Lehigh County commissioners have deferred voting on amending the 2016-20 capital plan to provide funding for agricultural conservation easements and farmland preservation.

Commissioner Percy Dougherty, who sponsored the bill, made the motion June 22 to defer voting on the bill due to the absence of Commissioner Tom Creighton, who also serves as chairman of the farmland preservation board.

Dougherty explained the purpose of the amendment.

“In the capital plan you need to have a project in order to place it into the budget,” he said. “Basically what this does is put farmland preservation into the capital plan.”

According to Dougherty, funding is recommended for up to $2 million a year over a three-year period in the upcoming bond issue.

During the public comment period of the meeting, Lower Milford Township resident and chairwoman of the board of supervisors Donna Wright spoke on the necessity of providing funding for farmland preservation.

Wright said Lower Milford has almost 25 percent of its land preserved agricultural.

In addition, there is an owner of a 260-acre farm who might be interested in preserving land.

Wright argued the money that is put forward currently will not cover all the land plus the acreage the farm owner might want to preserve.

“I think this is incredibly important,” she said. “I think it’s a shame that for a bit of paperwork we can’t talk abut this project tonight.”

Wright noted Lower Milford has $100,000 put forward for farmland preservation. The township wants to use both county and state funds for preservation, Wright told commissioners.

“I [have] to do the best I can with my residents’ money,” she said. “I’m not going to waste it.”

Wright also referred to Upper Milford Township seeking a referendum to provide additional funding.

“There’s a huge cry out there for property owners who really want to preserve their land,” she said. “I think this needs to be discussed and not [delayed] for another month.”

Upper Milford Supervisors Chairman George DeVault, a township farmer, also addressed the board on the importance of preserving farmland.

DeVault said a number of public hearings were held in the spring and early summer in the township asking residents for their input on supporting more open space such as farmland.

“Overwhelmingly people said, ‘yes, I would gladly dig into my pocket and pay more money to see this happen,’” DeVault said. “We don’t want to see happen in our township what we see happen in a lot of places in Lehigh County.”

The Upper Milford referendum will ask voters in the November General Election to approve a small increase in the earned income tax to support farmland and open space preservation in the township.

The county and state programs currently available, DeVault stressed, are needed to “save what farmland is left.”

Also addressing the board was Lynn Township dairy farmer Brian Dietrich who also serves as vice chairman of Lynn Township supervisors.

“Our family since 1925 has been in farming,” he said, adding his children are currently assisting on the farm. “Farmland preservation is very important for the next generation to get into farming because the investment in farming is incredible.

“Just think of all the equipment, and everything else.”

Dietrich urged commissioners to reach a unanimous vote on the bill.

Commissioner Michael Schware cautioned the board with raising taxes to fund a farmland preservation measure.

“We have to remember people who might be struggling with property taxes,” he said.

Commissioner David Jones Sr. expressed his objection with the bill because it only provides for a singular source and amount of funding.

Dougherty said the board will vote on the amendment at its next meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. July 13.

In the interim, Dougherty will meet with board members questioning the merits of the bill to possibly reach a compromise.