BC 2013 10 07 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 7, 2013 (Work Session) A discussion ensued. Page 1764 Commissioner Oesterreich expressed support for a fee equal to the actual cost incurred by the county. Discussion continued. During discussion, revisions to the fee schedule were addressed. Planning and Development Selection of HOME Program Administrators for 2013- 2014 Kelly Sifford, Planning and Development Director, presented the following information relating to the selection of HOME Program Administrators for 2013 -2014 and responded to questions from the Board. Cabarrus County will receive approximately $97,899.00 in HOME program funds for the 2013 -2014 year. Staff issued a RFQ for HOME program administration. The RFQ was direct mailed to three companies initially. Staff only received one proposal so the RFQ was posted on the county website for another week. The original proposal from Hobbs Upchurch and Associates was not opened until the second set of proposals was due. We did not receive any proposals in the second RFQ advertising. The only proposal is from the current administrator which is Hobbs Upchurch and Associates for $15,000.00. All of the costs are covered by the grant. The service provision includes: environmental review, loan closings, contractor management, work write ups, inspections, final pay approvals to contractors and reporting. Planning and Development - Soil and Water Conservation District - Acceptance of State Funds and Application to State and Federal Matching Funds to Purchase Agricultural Conservation Easements Dennis Testerman, Senior Resource Conservation Specialist, introduced Sarah Piper, the new resource conservation coordinator, who was also in attendance. Vicky Porter, Soil and Water Conservation District Board Vice Chair and North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Commission Chair, expressed the importance of agricultural easements as a way to preserve farmland for future generations. Tommy Porter, Soil and Water Conservation District Board Associate Member, was also in attendance. Mr. Testerman presented the following information relating to acceptance of state funds and application to state and federal matching funds to purchase agricultural conservation easements: The NC Department of Agriculture awarded Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District up to $228,112.50 from the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to purchase development rights and place a conservation easement on a portion of Porter Farms. The District intends to apply for $456,225.00 in federal matching funds from the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, a federal Farm Bill program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The county match on this application is limited to an in -kind match. These funds will be used to purchase development rights and place a permanent agricultural conservation easement on an estimated 182.49 acres of farmland owned by Porter Farms. A budget amendment will be submitted at a later date if the federal matching funds are awarded. The District also intends to apply for additional state Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund monies to place one or more conservation easements on additional farmland. Farmland preservation supports goals of both the Board of Commissioners and the Conservation District Board by improving the quality of life for county citizens. Permanently protecting farmland ensures the land base necessary for the county's agricultural economy while simultaneously keeping the tax burden low by maximizing land acreage where the cost of county services is lower. Board. Ms. Porter and Mr. Testerman also responded to questions from the Register of Deeds - Resolution Regarding Electronic Permanent Records