The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners took an official step July 13 by amending the 2016-2020 county capital plan which includes funding for agricultural conservation easements.

The bill, originally sponsored by Commissioner Dr. Percy Dougherty, was approved by a vote of 8-1, with Commissioner Amanda Holt voting in opposition.

Funding will be provided for up to $2 million a year, for a three-year period, 2017-2019, in the 2016 bond issue estimated at roughly $18 million and gaming revenue in the amount of $1.5 million. Also, the approved ordinance dedicates $500,000 from gaming revenue to farmland preservation annually, for perpetuity.

At the board’s June 22 meeting, a number of county residents and farmers spoke in favor of the bill, urging the board to support farmland preservation efforts.

Dougherty stressed the intent of the amendment is to help county farmers stay in business.

Board Chairman Brad Osborne praised all involved in coming together to reach a resolution.

“I’m grateful we were able to move forward and bring some certainty to the parties involved,” he said.

Osborne also said, the resolution is indication “the county supports farmland preservation.”

In other business during the meeting, the board voted 8-1 to approve the county’s $18 million bond issue. Holt voted in opposition.

The bond will provide funding for renovations to the Lehigh County Courthouse, software for county operations and repairs to Coca-Cola Park.

Osborne said the list of projects was provided by county Executive Tom Muller.

“Some of them [projects] are fairly substantial,” Osborne said.

Osborne also noted the resolution, while not perfect, “is designed to “move the projects along.”

“It’s about doing the right thing for the citizens of Lehigh County,” Osborne added.

The board will hold its next meeting 7:30 p.m. July 27.