BC 2010 02 27 Board Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 27, 2010 (Board Retreat) Page 1829 Agri-Waste Technologies has completed the pricing work on the system and are working on gathering the data on installation personnel. The RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for design work was completed in October and the E.G. Smithson Company was chosen for the design contract and it was executed January 14, 2010. The design has been chosen, the drawings are in progress and the needed conditional use permit was approved February 18 by the Planning and Zoning Board. We will then be able to work on the RFQ for construction. We are in the final stages of a Golden Leaf grant proposal to be funded through their Local Foods Initiative. They have asked for additional information to supplement our proposal which includes $300,000.00 for new equipment for the kill floor. Next steps: construction for the facility; apply for additional grants since we're going to be creating more jobs at this facility. Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm: The Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm on Atando Road is functional with 9 beginning farmers, 3 resource gardeners and 1 mentor farmer. The grading work was completed for the parking lot area and the greenhouse pad in January. The greenhouse was constructed after it took 3 weeks of "conversation" with the Commerce Department to get a building permit for the greenhouse. The greenhouse was complete in March. The well was drilled in April, the irrigation was installed in May. We worked out all the water "bugs" with the irrigation system in June. We have had a very wet many months and haven't needed the irrigation (thankfully). The participants installed the electric deer fence and worked to maintain the area weed free throughout the summer and fall. We had a slight problem with raccoons but Animal Control has helped us with that. Cold Water Creek Farm sold shares in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) with 40 families participating for 20 weeks from the end of June through October. In July and August we installed the Post Harvest Handling Facility that is comprised of a 10 X 20 walk-in cooler, three 3-bay stainless steel sinks, a 2400 pound flaker ice machine, and stainless steel prep tables. A concrete pad had to be poured for the cooler and the areas under the ice machine, sinks and tables. In September, the participants designed and built a high tunnel (or hoop house) to allow for season extension through the winter months. A high tunnel is different from the greenhouse because it uses the sun's power to heat and there are no external heat sources saving money and being more cost effective and efficient for farmers. The high tunnel team is called All Seasons Farm and they've been selling 85 shares weekly to a CSA since December and actually have had more requests than they can fill currently. They are producing butter lettuce, spinach, collards, pak choi, bak Choi, herbs and several other vegetables. The county obtained a lease on the adjoining 1 acre property from Franklin Lomax and the tenant was removed in December. Cooperative Extension has partnered with several other county departments including Parks and Recreation, General Services, Finance, Commerce, Public Information, and many local businesses. Next steps: continue educational program, get the farmers business plans firmed up, cover crop additional land to be able to enroll additional beginning farmers; work on "office" space for the farmers to facilitate better communication. Community Food Assessment/Food Policy Council: NCSU/Center for Environmental Farming Systems will soon begin performing a community food assessment. This will be overseen by a food policy council, which will be appointed by the BOC soon. GOAL 1: YEAR 2 OUTCOMES PROGRESS NEXT STEPS 1. Work with the school Issue has been raised in Ask BOEs to study boards to determine any Chair/Vice Chair technology improve ments, advantages in offering meeting. No additional to include costs, space more distance learning progress. impacts, benefits, etc. classes. Could then be funded separately like other current expense items.