Staff reports: farmland plan update grant and $80,000 land‑information award

At the close of the public hearing, planning staff reported two grants relevant to county planning work.

Dusty said the county’s farmland preservation plan expires at the end of next year. He said regional planning staff helped prepare a grant application and the county was awarded funding that will cover about half of the estimated cost to update the plan; Dusty estimated the full update will cost about $11,000 and said the county received a grant for roughly half that amount.

On a separate item, Dusty told the committee the county received an $80,000 land‑information grant. He said the payment will be made in four quarterly installments of $20,000 beginning in 2024 and that the land information committee will work on how to allocate the funds.

Why it matters: The farmland plan update preserves eligibility for certain programs and clarifies county preservation policy; the land‑information grant provides one‑time funds for data and mapping work that can support planning and permitting.

The committee set the next meeting for May 6 at 4 p.m. and adjourned.