CEA 08-22-13 Meeting MinutesMEETING 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 August 22, 2013 at 8:00 a.m.
PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Elaine Cain, Treasurer; Robert Solenberger; Todd Lodge; John
Marker; Bryan Jeff Green; Charlie Triplett Planning Commissioner Liaison; Gene Fisher Board of
Supervisors Liaison
STAFF PRESENT: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary; and Pam Deeter Secretary II
ABSENT: Ron Clevenger
OTHER: Jed Rau, Potomac Conservancy; and Patrick Felling, Shenandoah County
PUBLIC MEETING:
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. March 28, 2013 Meeting Minutes
A motion made by Mr. Solenberger and seconded by Mr. Marker the March 28, 2013
minutes were approved.
3. Update on Shenandoah County progress with easements.
Mr. Felling said Shenandoah County's Conservation Easement program started between
2007 and 2008. The County had two projects in the pipeline, the Vance property and the
Pleasant Dale Farm.
The Vance property, also known as Island Ford, has 179 acres and is located along North
Fork River. This easement is with Potomac Conservancy and Shenandoah County.
Shenandoah County applied for state funds to acquire the easement. Shenandoah County
did not participate in funding the easement. Emily Warner, from the Potomac Conservancy
did most of the work and the project closed on July 26, 2013.
The second project is the Pleasant Dale Farm. Shenandoah County along with the Virginia
Outdoor Foundation holds the easement on the property. Virginia Outdoor Foundation
applied for the federal funds. The only stipulation to receive the funds is that the County
had to come up with some of the funds. As time grew closer to closing, the employees of
Virginia Outdoor Foundation said they no longer co -hold easement with other partners.
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August 22, 2013
Legalities were worked out. In the future Virginia Outdoor Foundation will not co -hold
easement with another partner.
Mr. Felling said the County had no other candidates at this time. In the future, the County
would like to have an open enrollment, so the County can get a few applications in and
could be selective in picking the best scoring on the County criteria.
4. Update on Potomac Conservancy.
Jed Rau replaced Emily in July. Potomac Conservancy hopes to hire a second person and is
also working with Shenandoah University, who provided a couple of interns this summer.
The interns were in charge of the stewardship program. Potomac Conservancy had 30
properties for site visits. At first, Potomac Conservancy went out with the interns to explain
what Potomac Conservancy was looking for in an easement, how to address a violation, how
to write letters and how to follow up on phone calls. When a violation occurred, a
permanent staff member would step in to offer assistance. Only three sites out of 30 were
in violation.
Potomac Conservancy hopefully will be closing two easements by October 2013. One
easement is John Venskoske which is located on Chestnut Grove Road and the other
easement is with Chairman Kearns and Mr. Solenberger at Paddy Run.
Mr. Rau said that word of mouth to get easements seemed to be more effective than doing
mailers, as landowners talk to neighbors providing their experience.
Mr. Triplett gave Mr. Rau a few names that he might approach about the program.
Mr. Fisher asked Mr. Rau how do you budget stewardships? Mr. Rau responded that at the
closing of an easement, the landowner will pay $6,000.00 for Potomac Conservancy to
steward the easement for years to come as the landowner today might not be the same
landowner as years to come. Mr. Rau said, he is not sure how the amount was determined.
Later down the road, that dollar amount might change.
5. Open Discussion
Chairman Kearns would like to move forward with the education DVD but she needs some
help/volunteers. The volunteers could come from the CEA group or outside community
partners.
Chairman Kearns has spoke with Karen Shultz at Shenandoah University and she is willing to
help make the video. Woody Bousquet at Shenandoah University has students to do the
stewardship program.
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August 22, 2013
Chairman Kearns is looking for community partners. There are some potential partners
Shenandoah County CEA, Clarke County CEA, Potomac Conservancy, Down Stream Project
and Shenandoah University to make this a joint community project. Mr. Rau said that
Potomac Conservancy would be agreeable to this partnership. The other potential partners
would need to be contacted.
Mr. Lawrence sees two things will come out of the video.
1. How to do an easement.
2. Here is a stewardship project and what will happen throughout the year.
Mr. Lawrence will organize meeting dates and time between the joint community partners.
At future Conservation Easement Authority meetings, Mr. Lawrence will update the
committee members on the TDR program.
6. Next Meeting Date
September 26, 2013
7. Other
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary
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August 22, 2013