Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 61-26-5 - Application Process5.1. The Director may consider written applications from landowners for the sale or donation of conservation or preservation easements, or for fee simple property. Any offers for sale must include an asking price and a complete description of the land, including but not limited to, a termination of all debts secured the by land and the identity and amounts of all liens. All landowners must sign the application. The Board may decline any offer of a conservation or preservation easement or fee simple property.5.2. Offers for sale to the Board shall be received by June 30 of each fiscal year for funding in that year. Any pending offers may be used to seek matching Federal, state, local or private funding at interim times during the year prior to the June 30 deadline.5.3. The Board shall adopt ranking criteria based on West Virginia Code § 8A-12-15 and assign points thereto in order to prioritize applications by landowners for sale of conservation easements. The Board may change such ranking criteria on an annual basis for future fiscal year application cycles.5.4. The Director shall score and rank the applicants based on the criteria adopted by the Board. The ranking shall be presented to the board for their approval.5.5. The ranking may be bypassed in the event that a 50 percent match of Federal, local or private monies is awarded to a lesser-ranked property.