LAW
Writer®
Ohio Laws and Rules
(A) The local holder who sponsors the applicant shall be obligated to monitor and enforce compliance with the terms and conditions of the deed of agricultural easement. Within one year of the purchase of the easement and not less than annually thereafter, the local holder shall visit the application property preserved with state matching dollars to determine if the provisions of the deed of agricultural easement are being complied with. Prior to conducting the monitoring visit, the local holder shall review the provisions of the deed of agricultural easement.
(B) Written notice of the annual on-site inspection shall be sent by the local holder by certified mail to the landowner at least ten days prior to the date of inspection. The annual inspections shall be conducted between eight a.m. and five p.m. on a weekday other than a legal holiday, unless the landowner agrees otherwise. The director and the local holder shall have the right with reasonable notice, to inspect the property as long as the agricultural easement is in effect.
(C) Within a reasonable time after conducting an inspection the local holder shall prepare a written inspection report including but not limited to the following information:
(1) The identification of the land inspected.
(2) The name of the owner of the property at the time the easement was originally acquired and the name of the current owner of the land inspected.
(3) Description of modifications in the number, type, location or use of any buildings or structures on the land since the date of the filing of the deed of agricultural easement.
(4) A description of deviations from best management practices observed on the restricted land.
(5) A description of any subsequent legal interests claimed on the protected property.
(D) A copy of the inspection report shall be sent by certified mail to the landowner and the director.
(E) If the local holder’s inspection reveals any violations of the easement, the local holder shall include, with its report sent to the landowner and the director, a notice of violation. The notice shall contain the following:
(1) A description of the action or condition which the local holder alleges is a violation of the terms of the easement.
(2) A statement of the measures necessary to correct the alleged violation.
(3) A time frame of thirty days for correcting any violation(s).
(4) A statement that failure to correct the violation(s) will lead to civil action.
(F) If the violation(s) are not corrected as outlined to the landowner in the report of paragraph (E) of this rule, the director or the local holder shall initiate an action in the court of common pleas of the county in which the restricted land is located seeking and order requiring correction of the violation(s), enjoining further violation of the terms of the easement, and may request additional relief of the court. The director shall be named a party in the initiation of any court proceedings. The above actions may occur unless the local holder does one of the following:
(1) Determines that the landowner has commenced the necessary corrective measures, or determines that the necessary corrective measures cannot reasonably be completed within the thirty day period described in this subsection, and
(2) Establishes a period not to exceed one hundred eighty days within which corrective measures shall be completed.
(3) When the violation is corrected, the local holder or the director shall issue a letter of no further action required.
(a) If the violation is not corrected within the one hundred eighty day time period, the local holder shall commence and prosecute the enforcement action in the court of common pleas.
(G) The director shall be a party to all enforcement actions filed by the local holder. The director, at the request of the local holder, may assist in any court actions. No enforcement action shall be dismissed without the consent of the director.
(H) If at any time the director or the local holder believes that a violation of the easement could irreversibly diminish or impair the property for agricultural use they may take immediate, appropriate legal action, including obtaining an injunction without notice, to stop the violation or to require the grantor to correct the violation.
(I) Notwithstanding any other rule in this section, the director or the director’s designee reserves the right to conduct an inspection of the application property and enforce any violations of the deed of agricultural easement.
Effective: 03/21/2006
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 11/22/2005 and 03/21/2010
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 901.22(A)
Rule Amplifies: 901.22, 5301.691
Prior Effective Dates: 02/01/02, 02/21/05