Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Hicks Property in Scio Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Scio Township and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Appropriate $62,000.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Scio Township and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for the purchase of a conservation easement on approximately 100.52 acres of a farm property owned by the Hicks family in Scio Township. The resolution also appropriates $62,000.00 (9.8% of purchase price) from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase.
The landowners applied to the Scio Township Purchase of Development Rights Program and the Township has been the lead agency in the negotiations with the landowners. The Township commissioned an appraisal, completed in February 2025, that determined the fair market value of a conservation easement on the property to be $633,000.00. As the lead agency, Scio Township will be the holder of the conservation easement and will cover due diligence and closing costs in addition to the acquisition costs listed below. Scio Township is exemplary in their application and award of both a USDA-NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) grant and a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) grant through their Agricultural Preservation Fund, the latter of which requires assigning MDARD as coholder of the easement.
Hicks Property, Scio Township
The Hicks property's tax parcels total 110 acres, of which 100.52 acres will be encumbered by the conservation easement. The property is at Joy and Zeeb Roads at the northern edge of Scio Township bordering Webster Township. The property scored in the 78th percentile of agricultural property applications received by the Greenbelt program in the scoring system developed and approved by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission....
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