TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 21, 2013
COMMITTEE ON MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
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Authorization to issue specific leases to tenant farmers under the farm management program administrated by the District's consultant, Heartland Bank and Trust Company, for land parcels of various acreages located at the Prairie Plan Operations in Fulton County, Illinois, for a three year period. Consideration shall be a sum total for all leases of $999,058.00.
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Dear Sir:
The District owns property in Fulton County, Illinois, known as the Prairie Plan Site. This property consists of approximately 5,200 acres of agricultural land, on which the District previously applied biosolids originating from District water reclamation plants in the greater Chicago area.
At the Board Meeting of October 18, 2012, the Board of Commissioners ("Board") authorized the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago ("District") to enter into Agreement with Heartland Bank and Trust Company (Heartland) for farm management support services. The purpose of the farm management services is to effectively manage and maximize the agricultural income of the District's farmland in Fulton County, Illinois for a three year period.
Following execution of an Agreement with them, Heartland surveyed and began negotiations with interested area farmers beginning late last year to lease the various parcels for either crop acreage or pastureland, and secured individuals who expressed a willingness to rent the parcels for a three year commitment.
It is requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize and approve the issuance of specific leases to the above cited tenant farmers under the farm management program administrated by the District's consultant, Heartland, for land parcels of various acreages located at the Prairie Plan Operations in Fulton County, Illinois, for a three year period. Consideration shall be a sum total for all leases of $999,058.00.
It is further requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and the Clerk of the District to execute the lease agreements after same is approved by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Manju Prakash Sharma, Director of Maintenance and Operations, SES:SOC:MAG:JK
Respectfully Submitted, Frank Avila, Chairman Committee on Maintenance and Operations
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for February 21, 2013
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