H*5329 Resolution, By Felder, D.C. Moss, Long, King, Delleney, Norman, Simrill, 
V.S. Moss and Pope
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE
 NATION FORD LAND TRUST AND CONGRATULATE ITS MEMBERS AS THEY CELEBRATE
 TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF PRESERVING THE OPEN SPACE, NATURAL BEAUTY, AND SCENIC
 HERITAGE OF YORK COUNTY.

   05/29/14  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 40)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE NATION FORD LAND TRUST AND CONGRATULATE ITS MEMBERS AS THEY CELEBRATE TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF PRESERVING THE OPEN SPACE, NATURAL BEAUTY, AND SCENIC HERITAGE OF YORK COUNTY.

Whereas, in a State proud of its rich bounty of diverse, unspoiled natural resources, the Nation Ford Land Trust in York County diligently has worked since 1989 to protect and conserve our most precious resource - our heritage; and

Whereas, in the twenty-five years since its founding, the Nation Ford Land Trust has worked in a cooperative, non-adversarial manner by forging true partnerships with business, governments, private landowners, and other non-profit organizations to protect over 9,200 of the most unique acres in York County so that the community can enjoy the wonderful benefits of economic growth and development while preserving its natural areas and retaining its rural character; and

Whereas, a private, non-profit, tax exempt organization, Nation Ford Land Trust focuses on controlling the use of land by acquiring interest in significant property, educating the public to the necessity, importance, benefits, and impact of open spaces, and operating exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. Every person who purchases a membership in Nation Ford Land Trust becomes a member and a partner in the effort to conserve that natural heritage; and

Whereas, in the quarter century since its founding, Nation Ford Land Trust counts among its greatest successes working with a major university and the Catawba Indian Nation to permanently protect a significant stretch of the Catawba River, opening communication with a developer to allow for the preservation of one of York County's most significant Civil War sites, forging a partnership with both state and county governments, and a local non-profit to enable the protection of the Revolutionary War site of the Battle of Hucks Defeat and expanded Historic Brattonsville, serving as a partner with York County Council to lead to the establishment of South Carolina's first local government land preservation program, working with a private landowner and local government to protect York County's most visible resource, Nanny's Mountain, and working with businesses and governments from across our region to develop the Catawba River Corridor Plan to guide the protection of this scenic resource for years to come; and

Whereas, among other things, the trust owns 87.98 acres that include a sunflower site off of Banks Road in Fort Mill acquired in 2006, the Bailiwyck Property acquired in 1997, the Civil War Battery Site acquired in 1999, the Whitley Mills Property acquired in February 2007, and the Drake Property acquired in 2011. Nation Ford Land Trust also protects 7,249.89 acres through conservation easements and another 1,879 acres of protected land, giving Nation Ford Land Trust the responsibility to protect a total acreage of 9,216.87 acres; and

Whereas, derived from Nation Ford, an ancient crossing point on the Catawba River, and the Nation Ford Road which used the crossing, the name of the Nation Ford Land Trust represents historic resources that were important to the Catawba Indian Nation, to early traders and settlers in the area, to the movement of armies in the American Revolution and the American Civil War, and to the development of modern transportation routes in eastern York County; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives greatly appreciates the invaluable contributions of the Nation Ford Land Trust toward enhancing the quality of life, protecting the precious natural resources, and preserving the proud heritage of York County and the Palmetto State over the past twenty-five years, and wishes its continued success in the future. Now, therefore:

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the significant contributions of the Nation Ford Land Trust and congratulate its members as they celebrate twenty-five years of preserving the open space, natural beauty, and scenic heritage of York County in order to enhance the quality of life for its citizens.