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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0545Remsburg said any building plans would have to fit the zoning regulations of the county. He said the archaeological evidence was still being researched, and it was difficult to know what was actually on the site. Remsburg said he couldn't assure anyone that the proposed property would never be built upon. He said a visitor's center was being proposed, but it would probably be located on the side where the existing parking area was located. Robertson asked if the Alliance would have approval authority on any future plans. Remsburg said most every historic site being maintained by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources had a support group. He said the support group members generally had an opportunity to provide input, especially if their funds were being used. Remsburg said also the local state legislators would have some impact on how the funds were used. Robertson asked what would happen if the Alliance opposed some of the state's plans Remsburg said an example of a good working relationship was with the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Support Group in Asheville, NC. He said the group worked closely with the state in providing funds for the restoration of the house's artifacts following a fire. Remsburg said the state and the insurance company provided the money for the restoration of the house. Robertson said many citizens had asked why Fort Dobbs' funding had been cut if the state felt it had importance. He said Kay Williams, the Director of the North Carolina Division of State Cultural sites had said that prior to 2003, there was one full- time employee and one part-time employee. Robertson continued by saying Ms. Williams said the full-time person retired, and the part-time person took a medical disability. He said, then, the site discontinued operations. Robertson said the full-time position was continued, but the duties changed from keeping the site open eight hours - a -day to the actual development of the site. Remsburg said another reason was due to a loss of funds that the state was experiencing. He said the state's budget was cut in many ways. Remsburg said the Fort Dobbs Alliance was later established, and the state began to review the site's potential. Commissioner Williams asked if the state would still be interested in the site if the additional property weren't purchased. Remsburg said he couldn't speak for his supervisors, but the site was important. Commissioner Williams said that during the Bicentennial Celebration, when diggings occurred at the site and a there was a proposed amphitheater, the community became interested and even excited about the fort. He asked why the state didn't take an active role at that time. Remsburg said his information was second-hand, but he understood there were "politics" involved. Commissioner Johnson asked the likelihood that the state would fund the project. Remsburg said it was one of the "top five priorities." He said there were 27 different sites and they were all poorly funded. Remsburg said hope for the fort's development relied both on the Alliance and the state legislature. He added, however, the state's historic site budget did not provide for the funds to develop a new site. He said the only way the project would occur would be through an appropriation out of the state legislature. He said what was needed was a legislative bill, and "a couple of good years." He said he didn't feel it would be funded during this year.