Agenda - 10-20-2009 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Carl Allen, Business Owner, Allen Financial Services • Tamia Buckingham, Business Owner, Buckingham Business Services • Danny Lloyd, Hillsborough City Executive, Cardinal State Bank • Barbara Baker, Facilitator of the Work Group, Retired from DTCC The Work Group's preliminary report with 1) a memorandum with further background, 2) a worksheet on the anticipated scope of the Heritage Center, and 3) a memorandum on funding for a consultant is included as Attachment #1. Key conclusions and recommendations are as follows: • Orange County's historic legacy should be preserved for future generations. These irreplaceable historic resources currently housed at the various historical organizations in Hillsborough, at the Public Library and elsewhere throughout the County are at risk of deterioration and are inaccessible to the public for research. The County needs an archival facility for proper storage and to provide public access to these collections. A public-private venture, where the County partners with a 501(c)3 non-profit status will likely offer the most optimal funding option for such a facility. The Historical Foundation of Orange County and Hillsborough (an independent organization which is also under the umbrella of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough) may be able to serve as the non-profit partner under a negotiated arrangement. The Work Group recommends contracting with an expert consultant to "flesh-out" its feasibility study with the details needed to pursue grant funding and to provide the County with CIP and related budget information to bring this project into fruition. The Chapel Hill - Orange County Visitor's Bureau has identified and it Board authorized $5,000 which could be used for this purpose. The County may have a suitable building in its existing surplus stock that could be retrofitted for an archival facility at a much lower cost than new construction should the BOCC ultimately choose to fund development of a proposed Heritage Center. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Chapel Hill -Orange County Visitor's Bureau has identified $5,000 in its existing budget which could be used for hiring a consultant to prepare a more detailed plan for a Heritage Center /Public Archive facility. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board accept the initial findings in the 2009 Heritage Center Work Group Report and authorize the Work Group to proceed with the following next steps: Hire a consultant from funds provided by the Chapel Hill -Orange County Visitors Bureau to prepare a more detailed plan and do research including: a. Surveying and making a recommendation on available facilities; b. Analyzing collections in the County to determine what items would be appropriate to be housed in the Heritage Center collection; c. Analyzing and listing needed equipment; d. Analyzing staffing needs; e. Developing a proposed budget; and f. Identifying potential private and public funding sources.