January 2005 Knox County Approves Ag Easement Funding

January 31, 2005

County approves, grant for ag easement purchases

By JOHN BOYCE

MOUNT VERNON - The Knox County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved a

grant of $100,000 to be expressly used as matching funds in the application process to secure 2005 Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchases.

The $100,000 is for use only by those applicants who cannot secure private funding. Any

unused portions of the $100,000 will be recovered by the commissioners.

The commissioners met with Doug Givens, Philander Chase Corp., who requested the county's support of its application to the state of Ohio for purchase of an agricultural easement on several county properties. The Philander Chase Corp. agrees to co-hold, monitor and enforce the terms of the easement. It or the landholder is committed to fund the 25 percent local match. The commissioners found the application acceptable and passed a resolution of support.

Dollars from the count's $100,000 grant can be used to boost an applicant's 25 percent local match to 50 percent, which will give that application 10 additional points under the state's scoring system. The applications must be submitted to the state by March 14, according to Givens.