Agenda 04-14-22; 1 - Boards and Commissions – Annual Work Plan Summaries

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11 linked to web sites and phone apps The goal is to provide historical content in an accessible/interactive format about historic resources, places and people.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 need to be identified and recognized. (No fiscal impact now) • Old Courthouse Historical and Architectural Research: Assisted by experienced consultants, the HPC will continue its long-range project to document the many alterations and changes to the Old Orange County Courthouse, in preparation for a future CIP project. Findings will be used to develop high quality historical interpretive exhibits about the courthouse. (Funding for research phase already approved in prior budget year). • 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/share more information about these significant resources (No fiscal impact) • 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 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2025-2026. The HPC will coordinate with other local historic sites and museums to promote this effort. (No fiscal impact) • 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 believes it is time for the County to create a digital version of a county-wide historic and cultural marker program, modeled on other successful marker and map-driven programs that are linked to web sites and/or phone apps. The goal is to provide historical content in an accessible/interactive format about historic and cultural resources, places and people, especially communities that are underrepresented by the existing state historical marker program. Rural African American resources and communities are especially endangered and need to be recognized. This should be developed in collaboration with our local governments and other county programs (No fiscal impact at this time) • Preservation of endangered rural historic resources: There are numerous endangered historic structures and Black burial grounds in rural Orange County that merit preservation or they will soon be lost, effectively erasing much of the county's rural history. The HPC wishes to develop a small-scale grant program to assist with basic repairs to preserve these, and in the case of cemeteries, to better identify and mark them with interpretive signage. The HPC plans to seek grant funding from foundations to help start this program, to be matched by a -5-