Jasper County to send $94 million greenbelt ordinance to first reading, plans third‑party manager and quarterly applications

Eric Larson, Jasper County’s newly hired division director for development services, told the Transportation Committee that the county will bring a greenbelt ordinance to County Council for first reading next Monday and that the program budget is about $94,000,000 (identified in the meeting as 20% of referendum funds).

Larson said the draft ordinance establishes a Greenbelt Committee (the intent is to appoint the same body currently before the committee), creates a fund where program money will be deposited and spent, and authorizes hiring a third‑party manager to administer the program impartially. “The county's intent is to hire a third party to manage this program,” Larson said, adding that hiring an outside manager protects impartiality and reduces staff burden for due diligence tasks.

The ordinance will define criteria for funding and require the consultant (once selected) to develop a scoring rubric so applications can be evaluated consistently. The committee discussed running quarterly application cycles; Larson noted that some ordinance language and prior guidance indicate short windows for initial steps (for example, a 45‑day due diligence window mentioned from past materials), but speakers cautioned that an end‑to‑end application-to‑closing timeline could be closer to six months once surveys, appraisals and environmental reviews are included.

Committee members asked whether qualified nonprofits like local land trusts could serve as program managers. Larson and others explained potential conflicts of interest because those nonprofits would also be applicants; members pointed to Beaufort County’s approach, which combined partnership with an open land trust and outside management and counsel to maintain impartiality. The meeting indicated purchases of properties or easements would typically be completed in executive session to protect confidentiality during due diligence.

Larson said the county intends to advertise an RFP for a consultant/conservation manager and to begin the application process once a consultant is on board. Annual reporting and a compliance function overseen by the third‑party manager were included in the ordinance draft to ensure properties placed in the program (by conservation easement or fee‑simple purchase) remain protected over time.

The committee’s questions focused on procurement approach, conflict‑of‑interest safeguards and realistic timelines; the draft ordinance will be distributed to committee members once the county attorney finalizes edits. Larson said the ordinance would be available to distribute by Monday ahead of first reading at County Council.