(A) The Woodford County Rural Land Board shall administer directly or in partnership with an accredited land trust any program related to purchases or donations of conservation easements by grant funds or donations from any source, which are given for the purpose of acquiring conservation easements or other interests in land designed to preserve and manage agricultural, rural and natural land. The Woodford County Rural Land Board shall adhere to any specialized procedures established by the state, federal, or local government or any grant award for a particular program and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, to any procedures established in this chapter.
The Woodford County Rural Land Board shall, as permitted by law:
(B) Adopt bylaws and regulations which are not inconsistent with this chapter;
(C) Enter into contracts and agreements with the Woodford County Fiscal Court, other governmental entities, nonprofit charitable organizations and also private persons, firms and corporations in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter;
(D) Solicit, and/or hold conservation easements or work with a qualified land trust that has been accredited by the Land Trust Alliance to hold conservation easements pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;
(E) Enforce the terms and provisions of conservation easements pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;
(F) Expend funds available to the Woodford Rural Land Board from any source for the furtherance of land protection in Woodford County;
(G) Appoint standing and ad hoc committees;
(H) Hold public forums for the purpose of gauging the will of the public on agricultural, rural and natural lands matters;
(I) Solicit financial and other contributions for the purposes of agricultural, rural and natural lands preservation and conservation;
(J) Assist the government in the following areas:
(1) Promoting the preservation and management of agricultural, rural and natural lands in Woodford County;
(2) Implementing the specifics of the comprehensive plan most recently adopted by the Planning Commission of the Woodford County Fiscal Court;
(3) Implementing the specifics of any other plans adopted by the government or the Planning Commission relating to the urban service boundary and rural service area;
(4) Evaluating current services and facilities of the government relating to agricultural, rural and natural lands preservation and management;
(5) Reviewing fees, charges and sources of funding to the agricultural, rural and natural lands preservation and management program, such as grants, gifts, endowments, and the like;
(6) Developing public relation strategies for stimulating public involvement, promoting services and achieving results;
(7) Preparing the agricultural, rural and natural lands preservation and management budget; and
(8) Securing legislation that will promote the mission, goals, and objectives of this chapter;
(K) Establish application forms, filing and meeting schedules, and similar items as needed to carry out the provisions of this chapter;
(L) Prepare and present to the Woodford County Fiscal Court and Planning Commission written reports on an annual basis each calendar year. The report shall contain, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) A listing of all parcels of land on which a conservation easement was donated or purchased in Woodford County during the year whether by WRLB or a partner organization;
(2) A map or maps showing all parcels of land on which conservation easements have been donated or purchased, including the ones acquired during the preceding calendar year, and showing all parcels of land on which scenic easements, and other interests in land designed to preserve and manage agricultural, rural and natural lands, are to the knowledge of the Woodford County Rural Land Board, held by entities other than the Woodford County Rural Land Board; and
(3) If WRLB is the applicant, submit a listing of all landowners who made unsuccessful applications for donation or purchase of a conservation easement during the preceding calendar year, including the acreage and location of the parcel of land which was the subject of each application, along with the general categories of reasons the applications were not accepted; and
(M) Contribute all funds to another accredited land trust protecting land in Woodford County to cover project costs.
(N) Possess all the powers conferred upon a corporation organized under KRS Ch. 273 dealing with non-profit non-stock corporations, and have all powers necessary, proper, convenient or desirable in order to fulfill and further the purposes of this chapter.
(Ord. 2009-06, passed 7-14-2009; Am. Ord. 2023-05, passed 5-23-2023)