The Hamilton County Conservation Board discussed a land donation opportunity at its monthly meeting held Thursday.
The board asked County Conservation Director Brian Lammers to look into the matter further.
"Jerry Johnson, of Jewell, met with me to discuss a donation of approximately 27 acres to the County Conservation Board," Lammers said. "It is located just east of Jewell between Jewell and Ellsworth on Tollman Avenue. This property is along the South Skunk River in Hamilton County. The property is made up of wildland timber and CRP (conservation reserve program). There is a FMHA conservation easement on this property that is perpetual."
Lammers said that Farmer's Home Administration land is property that could not be developed to build modern housing or dwellings or be altered for drainage - he said that he basically must be left in its natural state, with the exception of noxious weeds on the property.
Lammers and Conservation Board members Mike Landrup and George Caggiano toured the property on Wednesday.
"A land appraisal would need to be completed," Lammers continued.
The owner would like for the Conservation Board to pay for an appraisal in order to make a decision about the land. Lammers estimated that the appraisal would cost $500 to $1,200.
"It's a pretty neat little chunk of land," Caggiano said. "I think anytime you get an opportunity to get some land, if it isn't going to cost us in upkeep, we need to explore the possibility of acquiring it."
"In the southern part of the county we don't have a lot to offer for timber or river bottom," Lammers added. "This would allow county residents to have a public hunting area in the southern part of Hamilton County."
Landrup brought to the board interesting facts about Hamilton County Conservation's 2009 budget - compared to other Iowa county conservations.
"Based on 2009 budget information, some things came up which I found extremely interesting," Landrup said. "For county conservation boards, which ranges from $68,000 for Davis County to approximately $4.6 million for Polk County, the Hamilton County budget in 2009 was approximately $935,000."
He said that there were only 13 counties that have a larger budget than Hamilton County.
"What really struck home for me - we are running one of the bigger programs in the state of Iowa," he continued. "Another way of putting it, the people in Hamilton County are having the benefit of a bigger and better program in the state. But the counties with larger budgets are significantly higher than Hamilton County's."
In terms of tax support, Landrup said the amount of dollars the county generates is a little over $600,000 of those revenues.
"In 2009, the tax to support it was approximately $330,000, which comes to 35 percent," he said. "There are only five counties that receive less. It's very significant. The county conservation provides approximately two-thirds of its own budget."
On a per capita basis, Landrup said the people of Hamilton County are supporting county conservation to the tune of $20 per person per year.
"That is not a very large contribution when you consider the size of the county," he said.
The board also approved a support letter for a Jewell and Ellsworth REAP Grant, that if awarded, would go to the trail project between the two communities.
A representative of Pheasants Forever announced that a youth field day will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the Hamilton County Isaak Walton League Park. Outdoor activities for kids, from clay targets to B.B. gun practice will take place. Parents will be taken to the Gordon Marsh area. A dinner will be provided by Custom Meats, Pork Producers and Pheasants Forever.
A planned dedication ceremony will be held in early October for the 157-acre Grace Addition on to Bauer Slough. "This project has been five years in the making," Lammers said. "The county will be re-seeding the area with native grasses and restoration of wetland properties."
He said that it will be open for public hunting this fall.
Lammers told the board that he hopes that Little Wall Lake expansion project will be started between September and October, with the Land and Water Funds conservation received.
"With the Little Wall Lake expansion project, we are waiting for an intensive archeological survey which is required by the State Historical Preservation Office," he said.
Lammers said that he will be present at the City Council of Webster City's meeting on Aug. 16 to discuss with officials the Iowa Great Places grant and the proposed learning center which would be located at Briggs Woods Park.
The next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Aug. 31
Contact Carrie Olson at lifestyles@freemanjournal.net or call 832-4350.