Butler County is severing ties with the Butler County Conservation District.

Commissioner Kim Geyer, who sits on the Conservation District board, said Wednesday the decision was made after officials assessed the situation for the past 10 months.

“The county’s agricultural community would be best served by restructuring the framework,” Geyer said at the commissioners meeting.

She said the split, which would take effect June 30, 2017, would make the conservation district stronger.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel agreed.

“It allows them to be more autonomous,” Boozel said.

The conservation district is state-affiliated entity that enforces Department of Environmental Protection regulations for developers.

The commissioners are set to vote on a termination of a memorandum of understanding between the county and conservation district this coming Wednesday.

The county still would contribute money to the conservation district.

County Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, said the conservation district needs to be separate so the employees aren’t working for two entities.

Also set for Wednesday is a vote by the county salary board to eliminate five employees: district manager, two district technicians I, district technician II and watershed specialist.

The salary board also would vote on creating an agriculture preservation manager post.

Geyer said the county would maintain oversight of agricultural preservation.

She said in an interview the county did its homework before coming up with this plan.

“It wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction,” Geyer said.