Advisory committee recommends $250,000 for Richlands Chalk Creek conservation parcel

The Eastern Summit County Agriculture Preservation and Open Lands Advisory Committee voted to recommend full funding of $250,000 for the Richlands Chalk Creek parcel, moving the proposal to the county manager and then to county council for final consideration.

Committee members heard a staff presentation that identified the parcel by number in the record (NS, 653662 and 660) and said the proposal “checks off a lot of the boxes” the committee looks for, calling out on-site creek/water resources and the amount of acreage as strengths. Kate Saddlemyer of the Summit Land Conservancy, who was on the call to answer questions, praised the property’s river frontage and restoration work, saying, “the river frontage here is, spectacular with this property … they’ve done some great work … and this is the Leopold award, and, we’d really appreciate your support on this one.”

Tom Smart moved that the committee make “a positive recommendation to fully fund the $250,000 to Bridgerton’s project.” The motion was seconded and, after members voiced support, the committee approved the recommendation with no opposition.

Staff said there is about $1.4 million remaining in the fund based on the last report provided to the committee, and that the requested $250,000 would be drawn from that allocation. Staff member Jess said she would prepare the recommendation document for the county manager and that the item would then go to county council; because the council’s next meeting is canceled, staff said the packet will go to the council’s July meeting for final action.

The committee also approved its meeting minutes (as presented in the record) during the session and discussed scheduling. Members agreed to hold the next regular meeting on Sept. 8 at 4:00 p.m. and staff said a GIS map of candidate properties should be ready for that meeting.

The committee’s recommendation is advisory: the county manager and county council will make any final decision on funding and acquisition. Staff will prepare the formal packet and send it forward for the next steps in the county approval process.