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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-20-1996 - VIII-C 1 Orange County Board of County Commissioners Action Agenda Action Agenda Item Abstract Item No Meeting Date: August 20, 1996 Subject: Forest Service Contract Department Budget Office Public Hearing Yes No—X_ Budget Amendment Needed Yes No_X_ Attachment(s) Information Contact Agreement for the Protection Sally Kost ext. 2151 Development and Improvement of Telephone and Extension Number Forest Lands in Orange County Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 227-2031 Purpose To consider the annual agreement between Orange County and the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources to support the NC Forest Service in Orange County. Background This agreement will provide for the continued maintenance by the NC Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources through the NC Forest Service in Orange County for the protection, development and improvement of forest lands in Orange County. The Forest Service is responsible for: • controlling forest fires in the County, • detecting and extinguishing fires that break out • investigating the origin of forest, woodland and field fires • enforcing State forest fire laws • taking preventative measures, educational and otherwise, as necessary, to prevent forest fires • developing and improving the forests through reforestation, promotion and practice of Forest Management practices. The Forest Service is supported by State funds, totaling 60 percent of their budget. For 1996-97 this amount equals$60,184. The County's share is 40 percent of the total, or $40,122. These funds have been included in the 1996-97 budget. Recommendation The Manager recommends that the Board approve the annual agreement between Orange County and the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resource, and authorize the Chair to sign. 2 FC-42 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA (6-78) Department of Natural Resources and Community Development g 100,306.00 Total Cooperative Appropriation $ 60, 184.00 60 % State $ 40,122.00 40 % County AGREEMENT FOR THE PROTECTION, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF FOREST LANDS IN ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA THIS AGREEMENT, made under authority of "An act to authorize Counties to cooper- ate with State in Forest Protection, Reforestation and promotion of Forest Man- agement," (Section 113-59 of the General Statutes of North Carolina - 1943), and also under authority of another Section of the General Statutes, namely Section 113-54, by the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Develop- ment (hereinafter calla�Ath�EDepartment), party of the first part, and the Board of Commissioners of IIVV County in the State of North Carolina (hereinafter called the Board), party of the second part, witnesseth: That WHEREAS the said Board, recognizing the need for active forest protection, development, reforestation, management and improvement in ORANGE County, has accepted the offer of the Department for cooperation in accomplish- ing this object: Now, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual convenants hereinafter set forth, the said parties contract and agree to maintain a legally appointed and equipped Forest Ranger organization in said county at the joint cost of the State and County, insofar as the joint funds will permit, as follows: Part I. THE DEPARTMENT AGREES: I. . To select, employ and appoint, after consultation with the Board, a County Forester or County Forest Ranger for the purposes of controlling forest fires in said County; for detecting and extinguishing fires that break out; for Investigating the origin of forest, woodland and field fires; for enforcing State forest fire laws; for taking such preventative measures, educational and other- wise, as shall seem necessary to prevent forest fires; for developing and improv- ing the forests through reforestation, promotion and practice of Forest Manage- ment practices; and for protection from insects and diseases. 2. To furnish to each Forester or Forest Ranger so employed a badge of office, stationery and report forms, instructional posters for use in the County, leaflets for distributing to landowners and others; to purchase necessary equipment, communication systems, and other Forestry improvements deemed neces- sary insofar as the joint funds will permit. 3. To pay the Forester or Forest Ranger for all official services rendered, at a fair rate of pay. Rates of pay are to be established by the Depart- ment in accord with existing State salary schedules. 3 2 _ 4. To direct supervise, instruct, and inspect, through its agents, the work and conduct of the Forester or Forest Ranger, to discipline and, when necessary, discharge such Forester or Forest Ranger. 5. To submit to the Board of Commissioners monthly (or at other mutually satisfactory intervals) an itemized statement of all monies to be paid by the County and those paid by the Department for the proper conduct of the work within said County. •6. To make a�ti ab a annu 11 from State, Federal, and other funds allotted to it, the sum of){t N ea �URAM KS dollars ($60,184.00 ) as its share of an annual budget of $100.306.00or carrying on the work in said County. Part II. THE BOARD AGREES: 1. To pay to the Department 40 % of the total cost of the Forester or Forest Ranger salaries and expenses and of other proper expenditures made in connection with the over-all Forestry program in said County, upon receipt and consequent approval of the periodic statements submitted by the Department. Fourty 'Thousand one 2. To appropriate annually the sum of Hundred twenty two dollars ($40,122.0Q, which sum shall be available for expenditure under the terms of this Agreement, and shall represent the County's share of the annual budget. Part III. IT IS ERPRESLY AGREED AND UNDERSTOOD BY BOTH PARTIES; 1. That this Agreement becomes effective July 1 ,19 96 2. That the annual appropriations as set forth above may be re- vised by mutual agreement between the Department and the Board, based on the amount of annual appropriation desirable for the proper conduct of the Forestry work, such revision to become effective at the beginning of a given Fiscal Year. Any unused balance cf County funds remaining at the end of a Fiscal Year shall revert to said County unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by both parties. 3. That the Board reimburse the Department as provided in Part II, Item 1, by forwarding a county voucher drawn in favor of the Department for the amount of the County's share of expenditures as set forth in the Department's periodic statement to the Board. That such payments be made by the Board within thirty days following receipt of the Department's billing. 4. The title to all improvements and equipment purchased and/or constructed in connection with this agreement will rest with the Department; such materials or their equivalent will remain in the County as long as this Agreement is in effect, or as long as they are needed by the Department for the proper conduct of the wank therein. 5. That the Forester or Forest Ranger periodically or at the re- quest of the Board, shall present to the Board statements of the work being done within the County, so that said Board may be fully informed at all times re- garding the Forestry finances and activities within the County. 4 3 - IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said parties do hereunto affix their names and seals upon the date herein below specified. For the Board of County Commissioners of County. Date Chairman Provisions for the payment of the monies to fall due under this Agreement have been made by appropriation duly made or by bonds or notes duly authorized, as required by the "County Fiscal Control Act". Date County Finance Officer For the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development Date Signature Title