Item:
Title
Approval of Capital Project Amendment No.26CPA005 and Budget Ordinance Amendment No.26BCC002 Decreasing the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Capital Project (4730DC083) by $380,600 in PAYGO Funding and Transferring the Funding to the General Fund to Support the Purchase of Two Conservation Easements (Sparrow and Frank)
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: July 28, 2025
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve Capital Project Amendment No.26CPA005 and Budget Ordinance Amendment No.26BCC002 decreasing the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Capital Project (4730DC083) by $380,600 in PAYGO funding and transferring the funding to the General Fund to support the purchase of two conversation easements. The funds will support the purchase of William and Margie Sparrow's farm conservation easement, 42 acres located at 3901 Red Mill Road, as well as Neil and Catherine Frank's easement, 30 acres at 1300 Red Mountain Road.
Durham County Capital Projects
Current Budget
Increase/Decrease
Updated Budget
Open Space and Farmland Preservation (4730DC083)
$12,761,269.70
($380,600.00)
$12,380,669.70
The Board approved these conservation easement projects in October 2021 (Sparrow) and August 2024 (Frank). Since then, USDA-NRCS funding, through the Agricultural Lands Easement Program (ACEP-ALE), has been secured to pay 50% of the appraised easement value: $141,000 (Sparrow) and $226,500 (Frank). The transfer of $380,600 to the General Fund will be used to pay Durham County's 50% share of the easement values and closing-related fees
Alignment with Strategic Plan: The acquisition of conservation easements for permanent open space aligns with Strategic Plan Focus Area: Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, Objective SI 3: Preserve and restore the natural and built environment, and SI 3d: Protect and restore natural resources, land, recreational, historical, and rural spaces.
Resource Persons: Celeste Burns, Open Space and Real Esta...
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