Agenda - 04-22-2021 Virtual Work Session; Item 1 - Volunteer Advisory Boards and Commissions – Annual Work Plan Summaries

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39 historical content in an accessible/interactive format about historic resources, places and people. Rural African American resources and communities are especially endangered and need to be identified and recognized while residents are still living. (No fiscal impact now) • Old Courthouse Historical and Architectural Research: Assisted by experienced consultants, the HPC will undertake a project to document the many alterations and changes to the Old Orange County Courthouse, in preparation for the upcoming CIP project. Findings will be used to develop high quality interpretive exhibits about the courthouse and its history. (Funding already approved in prior year budget) • Promote diversity in the Landmark and National Register Programs: The HPC will continue to recognize more diverse historic resources through the Local Historic Landmark and National Register programs, with special focus on African American sites and other overlooked or threatened historic resources. The HPC seeks to generate at least two new landmark and/or National Register applications per year (No fiscal impact—already budgeted in the Lands Legacy program funding) • Increase focus on Archaeological Resources: Our county possesses a wealth of historic and pre-historic archaeological resources that illuminate the history and cultural of all our people, ranging from the Indian cultures to our earliest African and European settlers. The HPC seeks to highlight the importance of these resources and share them with the general public. • North Carolina Celebration of the USA 250th Anniversary: The HPC will form a sub- committee to identify sites in the county to highlight and include in state and local planning efforts to prepare for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2025- 2026. The HPC will coordinate with other local historic sites and museums. • Designating Landmarks in Town ETTs: Develop a final draft interlocal agreement with the various municipalities to govern the designation of historic landmarks within the various town's ETJ's; work with municipalities to seek adoption of agreement (No fiscal impact) What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for the upcoming year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the Commissioners' attention? • County Historic Marker Program: The HPC will form a subcommittee to develop guidelines and procedures for a proposed County Marker Program, modeled on other successful marker and map-driven programs that are linked to web sites. The goal is to provide historical content in an accessible/interactive format about historic resources, places and people. Rural African American resources and communities are especially endangered and should be recognized while residents are still living. (No fiscal impact at this time) • Preservation of endangered rural historic resources: There are numerous endangered historic resources in rural Orange County that merit preservation or they will soon be lost, effectively erasing much of the county's rural history. The few remaining historic two-room black schools that closed in the 1950s are seriously threatened, as are surviving rural slave cemeteries. Many deteriorated log cabins and farm buildings that tell important stories about Orange County's history will be lost in the next decade. Most of these are owned by farm families who face financial challenges and cannot justify spending money on structures that have no use. The HPC wishes to develop a small-scale grant program to assist owners with basic repairs to preserve these rural landmarks, by providing matching funds for owners who are willing to participate. The HPC plans to seek grant funding from foundations to help start this program, to be matched by a modest level of County funding. -5-