Adams County committee approves Sand County Foundation biochar grant request contingent on legal review

The Adams County Land and Water Committee voted to forward a resolution asking the Sand County Foundation for up to $800,000 to support producer-led watershed groups implementing a biochar practice, with final approval contingent on county corporation counsel review.

The resolution requests the maximum $800,000 available through funds sourced from the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and would support producer-led groups adopting an NRCS biochar practice standard intended to sequester carbon and improve water quality. Heather Gayton, the committee’s watershed coordinator, described the funding as aimed at farmers in the 14-Mile Watershed and said the practice is new to many local producers.

Committee members debated whether the resolution had been reviewed by corporation counsel and whether it complied with board rules. Several supervisors noted board rules require county manager/administrator and corporation counsel review and signatures before a resolution is submitted to the clerk’s office for a board meeting. Because corporation counsel had not signed the draft before the committee meeting, the committee moved and approved forwarding the resolution to the county board only on the condition that corporation counsel subsequently reviews and signs it. The committee record shows one vocal opposition from Supervisor Posdolski during the final vote; the motion otherwise carried.

Committee members emphasized the grant deadline was imminent. Colton (staff) and Gayton cited the March 31 submission deadline as a reason to approve the contingent motion rather than delay the request. Committee members also used a motion to end debate before the contingent-approval vote.

If corporation counsel does not approve the resolution as drafted, committee members said the grant would not move forward. The committee directed staff to send the contingent resolution to the county board for consideration following the required legal review.

Several supervisors and members asked that future resolutions be routed to corporation counsel earlier to avoid rule conflicts. The committee did not adopt changes to the board rules during the meeting.

Votes at a glance: The committee voted to forward the Sand County Foundation resolution to the county board contingent on corporation counsel approval; Supervisor Posdolski recorded a nay during the final voice/roll-call outcome.