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46 <br /> Identify any activities this commission expects to carry out in 2019 as they relate to <br /> established BOCC goals and priorities. If applicable, is there a fiscal impact (i.e., <br /> funding, staff time, other resources) associated with these proposed activities. <br /> • Historic Resources Publication Project: The HPC will complete the final text for the <br /> historic resources book, in preparation for publication in 2020. Author is now under <br /> contract and writing is well underway. (Fiscal impact: the FY 2018-19 budget included <br /> $25,000 in County funds, allowing the project to secure $25,000 in matching funds <br /> from the Alliance. HPC staff will provide project support <br /> • Historic Piper-Cox House at Eno River State Park: Continue a partnership with the Eno <br /> River State Park to promote the appropriate restoration of this historic site, to repair roof <br /> damage caused by a falling tree in 2018. The HPC will help the Park develop creative <br /> new uses for the house to ensure that it remains a viable attraction for park visitors. <br /> County Historic Marker Program: Develop guidelines and procedures for a proposed <br /> County Marker Program, modeled on other successful marker and map-driven programs. <br /> The goal is to provide historical content in an accessible/interactive format about <br /> important historic resources, places and people, for the educational benefit of the public. <br /> The project would be linked to a web site to provide access to more in-depth information. <br /> This program can be linked to other efforts to promote heritage tourism in rural parts of <br /> the county. (Fiscal impact: 2018-19: none; the HPC staff will provide support) <br /> • Designating Landmarks in Town ETJ's: Continue working with the various municipalities <br /> to develop an interlocal agreement to govern the designation of historic landmarks within <br /> the various town's ETJ's. (No fiscal impact) <br /> • Promote Landmark and National Register Programs: Increase efforts to promote the <br /> Local Historic Landmark and National Register programs, with special focus on African <br /> American sites and other important but overlooked or threatened historic resources. Goal <br /> is to generate at least two new landmark and/or National Register applications per year <br /> (No fiscal impact—already budgeted in the Lands Legacy program funding) <br /> What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for the upcoming <br /> year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the Commissioners' attention? <br /> • Rural Heritage Preservation Grants: The HPC hopes to create a "rural heritage <br /> preservation grant program" to offer small incentive grants of approximately $1,000 to <br /> $3,000 to owners who wish to repair their endangered historic resources. The focus will <br /> be on the buildings that represent our agricultural heritage, such as diary barns, tobacco <br /> barns, silos, corn cribs, and livestock barns. Other eligible types include log houses, old <br /> schoolhouses and slave cemeteries. These resources help give Orange County its <br /> special historic character. Such a program will help owners afford modest repairs that <br /> could greatly extend the life of these resources, like new barn tin roofing or simple <br /> structural repairs. The preservation of these historic resources will enhance the county's <br /> efforts to preserve its rural character and will help efforts to promote agritourism and <br /> heritage tourism. Any such incentives would require agreements with the property owner <br /> stipulating ongoing protection of that resource, similar to the agreements used for the <br /> VAD program. The HPC envisions seeking grants from foundations to match a small <br /> amount annually from the County, to be able to offer a total of about $10,000 per year in <br /> grants to multiple property owners. HPC staff would administer the program. <br /> • Increase Diversity for Landmarks and National Register Properties: The HPC seeks to <br /> continue to broaden the diversity of the Local Historic Landmark and National Register <br /> programs to encourage historic designations for sites of significance to the County's <br /> African-American heritage and archaeological sites relating to the region's Indian culture. <br /> -5- <br />