Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Conservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clark County approves transfer of Lower Howard's Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve to local nonprofit
Summary
The fiscal court approved transferring 10 tracts that comprise the Lower Howard's Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve from the county to Lower Howard's Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve Inc., following a presentation by Claire Sipple and assurance the nonprofit would assume management and costs.
Claire Sipple, representing the Lower Howard's Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve board, asked the Clark County Fiscal Court to transfer 10 tracts that comprise the preserve to the nonprofit Lower Howard's Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve Incorporated so the group can assume ownership and management.
Sipple told magistrates the preserve was dedicated as Kentucky's 40th nature preserve in 2001 and that the property was largely funded through the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund. She said the nonprofit has formed as a 501(c)(3), is financially stable, and is prepared to take title, accept associated conservation easements and assume management responsibilities.
Sipple described the preserve's public-access rules: portions of the preserve are open for guided hikes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and conservation easements restrict activities such as dogs and new construction in conserved tracts. She said volunteers and partners, including a dry-stone masonry training program, have actively maintained the preserve.
A magistrate moved to approve the transfer of the listed tracts to the nonprofit; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Court members recorded that if the court approves the transfer, the county would be removed from future management responsibilities and the nonprofit would prepare deeds and assume maintenance and stewardship costs. Sipple said she would present the county's approval to Heritage Lands at their October 16 quarterly meeting for state-level sign-off.
The court's action puts responsibility for day-to-day management and ongoing stewardship costs with the nonprofit once the state agency approves the final deeds and transfer.
