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comm. Scurlock advised that he has looked at it for the purpose of <br />Utilities, and Utilities does not need it. This property was <br />acquired prior to 1980. It was the original site for the Gifford <br />wastewater plant, but there were objections filed against it, and <br />in the interests of the community, another site was purchased. <br />Commissioner Bowman felt strongly that we need to acquire <br />this and put it into a conservation easement. She believed it <br />will be worth millions in possibly 20 years, and Commissioner <br />Wheeler agreed. <br />Commissioner Scurlock felt if that is so, then it might be a <br />great investment for the General Fund, but Utilities has no <br />justification for keeping it in its inventory. <br />Commissioner Bird believed our Comp Plan includes a require- <br />ment for us to buy uplands such as these pine flatwoods, and <br />Director Keating confirmed that we have committed to acquiring <br />about 300/400 acres of upland property to compensate for the fact <br />that we have less than a 25% upland setaside requirement. He <br />believed the reason the Land Acquisition Committee didn't look at <br />this particular property is that right now properties have not <br />been prioritized. Also, there is no funding mechanism to <br />purchase it, and we realize that Utilities needs to get a fair <br />market value for it. <br />Commissioner Bowman requested that this 20 acres be removed <br />from the surplus list. <br />Discussion followed about this being unfair to the Utilities <br />Department, and Commissioner Scurlock noted that it also would be <br />blatantly unfair for the Utilities customer to have to carry that <br />burden. He emphasized that all that is wanted is permission for <br />the Utilities Department to dispose of it, not necessarily <br />actually sell it. <br />Administrator Chandler explained that the intent on all four <br />of these parcels was to declare them surplus, put them out on the <br />open market and bring back a price, but he thought that on this <br />particular piece, we could declare it surplus in terms of <br />Utilities' needs and rather than sell it, evaluate it in terms of <br />our overall land acquisition program. <br />Director Dean noted that the process requires that the <br />property first be declared surplus; then it is brought to the <br />13 <br />DEC 18 1990Mer 821 <br />L_ <br />