County appoints Agricultural Reconciliation Committee
The Frederick County Council appointed seven members to the newly revived Agricultural Reconciliation Committee, which will have its first meeting on July 1.
The committee will arbitrate and mediate disputes pertaining to the county's Right to Farm ordinance.
The ordinance, effective since 1997, seeks to preserve and grow agricultural activities in Frederick County, according to county records.
The Agricultural Reconciliation Committee includes a range of opinions from the local community of growers and is charged with ensuring operations 'are conducted in a manner consistent with generally accepted agricultural management practices,' according to the records.
Katie Stevens, director of the county's Office of Agriculture, said that the ordinance has been in place for decades, but the committee had not been active.
Stevens added that creating the committee is in an effort to have the legislative infrastructure in place when agricultural disputes arise, though she said there had not been an increase in those disputes.
The seven appointed committee members and their term lengths are:
* Margaret Koogle: former owner of Lilypons Water Garden and a current RE/MAX agent, 1-year term
* Samuel Hunter: Natural Resource Manager for Lake Linganore Association, 1-year term
* Denny Remsburg: former president of Frederick County Board of Directors for the Maryland Farm Bureau, 2-year term
* Russell Winch: certified engineer and a commissioner of Walkersville, 2-year term
* Nicole Ripley: marketer of food service products, 3-year term
* Dennis Willard: local farmer, 4-year term
* Sandra Tucker: local farmer and member of county's Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board, 4-year term
Stevens said the staggered term lengths ensure 'consistency of operation,' so the committee 'doesn't lose all that knowledge base.'
The appointments were approved unanimously by the County Council on Tuesday.
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