Wednesday, February 23, 2000
Warren County looks for ways to help farmers preserve land
BY CINDI ANDREWS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — Warren County is looking into ways to help farmers preserve their land, possibly by providing free legal advice.
That's just one of many options commissioners are considering after survey results released last week indicated a third of farm owners want to see their land preserved even after their deaths.
An additional 37 percent want to keep their land in agriculture for as long as they own it; 24 percent either plan to develop their land, or don't have strong feelings about what happens to it. The survey was returned by 54 percent of the county's 1,881 owners of farmland.
Commissioner Pat South said the board will check with county Prosecutor Tim Oliver to see if he might have an assistant who could give farm owners advice. Another option, she said, would be to have the Farm Bureau hire a lawyer to help farmers.
Other options range from doing nothing to changing zoning. A list was compiled by Tom Spellmire, a member of the county Soil and Water Conservation District.
Commissioners say they want to help farmers but are leery of being heavy-handed.
“I'm not going to put myself in a position to tell a farm family they have to stay in agriculture,” said Commissioner Mike Kilburn. “I'm not going to do it.”
Also at Tuesday's meeting, commissioners got their first look at proposed tax breaks for two companies that would like to expand in Warren County:
• Tomak Precision of Lebanon received tentative approval for a 50 percent tax abatement for five years on its personal property. The high-tech parts maker plans to expand and move to Lebanon Business Park, adding 20 full-time jobs to its current 28.
• Amtex Inc. of Lebanon requested a 75 percent tax abatement for 10 years on personal and real estate property. Commissioners said they could not approve more than a 50 percent break over five years on personal property, which includes such assets as computers and machinery. Amtex, which makes car interiors, plans to expand its Lebanon plant, creating 25 new jobs in the next 11/2 years — a 10 percent increase.
The commissioners took final votes on neither request.
In other action, the board gave Harlan Township $50,000 to add restrooms at its William F. Whitacre Park.
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Warren County looks for ways to help farmers preserve land
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