Item:
Title
Approval of Capital Project Amendment No.27CPA006 & Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC008 Decreasing the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Capital Project (4730DC083) by $115,000 and Transferring that Funding to the Open Space and Real Estate (OSRE) Department’s General Fund Operating Budget, as well as Recognizing a $330,000 Contribution from the Army National Guard’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program to OSRE to support the Purchase of a 41-Acre Conservation Easement from Billy and Toni Stevens for a Total Cost of $445,000
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: August 10, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve Capital Project Amendment No.27CPA006 and Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC008 decreasing the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Capital Project (4730DC083) by $115,000 and transferring that funding to the Open Space and Real Estate Department’s General Fund Operating Budget, as well as recognizing a $330,000 contribution from the Army National Guard’s Readiness and Environmental Integration (REPI) Program to OSRE to support the purchase of Billy and Toni Stevens’s conservation easement, 41.76 acres located at 3500 Bahama Road, Rougemont for a total cost of $445,000.
|
Project Name and Number |
Current Budget |
Increase / Decrease |
Updated Budget |
|
Open Space and Farmland Preservation (4730DC083) |
$12,460,769.70 |
($115,000.00) |
$12,345,769.70 |
|
TOTAL |
$12,460,769.70 |
($115,000.00) |
$12,345,769.70 |
The Board approved this conservation easement project in January 2025. Since then, Army National Guard REPI funding has been secured to cover 75% of the appraised easement value. The transfer of $115,000 to the General Fund will cover Durham County’s 25% share of the easement value and closing fees.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: The acquisition of conservation easements for permanent open space supports Strategic Plan Community Indicator Goal 4 (Environment) by protecting natural resources and promoting community and economic vitality for all Durham County residents, specifically through the Natural Resource and Stewardship Protection Objective.
Resource Persons: Celeste Burns, Open Space and Real Estate Manager, Peri Manns, Deputy Director of Engineering and Environmental Services, Jay Gibson, Director of Engineering and Environmental Services.
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve Capital Project Amendment No.27CPA006 and Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC008 decreasing the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Capital Project (4730DC083) by $115,000 and transferring the funding to the General Fund, as well as recognizing $330,000 from the Army National Guard’s Readiness and Environmental Integration (REPI) Program to support the purchase of Billy and Toni Stevens’s conservation easement, 41.76 acres located at 3500 Bahama Road, Rougemont for a total cost of $445,000.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________