Town Pledges To Borrow $350,000 For Boesch Farm Repairs, Restoration

At their meeting Monday night, the Town Council agreed in principle to borrow up to $350,000 for repairs and restoration at Boesch Farm – money for which would be paid back by the EG Land Trust, not taxpayers. Help with the loan was deemed necessary to leverage grant money from the Champlin Foundations.

The Land Trust is seeking to deal with what it characterizes as pressing needs at Boesch, in particular for the barn there.

Boesch (or Briggs-Boesch) Farm is an historic property currently leased to Patrick McNiff and his farm operation, Pat's Pastured. The buildings at the farm are in dire need of repair, in particular the barn, which is 200 years old.

"This is a really unique property. It’s an intact 18th century farm," Land Trust member Doug Brown told the Council in August. "This would let us take care of it and then have a protected asset."

He added, "It’s deemed a very significant historic barn and historic barns are disappearing at a rapid rate."

The Land Trust, while a creature of the Town Council, has its own income stream, thanks to a gift of the building rented by Happy Hearts preschool on South County Trail. In the bequest of that gift, profits from the building were to be used to benefit Boesch Farm.

So, the EG Land Trust receives the rental money from Happy Hearts for use of the building, but of course must also invest some of that money back into the building for maintenance. At present, according to Brown, the Land Trust has about a $40,000 fund balance.

Council members voiced some concern about being on the hook for the loan and exact terms were not voted upon. But Brown pressed the Council to give some basic support to the plan so that Champlin would be reassured as to the town's commitment to the project.

The Council determined Monday night it would commit to helping the Land Trust obtain a loan, most probably seeking a town loan, since rates would be more favorable for the town than for the Land Trust.

No work is expected to be done until next spring due to the lateness of the season.