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Presentation and Funding Request by the Orange County Veterans Memorial Committee
PURPOSE: The purpose for this agenda item is to receive a presentation from the Veterans Memorial Committee and to consider their funding request of $25,000 in support of the Orange County Veterans Memorial.
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DEPARTMENT: Town Manager’s Office
CONTACT INFORMATION: Rebecca Buzzard, Project Manager, rbuzzard@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:rbuzzard@townofcarrboro.org>, 919-918-7438 and Anne-Marie Vanaman, Management Assistant, amvanaman@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:amvanaman@townofcarrboro.org>, 919-918-7321
INFORMATION: In 2009, Jim Merritt, a WWII veteran and former Chapel Hill Town Councilman, approached the Town of Chapel Hill Council with a petition to create a memorial for all U.S. veterans. The petition was accepted by the Town of Chapel Hill. A committee of local citizens and representatives of veteran’s groups formed to consider plans, site locations and funding.<http://chapelhill.granicus.com/MinutesViewer.php?view_id=21&clip_id=609&doc_id=895c2dc7-5b2c-102d-8895-6a929f682891>
In November 2010, the Chapel Hill Town Council unanimously received a petition for a Veterans Memorial. This petition by the Veterans Memorial Committee included siting the memorial within the Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery.
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On April 22, 2013, the Town of Chapel Hill unanimously adopted a resolution to approve a Concept Plan, which included the location of the memorial within the Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery on Legion Road, Chapel Hill. <http://chapelhill.granicus.com/MinutesViewer.php?view_id=21&clip_id=1814&doc_id=4cb66bc0-fd9b-1030-bce9-7f882e4cf4e2>
However, in 2015 Orange County Commissioners Barry Jacobs and Renee Price, as well as Orange County staff, began meeting with the committee. During these meetings, the option of locating the memorial on Orange County-owned sites in southern Orange County was discussed and soon became the preferred option.
On May 5, 2015, the Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the siting of the Veterans Memorial within the recently approved Southern Government Services Campus. The Southern Government Services Campus is located at 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners also authorized the Orange County Manager and County staff to participate in the ongoing project planning process and reserved the right of final construction approval contingent upon Board approval of: 1) ownership, 2) design; 3) budget and certification of adequate development and construction funds; and 4) an ongoing operations and maintenance agreement for the Memorial. They also added a “friendly amendment” to ensure Orange County worked jointly with the Town of Chapel Hill. <http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/weblink8/0/doc/38236/Page1.aspx>
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In 2016, Orange County contracted with Swanson and Associates to develop the concept plan and Triangle Landscaping to help construct the memorial. The Veterans Memorial Committee has a goal to raise $500,000 to support the construction of the memorial and maintain it in perpetuity. Tax-deductible donations are collected through Orange County’s “Community Giving Fund,” which is managed by the County and Sun Trust Bank. Contributions to this fund are used to supplement the County’s budget in the program area of the donor’s choice.
Orange County contributed $15,000 to the Memorial in 2017. As of December 12, 2018, Orange County reported to Town of Carrboro staff that approximately $48,000 has been raised to date through the Community Giving Fund. This does not include funds given directly to the Veterans Memorial Committee for brick paver naming opportunities.
A ground breaking ceremony was held in 2017. Currently, the first phase of clearing and construction has been completed, and a flag pole with flag stands at the center of the memorial site. The Veterans Memorial Committee continues to fundraise for the next phase and is approaching the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough for financial contributions.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: The Town of Carrboro is being asked to consider a pledge of $25,000. The Veterans Memorial Committee “hopes all Jurisdictions in Orange County” will pledge at this level. The Town has not included provisions in the current budget to provide $25,000 for the construction of the Memorial. Funds to support this project could be included in the proposed 2019-20 budget. This would also allow time to determine the funding levels of comparable jurisdictions and receive additional information on the project budget and timeline.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board of Aldermen receive the presentation from the Orange County Memorial Committee and provide direction to staff on how to proceed in the attached resolution.