The Butler County Conservation District will be independent from county government next year.

The county commissioners on Wednesday unanimously voted to terminate the memorandum of understanding with the Conservation District effective June 30, 2017.

“We’re going to separate the Conservation District from the county,” said county commissioner Kim Geyer.

The Conservation District is a state-affiliated agency enforcing Department of Environmental Protection regulations for developers.

Geyer, who sits on the Conservation District board, said the change would be beneficial.

“This is result of the county moving in a new direction,” she said.

Geyer said the county still would contribute funds to the Conservation District.

When the division occurs, the status of workers who are now county employees will be affected.

Preceding the commissioners meeting, the county salary board eliminated five employees — district manager, two district technicians I, district technician II and watershed specialist — effective June 30.

Following the split, the county will maintain oversight of agricultural preservation.

The salary board also created an agriculture preservation manager post.

Geyer said Ron Fodor, the current district manager, would fill that temporary job, which starts in January, to train someone to permanently fill the post.

Fodor will be paid $31.14 an hour with no benefits. The cap for the amount of time he will work was set at 500 hours.

His job with the Conservation District ends Dec. 31.