County approves amendment to state agricultural easement agreement to continue program funding

The Delaware County Board of Commissioners approved a second amendment to the county’s cooperative agreement with the Ohio Department of Agriculture for the 2022 Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program, the board said Sept. 8. Recorded as Resolution 25-723, the amendment continues the cooperative arrangement into the new biennium to allow funding to proceed for agricultural easement purchases and anticipated closings. Scott Stevens, administrator of the Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District, asked the commissioners to approve the amendment so the program can continue receiving state funding in the new biennium. “We ask that you approve that, and this will be one of the closings that I spoke of last time,” Stevens said. He thanked the board for its prior comments and support. Commissioners expressed their expectation that easements will be managed so they do not adversely affect neighboring property. Commissioner Merrill reminded staff that the county must “always take care of the easements on the property down there just to…not affect some other property.” Stevens said that would remain on record and continue to be honored. The resolution passed with aye votes from Commissioners Lewis and Merrill. Why this matters: the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program pays landowners to place conservation easements on farmland to conserve agricultural land; continuing the cooperative agreement allows Delaware County to participate in state-funded easement purchases. Details and next steps: the amendment extends the agreement into the new biennium so anticipated closings can proceed. No dollar amounts were presented at the meeting; Stevens said he expects closings to move forward.