Schuylkill approves funds for ag easements

During a meeting Wednesday, the Schuylkill County Commissioners approved an increase in funds for purchasing agricultural easements. Annually, the county match for funding is $50,000, plus any funds collected from Clean and Green rollback tax penalties.

For 2020, the total available will be $59,956, which includes $9,956 from Clean and Green tax penalties — if lands that are enlisted in Clean and Green are sold or removed from the program, back taxes must be paid. In 2019, the total available for purchasing Agricultural Easements was $56,720.

The Agricultural Conservation Easement program creates a perpetual easement, which permanently prevents development of the farmland. The landowner sells the development right to the county but retains ownership of the land.

Other business

In other action, the commissioners:

On behalf of Children & Youth, approved a contract with Language Line, Monterey, California, for Spanish calls at a rate of 70 cents per minute. All other language calls are at a rate of $1.10 a minute.

Approved settlement of an assessment appeal between Ashland Temple Association and the county, North Schuylkill School District and Ashland borough. According to the agreement, Ashland Temple Association will drop its claim for exemption. The fair market value of the property, located at 2500 Centre St., is $121,000, with an assessed value of $45,254.