Ag land preservation session topic

Monday, April 23, 2007 12:28 PM CDT

JEFFERSON - Those interested in preserving Jefferson County's agricultural economy and working lands should plan to attend a listening session May 3 hosted by the Jefferson County Farmland Preservation Commission.

The May 3 session will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Extension office, 864 Collins Road, Jefferson.

The decision to host a listening session was the first action taken by the Jefferson County Farmland Preservation Commission when it met April 2, after being created by the Jefferson County Board March 13.

The county board voted 21-6 to create a voluntary purchase of development rights program to preserve farmland and support viable farm operations. It also aims to protect the county's natural land and water resources, maintain Jefferson County's agricultural heritage and quality of life, and to fulfill the goals set forth in the county's 1999 Agricultural Preservation and Land Use Plan.

The county board also directed that the Purchase of Development Rights Plan be developed and overseen by a seven-member Farmland Preservation Comis-sion composed of five county supervisors and two citizen members.

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“The county board and the Farmland Preservation Commis-sion really value public input,” said Sharon Schmeling, chairwoman of the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors. “We want to take great pains to make sure their work to preserve county farmland through a purchase of development rights program matches the desires of our citizens.”

The chairwoman said the county is under great pressure to grow because of its location between the Madison, Waukesha and Milwaukee metropolitan areas. She said county residents have made it clear to their elected officials that they want to preserve agricultural economy, working lands and rural heritage. The listening session is aimed at giving citizens direct involvement in the creative process of getting this program off the ground.

She noted no other county in the state has a purchase of development rights program, “ ... so we are in virgin territory. This is going to take time to develop,” Schmeling said.

She said already nearly 20 farmers and landowners have contacted county supervisors, seeking information about the purchase of development rights program. Clearly, there is strong public interest in preserving agricultural lands.

“That's why the county board created the Farmland Preser-vation Commission. We have high hopes that we can develop a voluntary program that will assist rural landowners who want to keep their land in agriculture,” Schmeling said.

Many people have asked how the county will pay for the new program.

“The honest answer is that we don't know,” Schmeling said. “The county board has lowered and kept the line on property taxes for the past three years. We hope this frugality has created trust with the public. We have shown that we are wise stewards of taxpayers' money. We know that the public believes its taxes are high enough. We have to work with the money we already have,” Schmeling said.

She said she is hoping that by creating the program organizers will have a vehicle to capture state and federal money for preserving land.

“We also know that recent changes to the federal tax code have created incentives for landowners to donate easements. A county PDR program will help maximize the impact of these existing programs,” Schmeling said.

As charged by the county board, Schmeling appointed the following people to the seven-member commission: county supervisors Jim Mode (towns of Jefferson, Sumner, Oakland, Koshkonong); John Molinaro (town of Oakland, village of Cambridge); Steve Nass (towns of Aztalan and Lake Mills); Blane Poulson (town and village of Palmyra); Carlton Zentner (city of Fort Atkinson); citizen members and farmers Margaret Burlingame of Palmyra and Daphne Holterman of Watertown. Mode and Poulson are also involved in farming.

Citizens interested in keeping abreast of the commission's work may watch for updates on the county's Web site, www.co.jefferson.wi.us. It has a page dedicated to the Farmland Preservation Commission. It lists the dates and times of the commission's meetings; their minutes; background information about Purchase of Development Rights programs; the resolution passed by the county board creating the commission; the rationale the county board used to reach its decision; information about tax incentives for those wanting to donate development rights, and links to other sources of information.

The Web site also lists contact information for the commission members. Those unable to attend the listening session are encouraged to call, write or e-mail the commission members.