County Continues to Lead the Nation in Farmland Preservation

Among the resolutions the County Commissioners approved at their Wednesday meeting was the sale of an agricultural conservation easement to preserve a 110-acre farm in East Drumore Township. The cost to the County is $331,380.

Director of the Agricultural Preserve Board, Matt Knepper, indicated that Lancaster County still leads the nation with a total of 78,000 acres preserved, including those preserved by the Farmland Trust.

Also, Wednesday, the Commissioners approved $36,722 in added cost to the renovations to 150 N. Queen St. as the result of project change orders.

County Engineer Keith Harner explained that the cost has already been earmarked under the estimates provided by construction Manager KCI, Inc. to the County.

The total cost of the project is expected to be approximately $48 million. About $39 million of that has been spent to date, according to Harner.

KCI is expected to give another update on the status of the project later this month.

The Commissioners also formally voted to hire West Hempfield Township Manager Charles Doubts as County Administrator with an annual salary of $105,000 effective July 22, pending Salary Board approval.