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Agreement - Forest Management Practices
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alan Aldridge, Soil & Water Conservation, Director, 704-324-9225
ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorize the County Manager to 1) negotiate and execute an agreement substantially consistent with this agenda item, 2) exercise any renewal or extension term options set forth in the Agreement, and 3) terminate the Agreement if deemed in the best interest of the County, each in the County Manager’s discretion.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
None.
BACKGROUND:
The County has entered into an agreement with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for Forest Management practices. The State provides 60 percent of the funding in the amount of $142,643 and the County pays 40 percent and an additional 16 percent for Forest Fire Equipment Operator, for the sum of $102,253.00 annually. Per the agreement, the State is responsible for employing the following positions:
A) 1 County/Area Ranger(s) assigned for the purposes of controlling forest fires in said County; for detecting and extinguishing fires that break out; for investigating the origin of forest, woodland, and field fires; for enforcing the State’s forest fire laws; for taking such preventive measures, educational and otherwise, to prevent forest fires; for developing and improving the forests through reforestation, promotion, and practice of Forest Management practices; and for protection of forests from insects and diseases.
B) 1 Assistant County Ranger(s) for the purposes of assisting under the direction, supervision, and/or oversight of the County/Area Ranger in controlling forest fires in said County; for detecting and extinguishing fires that break out; for investigating the origin of forest, woodland, and field fires; for enforcing the State’s forest fire laws; for taking such preventive measures, educational and otherwise, to prevent forest fires; for developing and improving the forests through reforestation, promotion, and practice of Forest Management practices; and for protection of forests from insects and diseases.
C) 0.11 Forestry Management Clerk for purposes of providing administrative support, serving as the back-up administrative contact for the assigned district, counties within the district, or unit, and serving as the primary contact for forest management administrative business within the assigned district.
D) 0.16 Forest Fire Equipment Operator(s) for purposes of establishing fire suppression control lines in assigned work areas and in other areas as needed using equipment, including crawler tractors (fire dozers), with various attachments, such as a fire plow, hurricane blades, etc., and operate and maintain all types of heavy site preparation equipment.
E) Temporary position(s) on an as-needed basis.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The County's share of the agreement ($102,253.00) is included in the FY 2024-2025 budget.