Forest commissioners sign paperwork to incorporate land trust

By JIM MEYER

Staff writer

Forest County commissioners signed paperwork Thursday to incorporate a land trust that will allow more land to remain on the county tax rolls.

The Douglas E. Carlson Rural Land Trust will be administered by the Forest County Conservation and Planning District, which is funded by the state conservation district and Marcellus shale impact fee money, said Bob Snyder, chairman of the commissioners.

The trust holds no property currently but will allow land to be conserved while taxes continue to be paid to the county.

“If somebody would donate to the land trust or if the (conservation) district would acquire a piece of property through any other means, the district would pay taxes on it and not give it to a tax exempt entity,” Snyder said. “We need to maintain taxing ability of these properties.”

The trust is named for Douglas E. Carlson, a county employee from Tionesta who died during his tenure in 2014.

“He was a personal friend of mine, but beyond that, he was a long-term employee of the county,” commissioner Norm Wimer said. “He was our planning and conservation director. He was a very strong advocate of Forest County. He understood the balance between conservation and development.”

In other business at Thursday’s commissioners meeting, Snyder said the Elm Street Bridge project will be completed today.

“The contractor should be done and packing up,” he said.

Snyder also said the county received word Wednesday that acting treasurer Stacey Barnes has been appointed full-time treasurer by the state.

Commissioners meet the first and third Thursdays of every month at 10 a.m. at the courthouse in Tionesta.

By JIM MEYER

Staff writer

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