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M M M <br />Wildlife Refuge. The width of the buffer will be dictated by the <br />amount of funding ultimately obtained for the purchase. The Fish <br />and Wildlife Service can proceed independently of the County's <br />matching funds. The recommendation of the Land Acquisition <br />Advisory Committee is that the Commission authorize matching funds <br />of $100,000 to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service based on estimates of <br />the value of the approximately 37 acres of wetlands on the western <br />portion of the property, with a possible future recommendation of <br />further funds. The Committee felt the wetlands were a worthy <br />acquisition because they abut publicly -owned wetlands within the <br />Refuge. The issue of additional County funds being applied to the <br />upland buffer to wetlands was not eliminated for future review. <br />Chairman Macht stated that the County needs to add the <br />$100,000 grant from the County to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service to place the property under federal management in order to <br />qualify for "payment -in -lieu of taxes" status. Under this status <br />the County could be reimbursed in a few years. <br />Commissioner Bird questioned whether the County's matching <br />funds would be used as a part of the overall project funds and <br />whether property appraisals would be done to get a better idea of <br />the value of the property. <br />Chairman Macht stated that a rule of thumb is $1,000 to $2,500 <br />per acre for wetlands. He believed that the understanding was that <br />the County's funds would be used to purchase a minimal amount of <br />wetlands so that the County's funds would not be used for upland <br />grove property. <br />Chief DeBlois advised that the Tax Collector's assessment is <br />$2,550 per acre for estuarine wetlands and this figure is being <br />used as a basis for determination of the value. <br />Chairman Macht advised that the agreement was that Fish and <br />Wildlife would add -to their purchase monies the amount granted by <br />the County. There was much discussion at the Land Acquisition <br />Advisory Committee meeting on the relative importance of wetlands <br />as opposed to uplands, particularly grove properties; however, <br />there was no disagreement on the worthiness of the purchase as it <br />connects to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. <br />BOOK IM <br />FEBRUARY 28, 1995 41 <br />