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CABARRUS COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />REGULAR MEETING <br />NOVEMBER 17,2014 <br />AGENDA CATEGORY: <br />Consent Agenda <br />SUBJECT: <br />Planning and Development - Soil and Water Conservation District - <br />Applications for Farmland Preservation Grants <br />BRIEF SUMMARY: <br />The Soil and Water Conservation District is requesting authorization to <br />apply for state and federal farmland preservation grant funds to purchase <br />development rights 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 preserve a total of <br />272 acres of farmland. The conservation district may include previously - <br />budgeted county matching funds in these 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 the Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District <br />Board to submit one or more applications to the North Carolina <br />Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Program Trust Fund <br />and the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources <br />F -3 Page 38 <br />