Board of Estimates OK's spending more than $7 million over 20 years to put another 1,204 acres into Harford County's ag preservation program

Harford County's Board of Estimates approved during its Thursday morning meeting the purchase of the development rights for nine farms to be entered into the county's agricultural preservation program, agreeing to spend more than $7 million over the course of 20 years.

The county will preserve 253 acres of the Grimmell Farm in Jarrettsville for $1.47 million; 260 acres of the Vaughan property in White Hall for $1.75 million; 125 acres of the Norfolk Farm in White Hall for $706,006; 25 acres of the Ludwig property in Bel Air for $70,000; 57acres of the Onufrak property in Darlington for $250,813; 105 acres of the Troyer property in White Hall for $524,223; 155 acres of the Rickey property in Whiteford for nearly $1.1 million; 90 acres of the Wiley property in White Hall for $481,835; and 134 acres of the Gambill property in Bel Air for $774,961.

The $7,112,838 will be paid in installments over the course of 20 years. Nearly $3 million will be paid up front at settlement, Bill Amoss, chief of the agricultural preservation program, said during the Oct. 11 Harford County Council meeting.

In other business during Thursday's board of estimates meeting:

Nearly $1.1 million was awarded to International Salt Company, of Clarks Summit, Pa., which will provide bulk road de-icing salt — 19,900 tons of it — to use on Harford's roads during the upcoming winter. International Salt Company gave the lowest bid of four companies.

The salt will be divvied up between Hickory, Abingdon, Whiteford, Jarettsville and Aldino. Aberdeen, Bel Air and Havre de Grace will receive 1,100 tons of salt for $60,797, which is not included in the county's total

The board approved an award not to exceed $888,180 per year for water meters that will be used in new homes, as replacements for existing meters, and as updates for meters that will soon die.

As equipment from different manufacturers is still under the department of public works' evaluation process, the department will pay the manufacturer only after they submit invoices for the equipment.

A contract for $3,770.84 was awarded to Baltimore Pile Driving and Marine, of Whiteford, for an additional six truckloads of ball diamond mix for Prospect Mill Park field development, which is needed because of extreme weather the county has experienced recently.

The department of parks and recreation made the request after finding the amount of material used for the field was greater than the money originally allocated by the county.

Existing guardrails will be removed to make way for the installation of new ones on various county roads and facilities. The board awarded $87,065 to Guardrails etc., of Baltimore, the lowest bidder from among four companies. The contract is for one year with the option to extend it for another two.