County Lands, Agriculture and Forestry Committee
Joseph Allen			Bernie Blackmore Chairman	Eugene Dawson
Minutes – February 28, 2005
Members Present:		Bernie Blackmore, Gene Dawson and Joe Allen
Members Absent:		None
Staff Present:		Pete Garwood
Others Present:		Mike Meriwether and Dave Howelman
1.         Meeting called to order at 9:03 a.m. by Bernie Blackmore.
2.         Public Comment
	None.
3.         Ambulance Authority
	Mike Paradis and Marna Robertson, from Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility, joined the meeting as well as Terry Smith, Supervisor of Forest Home Township, and Mike McCann, Architect.  Mr. Smith showed the Committee plans for placing an ambulance barn on the County owned property across from Meadow Brook Medical Cared Facility.  Mr. Smith presented the reasoning for placing the facility across from Meadow Brook and the specific location on the property.
	Peter Garwood, Coordinator/Planner indicated the sewer line is not where it is shown on their preliminary plan and that they should check with Tony Marshall, the excavator, for the exact location.
	The concept of a long term lease for the property (between the County and the ambulance authority) was discussed.
	The Meadow Brook representatives expressed concerns about the location being directly across the road from Meadow Brook, because of the potential of additional traffic as well as the noise from the sirens.  Mr. Smith pointed out this is the alternative location after Meadow Brook expressed concerns about the original proposed location next to the Northwestern Bank on the same side of M-88 as Meadow Brook.
	Motion by Joe Allen, supported by Gene Dawson, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve the plan for the Ambulance Facility on the property across from Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility, modifying the site plan so the development is closer to the setback line.  Motion carried – unanimous.

4.         Oil & Gas Drilling - Airport
	Scott Baty and Steven Dzierwa (Jerva), from SRW, Inc., presented a request to drill a gas well on County owned property and to enter into a lease arrangement with the County for gas extraction on Antrim County Airport property.
	The proposed drilling would take place on the north part of the airport property.  The State owns the minerals under the south side of the property and has already entered into a non-development lease with a gas and oil company.
	The Committee asked for additional information for their next meeting on April 4.
5.         Orchard Hill Road Property Update
	Terry Smith, Supervisor of Forest Home Township, and Todd Vigland, from the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC), reviewed the new developments regarding the possible purchase of the property, through a joint effort by Forest Home Township and Antrim County, from the Sevald family.
	A conservation buyer has agreed to purchase 350 acres of the Sevald property and hold it while the County, Township and Conservancy work out the funding details.  Once the property is purchased by the Township and the County, it would be split up into two separate parcels; the Township owning one and the County owning the other.  The property will be selling for $2,200 an acre.
	Mr. Smith had to leave the meeting.
	An application to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund would have to be submitted in August.   The current projected match amounts are as follows:                     Forest Home Township                       $100,000                     Antrim County                          $100,000                     The Conservancy                      $  40,000 The County’s portion would come from the Forestry Fund.
	Mike Meriwether will conduct a review of the timber on the property.  Todd Vigland will check with Forest Home Township to see if they would agree to allow the County to manage the timber on all of the property in return for the revenues timber sales would generate over the decades.
6.         Forestry Report
	Mr. Meriwether informed the Committee he will be reviewing the performance of the timber company that is under contract with the County to conduct a timber harvest on the Alba Highway parcel (corner of Alba Hwy. and M-66).   Mr. Meriwether has concerns that they may have cut more trees than they should have.
	Mr. Meriwether informed the Committee a gas and oil Company has asked for an easement on the Alba Highway property.  The requested easement would co-exist with an easement currently being used by a different gas and oil company.
	Motion by Joe Allen, supported by Gene Dawson, to authorize Mr. Meriwether to have two parcels of property surveyed: The Frog Hollow parcel and the Alba Highway percel. Funds to come from the Forestry fund. Motion carried – unanimous.
7.         Sands Condominium Request
	The Committee reviewed a letter from Arnold Taddia (attached) requesting an “End of Public Beach” sign at the north boundary of the County owned property, next to the hydro dam facility in Elk Rapids.  The Village of Elk Rapids leases the property from the County, but sent Mr. Taddia to the County as they were unwilling to put the signs up.
	The Committee discussed a Record-Eagle newspaper article that indicated the State of Michigan Supreme Court will be taking up the issue of whether or not the public has the right to walk on the Great Lakes beaches in front of private property or not.
	The Committee decided to take no action on the request at this time.
8.         Communications
	Upper Manistee Natural River Zoning The Committee reviewed a letter from Dan Pearson, Natural Rivers Zoning Administrator through the Department of Natural Resources, regarding the effective date of the Upper Manistee Natural Rivers Zoning Ordinance.  The Committee acknowledged the communication but realized no action was required (attached).
Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.