Meeting Type: BCC Regular Meeting
Meeting Date: 3/17/2020
Item Status: New
From: Ronald J. Cink, Budget Director
Submitted by: Anu Gary, Administrative Services Manager
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ITEM TITLE
Title
American Battlefield Protection Program - Grant Application for the Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant
Body
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Take the following actions:
1) Authorize staff to submit a Grant Application for the Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant to the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, on behalf of the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation. The Baldwin County Commission will be the legal entity accepting and administering this grant; and
2) Authorize the Chairman to execute any other necessary supporting documentation related to this grant application.
End
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Previous Commission action/date: N/A
Background: The American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) promotes the preservation of significant historic battlefields associated with wars on American soil. The goals of the program are 1) to protect battlefields and sites associated with armed conflicts that influenced the course of our history, 2) to encourage and assist all Americans in planning for the preservation, management, and interpretation of these sites, and 3) to raise awareness of the importance of preserving battlefields and related sites for future generations. The ABPP focuses primarily on land use, cultural resource and site management planning, and public education.
ABPP Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants, authorized by 54 U.S.C. 308103 and 54 U.S.C. 200305, are available to help States and local communities acquire and preserve threatened battlefield land. The ABPP administers these grants using funds appropriated from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This grant program allows for the permanent protection of historic battlefield lands through fee simple acquisition or through the purchase of an interest in the land through a preservation covenant. State or local government entities are eligible to apply, and nonprofits may act as sub recipients of grant funds. The grants require a dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match. To be eligible for acquisition, land must be at least 50% within the boundary of one of the 384 battlefields identified in the 1993 Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields, or one of the 177 battlefields identified in the 2007 Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Historic Preservation Study. The land must also be outside the boundaries of any National Park Service unit legislative boundary.
Cliff McCollum, on behalf of Representative Faust, is asking for the Commission’s assistance with grant writing and application for the ABPP Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant for Fort Mims, which is considered a Priority I Battlefield, one of only two in Alabama. The required grant match would be funded through the Legislative Delegation’s Community Fund.
If the grant is awarded, staff will bring the grant acceptance back before the Commission for approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total cost of recommendation: $150,000, half to be funded by the grant and half by the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation
Budget line item(s) to be used: Budget line items will be created upon grant acceptance
If this is not a budgeted expenditure, does the recommendation create a need for funding? N/A
LEGAL IMPACT
Is legal review necessary for this staff recommendation and related documents?
Yes, County Attorney will review and approve any documentation if the grant is received, following Commission’s acceptance of the grant.
Reviewed/approved by: N/A
Additional comments: N/A
ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS
Is advertising required for this recommendation? N/A
If the proof of publication affidavit is not attached, list the reason: N/A
FOLLOW UP IMPLEMENTATION
For time-sensitive follow up, select deadline date for follow up: N/A
Individual(s) responsible for follow up: Ron Cink and Christie Davis, to submit the grant application and necessary supporting documents and follow up.
Via Courier Service (Fed Ex, UPS, OHL) or U.S. Postal Service
American Battlefield Protection Program
National Park Service
1849 C Street, NW
Room 7228
Washington. D.C. 20240
(202) 354-2037
Action required (list contact persons/addresses if documents are to be mailed or emailed): N/A
Additional instructions/notes: N/A