ADOPTED -  DECEMBER 9, 2008

                                                                                                                        Agenda Item No. 16

 

Introduced by the County Services and Finance Committees of the:

 

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH SHERIDAN LAND CONSULTING TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE INGHAM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD

 

RESOLUTION #08-349

 

WHEREAS, Ingham County desires to provide for the effective long-term protection and preservation of farmland in Ingham County from the pressure of increasing residential and commercial development; and

 

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners adopted the Ingham County Farmland Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance in July 2004; and


WHEREAS, the Ingham County Farmland Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance authorized the establishment of the Ingham County Agricultural Preservation Board to oversee the Farmland Preservation Program; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners is under contract with Sheridan Land Consulting for technical assistance for the implementation of the Farmland Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance through December 2008; and

  

WHEREAS, the Agricultural Preservation Board has recommended the contract with Sheridan Land Consulting to provide technical assistance be continued through December 2009; and

 

WHEREAS, funding for this contract is included in the 2009 Ingham County budget.


THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners authorizes a contract with Sheridan Land Consulting in an amount not exceeding $52,438, for technical assistance to the Ingham County Agricultural Preservation Board through December 31, 2009.

  

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board Chairperson and the County Clerk are authorized to sign contract documents consistent with this resolution after approval as to form by the County Attorney.

 

COUNTY SERVICES:  Yeas:  Nolan, De Leon, Copedge, Soule, Grebner

     Nays:  Severino   Absent:  None        Approved 12/2/08

 

FINANCE:  Yeas:  Grebner, Hertel, Weatherwax-Grant, Schor, Dougan

     Nays:  None        Absent:  Celentino       Approved 12/3/08


1.      Services to be performed by the Consultant.  The Consultant shall serve as a resource to the APB for implementing the provisions of the County Farmland Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Ordinance.  Specifically, the Consultant shall assist the APB in identifying and performing the actions to be taken to implement the PDR Ordinance, including:

 

(i)               serving as a general resource to the APB;

(ii)             attending APB meetings as requested;

(iii)            qualifying Ingham County townships for state funding from the state farmland PDR

    program;

(iv)           developing a ranking system each year for ranking all eligible parcels that are submitted to the APB;

(v)             developing an application form(s) for applying to the land preservation program;

(vi)           administering the application, selection, and monitoring processes for the program;

(vii)          developing a model (standard, prototype), recordable conservation easement(s);

(viii)        developing a monitoring system for conservation easements;

(ix)           developing an appraisal method(s) for conservation easements and establishing their cost;

(x)             acquiring the data needed to improve the selection criteria for ranking parcels and the appraisal method(s);

(xi)           assisting landowners with the application process through closing;

(xii)          negotiating conservation easement purchase and price on behalf of county;

(xiii)        coordinating all contactors through bidding, selecting and completing work;

(xiv)        overseeing the closing and recording of conservation easements;

(xv)         locating and informing the APB of funding sources for farmland and open space preservation by PDR available from local, state, and federal governments and private sources;

(xvi)        applying for funds for farmland and open space preservation by PDR available from local, state, and federal governments and private sources;

(xvii)      preparing information on the PDR program for distribution or presentation to landowners, the general public and stake holders;

(xviii)     working with the media to inform the public of the County PDR program;

(xix)        attending meetings, presentations, and other events relevant to the County PDR   

   program;

(xx)         providing an annual report on the program to the County Commissioners; and

(xxi)        any other tasks assigned by the Ingham County Agricultural Preservation Board within    the scope of the Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance.