be used for. A recap of today’s meeting. The board is recommending moving forward, then concentrating on the outreach program with possible donations, affirming the Board is in agreement with the program and then structure the program. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:52 a.m. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________ Diane Kearns, Chairman ______________________________ John A. Bishop, CEA Secretary 15