Rural land board reports PDR closings, NRCS tentative funding and authorizes multiple appraisals

Board staff reported that the program closed three small‑farm easements (11 acres, 10 acres and 10 acres) and one PDR farm (30 acres) on March 30; staff said more closings are expected before the fiscal year end and a fuller presentation will be given later.

Matt Hutchison, the NRCS representative who attended in place of Brian Jones, told the board the PDR applications were tentatively selected for 2026 funding and will undergo national headquarters review in a month to six weeks before final signatures. He also told the board that Senate Bill 45 did not pass the 2026 general session, so no immediate state preemption of local ordinances had occurred in that session.

After a closed session to discuss the potential acquisition of real property interest (the chair cited the statutory reference read aloud as “KRS618101 b”), the board returned to open session and moved to authorize appraisals for multiple identified farms (form numbers and farm IDs were read on the record). Jim Coleman is recorded as making at least one appraisal motion on the record; subsequent motions were seconded and the chair called for a show‑of‑hands vote, which the chair recorded as unanimous for the authorizations.

Treasurer and staff reports: the treasurer reported payment of appraisal invoices and inspection invoices (Kenimer appraisal services and Charlie Farmer inspections) and confirmed copies of invoices were included in the packet.

What’s next: staff will proceed with the appraisals once federal‑match paperwork is received and will circulate results and signatures for the tentatively funded PDR parcels after national review.