Amendment calls for agricultural preservation

By Mary Grzebieniak

Agriculture is Mercer County’s largest business.

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County commissioners approved an amendment Thursday to Mercer County Agricultural Land Preservation Board bylaws that will encourage preservation of more acreage.

The amendment allows applicants to receive more points if they indicate they will accept a lower amount of money to permanently dedicate the land to agricultural uses. More points will move them higher on the list of applicants, which means their land will be accepted sooner for agricultural preservation.

In the past, applicants who offered the land for less did not move up on the list.

The state program purchases easements which prohibit development on the land, and the purpose is to preserve prime agricultural land.

In Mercer County, agriculture is the largest business and more than 5,000 acres have already been put into the program.

Also Thursday, commissioners said they expect to hire someone soon for the newly created position of Human Resources director, which is the first step in replacing Director of Administrative Services Bill Boyle. The salary board, which consists of all three commissioners and county Controller Thomas Amundsen, created the position effective July 16 and set the salary range from $44,000 to $62,581.

Commissioner Brian Beader said Thursday there are 38 applicants for the job and the first round of interviews has been completed.

Boyle serves not only as personnel director but is also in charge of purchasing. When he retires next month, the two job functions will become separate. Beader said Thursday that commissioners have not yet decided what to do about the purchasing portion of Boyle’s job.