The survey was returned by 54 percent of the county's 1,881 owners of farmland. Commissioner Pat South said the board will check with county Prosecutor Tim Oliver to see if he might have an assistant who could give farm owners advice. Another option, she said, would be to have the Farm Bureau hire a lawyer to help farmers. Other options range from doing nothing to changing zoning. A list was compiled by Tom Spellmire, a member of the county Soil and Water Conservation District.
Commissioners say they want to help farmers but are leery of being heavy-handed.
I'm not going to do it. Tomak Precision of Lebanon received tentative approval for a 50 percent tax abatement for five years on its personal property. Amtex Inc. of Lebanon requested a 75 percent tax abatement for 10 years on personal and real estate property. Commissioners said they could not approve more than a 50 percent break over five years on personal property, which includes such assets as computers and machinery. The commissioners took final votes on neither request.