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County staff reports closings, five new parcels and requests guidance on ranking for bond funds
Summary
Staff said several easement closings are complete, listed five parcels to bring forward this summer, and asked the board whether to keep two ranking systems (standard and bond-specific) or move to a single ranking aligned with the comprehensive plan; staff will return with a recommendation.
Staff reported recent program activity: Slender Valley and Kestrel Herb Farm closings are complete and the program is advancing title work, surveys and appraisals on a pipeline of projects including Cedarville, Slocum, the Steve Brown legacy parcel, Southborough and Morgan Branch. Staff said five additional projects (including parcels on the Davis dairy property and one owned by Jane McMahan) will come through the approval process this summer with farm visits and presentations planned for July and August.
"We have 5 new projects coming this summer," the staff member said, outlining a July presentation and subsequent farm visits. Staff also reported that Okoboji Farm’s neighbor dispute was resolved by mediation and that legal paperwork is being finalized for closings.
During discussion of program rankings, staff presented two ranking systems: the program’s standard ranking (which includes development-pressure scoring) and a bond-based ranking used to show how projects might score for state or federal grants. The commissioners’ office asked that bond-funded project selection avoid conflicting with areas designated for growth in the county comprehensive plan. Staff said they can keep two ranking systems or consider a single system and will return with a recommendation.
Next steps: staff will bring the five projects forward starting in July, will return with a recommendation on whether to merge ranking systems or keep separate bond-specific rankings, and will pause only the appraisal-policy change until alternatives are developed.
