At the August 25 County Commissioners Work Session, Agricultural Preserve Board Director Matt Knepper requested that the Commissioners approve the purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements for two farms within the county. The purchases, $149,881 and $218,464 respectively, will be supported by State funding. Although the contracts are likely to be approved by the Commissioners at their Wednesday meeting, payment to the farmers could be delayed if a budget is not passed by the time that these recommendations come under State review in October, Knepper said. Presently, there are four farms, approved by the County and the State, for which payment has already been delayed.
An Agricultural Conservation Easement is an arrangement whereby certain rights of a property owner regarding the property’s uses are “sold” to another party. The Agricultural Preserve Board initiates these easements to limit the development of Lancaster’s farmland. The two Easements in discussion on Tuesday totaled over 100 acres of such property.
In reference to the present delay, Commissioner Craig Lehman observed that “the State Budget has all kinds of impacts.”
Also at the Tuesday meeting, Office of Aging Executive Director Jacqueline Burch requested that the Commissioners approve a Grant Agreement with the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) for the purchase of a $42,295 minivan. Burch explained that the funds were made available to her office as a one-time grant from the PA Department of Aging for infrastructure enhancements. With a deadline at the end of August and little other internal use for the funds, the County Aging Office found that the wheelchair accessible van would qualify as a legitimate use for the grant.
According to Burch, the RRTA works closely with her office, providing over 60,000 rides each month to senior centers and adult day care facilities. The RRTA also provides free transportation to all senior citizens in Lancaster County—a service that is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Lottery.
