Athens County approves conservation easement with EJB Enterprises to protect riparian buffer

The Athens County Board of Commissioners voted Nov. 18 to approve and authorize the county president to sign a conservation easement with EJB Enterprises that preserves a forested riparian buffer along a river corridor as part of an ODNR/Rural Action-funded project.

The easement, described in meeting materials and recorded with Exhibit A, was presented by county planning staff and accepted by roll call (Commissioners Eliason, Chmiel and Adkins all voted yea). The document spells out permitted low‑impact recreational uses such as fishing, hiking and wildlife observation and forbids construction of structures and the use of off‑road recreational vehicles within the easement area.

Why it matters: The recorded instrument—accompanied by plats and a legal description filed with the county recorder—locks in conservation restrictions in perpetuity and is tied to state grant funding intended to protect riparian forest cover and waterway resilience. Commissioners and staff noted the easement includes recorded exhibit documentation and that ODNR retains enforcement and oversight rights where applicable.

Details and next steps: The recorded packet attached to the minutes includes Exhibit A (legal description) and Exhibit B (plat/utility reservations). The easement document requires advance notice for transfers, limits vegetation removal except for approved maintenance, and allows the board and authorized agents access for monitoring and enforcement. The board’s approval authorizes Commissioner Eliason to execute the signed instrument and place it on file in the recorder’s office.

The county did not identify any immediate funding obligations tied to long‑term stewardship beyond monitoring and stated the parcel remains subject to existing recorded encumbrances. Residents seeking additional information can review the recorded easement text in the county recorder’s office.