TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JANUARY 19, 2017
COMMITTEE ON MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority 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 one year period, pursuant to 12-RFP-25, Farm Management Support Services. Consideration shall be a sum total for all leases of $524,244.88
Body
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.
On October 18, 2012, the Board of Commissioners authorized the Director of Procurement and Materials Management to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement for Contract 12-RFP-25, Farm Management Support Services, to Heartland Bank & Trust Company (Heartland), for farm management support services for the District’s farmland in Fulton County, Illinois for a three year period. The purpose of the farm management services is to effectively manage and maximize the agricultural rental income of the District’s farmland in Fulton County, Illinois. The agreement was originally to expire on December 31, 2015, but was extended to December 31, 2017, at the Board meeting of October 6, 2016. The first option to extend the agreement to December 31, 2016, was approved at the Board meeting of October 1, 2015.
Heartland surveyed and began additional negotiations with interested area farmers late last year to lease various available parcels for crop acreage, and secured individuals who expressed a willingness to rent the outstanding parcels for a one year commitment, by way of the extension. The agricultural use, acreages, lease rates and total rent for each group of parcels are provided in the attachment to this letter.
It is requested that the Board of Commissioners authorize and approve the issuance of specific leases to the above cited tenant farmers under the farm management program administered by the District’s consultant, Heartland, for land parcels of various acreages located at the Prairie Plan Operations in Fulton County, Illinois, for a one year period. Consideration shall be a sum total for all leases of $524,244.88.
It is further requested that the Board of Commissioners 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, John P. Murray, Director of Maintenance and Operations, BAP:SOC:MAG:sh
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 January 19, 2017
Attachment