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CABARRUS COUNTY <br />A <br />� PLI <br />r; BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />REGULAR MEETING <br />OCTOBER 19, 2015 <br />�.��yr1II <br />• P .M. <br />AGENDA CATEGORY: <br />Consent Agenda <br />SUBJECT: <br />Planning and Development - Soil and Water - Applications for Farmland <br />Preservation Grants <br />BRIEF SUMMARY: <br />The Soil and Water Conservation District intends to apply for state and <br />federal farmland preservation grant funds to purchase development rights <br />for permanent agricultural conservation easements. <br />Farmland preservation supports goals of both the Board of <br />Commissioners and the Conservation District Board by improving the <br />quality of life for county citizens. Permanently protecting farmland ensures <br />the land base necessary for the county's agricultural economy while <br />simultaneously keeping the tax burden low by maximizing land acreage <br />where the cost of county services is lower. The conservation district has <br />previously applied for and received grant funding to permanently preserve <br />a total of 272 acres of farmland. The District expects to close on all <br />farmland preservation contracts in FY2016. The conservation district <br />may request matching funds from the County trust fund supporting local <br />food economy in these proposed new grant applications. <br />Any contracts or cooperative agreements associated with successful grant <br />applications will be brought to the Board of Commissioners for approval. <br />REQUESTED ACTION: <br />Motion to authorize Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District Board <br />to submit one or more applications to the North Carolina Agricultural <br />Development and Farmland Preservation Program Trust Fund and the <br />United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation <br />F -7 Page 72 <br />