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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPB minutes 091918 Attachment 1 Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board Meeting Summary: September 19th, 2018 Environmental & Agricultural Center—Food Lab 306 Revere Rd., Hillsborough, NC 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Anderson, Compton, McAdams, McKnight, Ranells, Redding, Shambley, Finley Members Absent: Saiers, McPherson, Vanhook, R. Parker, A. Parker, Dawson Guests: None Staff: Gail Hughes, Resource Conservation Coordinator-DEAPR-Orange Soil and Water; Mike Ortosky, Ag Economic Development Coordinator 1. Call to order: Vice-Chair Redding called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. 2. Chair Comments/Introductions: None. 3. Considerations of Additions to Agenda: discuss date change for the winter meetings, and the Nov. meeting due to Thanksgiving holiday 4. Meeting Summary/Minutes: May 16, 2018 (Attachment 1): Hughes report a correction is needed to total acres in the VAD program: change to acres to 13,343 acres. Shambley moved to accept the minutes/summary with the change of acres noted; seconded by Compton; motion carried. 5. Items for Decision: a) New VAD/EVAD Applications (Attachment 2): Hughes presented the current applications listed below. All of these farms meet the requirements/criteria for VAD/EVAD enrollment. x Bryant and Nancy Walker: 72.25 acres for VAD, Caldwell and Schley/Eno Ag. District. The farm raises hay crops, pasture, and managed woodland. The farm is also in the Century Farm program (as is his brother, Phillip Walker, farm VAD approved in May) Shambley moved to approve, seconded by Finley; motion carried. x Walter and Tammy Havener: 30.0 acres for VAD, Caldwell Ag. District. The farm raises hay crops and has managed woodland. Compton moved to approve, seconded by McAdams; motion carried. x Randall Williams/Lisa Joyner: 8.7 acres for VAD, Cane Creek/Buckhorn Ag. District. The farm has agro- forestry/pastured forestry acres for goats and chickens (eggs) and raises flowers and vegetables. Shambley moved to approve, seconded by Compton; motion carried. x Latta’s Egg Ranch: Paul, Mark, Frank Latta (family) 569.53 acres for VAD, Schley /Eno Agri. District. The farm raises pasture, hay crops, beef cattle, chickens (eggs) and has managed woodland. The farm is eligible for the Century farm program. Finley moved to approve, seconded by Shambley; motion carried. x Charles Blalock: 89.81 acres for VAD, Caldwell Agri. District. The farm raises beef cattle, pasture, hay crops, and has managed woodland. Compton moved approval, seconded by McAdams; motion carried. x David and Gaye Walker: 126.19 acres for VAD, Schley/Eno Agri. District. The farm raises vegetables, hay crops, pasture, beef cattle and has managed woodland. The farm is also eligible for the Century Farm eligible--(farm owned since 1754, a charter from King of England). Hughes reported that this will bring the total to 14,239 acres for the VAD and EVAD program. She will present these farms to the BOCC for approval on Dec. 4, 2018. b) VAD Breakfast: Hughes provided options for the VAD breakfast. After discussion, the APB board approved by consensus to hold the event at the Schley Grange Hall on Nov. 29 th, starting at 8:00 am, wrapping up at 10:00 am. The APB asked Hughes and Sandbeck to decide on an agenda and present the final details at the Nov. meeting, before the breakfast. 6. Discussion Items: Food Council update Mike Ortosky discussed the Food Council’s progress and organizational structure and the workgroups. Some of the items that the workgroup are working on include: food access, food economy, food waste reuse. The Council is working on a Memorandum of Understanding with the municipalities. Economic Development supports hiring a Food Council Coordinator, to work out of the County Manger’s office. Ortosky also discussed and asked for the support and endorsement of the APB for a trust fund to support local agricultural projects and local foods in Orange Co. The funds for the trust account would be from the tax dollars collected for properties that change from Present Use Value taxation to a non-agricultural use. The tax dollars are typically three years of pro-rated taxes for change of use on the property. The APB discussed supporting and endorsing this proposal. Ideas for using the funds for agricultural preservation included: purchase conservation easements on farmland; fund the agricultural grant program; and have emergency funds available for farms after severe storms. Ranells moved approval for the APB to support and endorse the PUV trust fund proposal, add the APB to the Food Council’s proposal document, and write a letter of support to the BOCC. Compton seconded; motion approved. 7. Informational Items/Future agenda items: a) Ag Economic Dev. Update: Ortosky reported the success and progress of the Agricultural Small Grant program, with $100,000 grants funded. He noted that the Food Council was interested in working closer with the APB to learn more about the programs offered, and possibly coordinate. Perhaps there could be a joint meeting once or twice a year to encourage interaction between the groups. Compton suggested inviting Food Council members to the VAD breakfast. Ortosky will provide names for the invitation. b) Quilt Trail update: Hughes updated the APB of their support to start a Quilt Trail in Orange County if funding could be found. Hughes represents the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District on a non-profit group, Piedmont Conservation Council, Inc., (Orange Co. pays yearly dues), and this group has applied for a grant to fund a Quilt Trail for the Piedmont Counties. Hughes also talked to the Orange County Visitors Center, along with DEAPR staff, Town of Hillsborough, and local artists, and has both financial and staff support to help promote the Trail if funding is received. The funding will be awarded in spring of 2019. c) Ordinance Language updates: Hughes reported that some changes and updates to the Farmland Preservation Ordinance are needed to keep up with changes. Staff will work on these updates, then share. d) New maps: Sandbeck and Hughes have worked with Margaret Jones in Orange County Land Records to develop new maps with the VAD/EVAD and Century Farms, which is on display on the side tables. e) Membership update: Hughes reported that there is vacant position on the Board, and reported that Kim Woods had expressed an interested to return to the Board. Finley moved to recommend the appointment of Kim Woods to the vacant position (at large); Ranells seconded; motion approved. Sandbeck will reach out to Woods, and have the paperwork completed for the approval by the BOCC. 8. Information sharing/new items on agenda: Redding suggested changing the meeting times for the November and January meetings, to start at 6:30 p.m. to allow members to get home earlier. Ranells moved approval; Finley seconded; motion carried. Hughes asked the Board if they would consider moving the November meeting date up a week, due to a conflict with the Thanksgiving Holiday. Compton moved approval; Finley seconded; motion carried. Adjournment was at 9:10 p.m, approved by consensus.