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INFORMATION ITEM <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> Department of Environment, <br /> Agriculture,Parks Recreation <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> TO: Board of County Commissioners <br /> Michael Talbert, Interim County Manager <br /> FROM: David Stancil, Director <br /> Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager <br /> Peter Sandbeck, Cultural Resources Coordinator <br /> DATE: December 3, 2013 <br /> RE: Town-County Collaboration on Protecting Hillsborough Archaeological Sites <br /> The following is an update on County and Town of Hillsborough efforts to protect known <br /> archaeological sites and other culturally-significant sites located on public lands in Hillsborough. <br /> In June 2012 the Board of County Commissioners directed County staff to work with Town staff <br /> to develop a protocol for ensuring the protection of archaeological sites and other culturally- <br /> significant locations on Town- and County-owned properties. Previous efforts to keep sites <br /> undisturbed were not always successful due to insufficient information and communication. <br /> Staff from the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR)began <br /> meeting with Town Planning staff in 2012 to identify all known archaeological and cultural <br /> resources area on a single map. A draft map was shared with the NC Division of Archives and <br /> History for review and concurrence. The State Archaeologist identified another 29 sites that were <br /> not yet mapped. Those additional sites resulted from several construction projects that had <br /> occurred in recent years projects that identified new locations due largely to State and County <br /> requirements that sites be surveyed for cultural and archaeological resources before construction. <br /> In the meantime, additional archaeological surveys have been conducted in 2012-13 for <br /> construction projects at 129 East King Street, East Margaret Lane (geothermal well network), <br /> and the Riverwalk. New locations are being added to the map maintained by DEAPR and Town <br /> staff responsible for the protection of cultural resources. <br /> Over the next few weeks DEAPR will work with Town staff and the County Attorney on a <br /> draft agreement that we intend to have ready for BOCC and Town of Hillsborough Board <br /> of Commissioners consideration by February or March 2014. <br /> Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation <br /> PO Box 8181/306-A Revere Road <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> (919) 245-2510 <br />