Walker County |
Code of Ordinances |
Part II. Code Of Ordinances |
Chapter 34. Land Development |
Article IV. Historic Preservation |
§ 34-143. Historic preservation commission
(a) Created. There is created a commission whose title shall be the "Walker County Historic Preservation Commission" (hereinafter referred to as the "commission").
(b) Position within county government. The commission shall be part of the planning functions of the county.
(c) Membership; compensation.
(1) The commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the county commissioner. All members shall be residents of the county and shall be persons who have demonstrated special interest, experience or education in history, architecture or the preservation of historic resources.
(2) To the extent available in the county, at least three members shall be appointed from among professionals in the disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, planning, archaeology or related professions.
(3) Members shall serve three-year terms. Members may not serve more than two consecutive terms. In order to achieve staggered terms, initial appointments shall be one member for one year; three members for two years; and three members for three years.
(4) Members shall not receive a salary, although they may be reimbursed for expenses.
(d) Powers. The commission shall be authorized to:
a. Prepare and maintain an inventory of all property within the county having the potential for designation as an historic property;
b. Recommend to the county commissioner specific districts, sites, buildings, structures or objects to be designated by ordinance as historic properties or historic districts;
c. Review applications for certificates of appropriateness, and grant or deny the same in accordance with the provisions of this article;
d. Recommend to the county commissioner that the designation of any district, site, building, structure or object as an historic property or as an historic district be revoked or removed;
e. Restore or preserve any historic property acquired by the county;
f. Promote the acquisition by the county of facade easements and conservation easements, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Georgia Uniform Conservation Easement Act (O.C.G.A. §§ 44-10-1—44-10-5);
g. Conduct educational programs on historic properties located within the county and on general historic preservation activities;
h. Make such investigations and studies of matters relating to historic preservation, including consultation with historic preservation experts, the county commissioner or the commission itself as it may, from time to time, deem necessary or appropriate for the purposes of preserving historic resources;
i. Seek out local, state, federal or private funds for historic preservation, and make recommendations to the county commissioner concerning the most appropriate uses of any funds acquired;
j. Submit to the historic preservation division of the department of natural resources a list of historic properties or historic districts designated;
k. Perform historic preservation activities as the official agency of the county historic preservation program;
l. Employ persons, if necessary, to carry out the responsibilities of the commission;
m. Receive donations, grants, funds, or gifts of historic property and acquire and sell historic properties. The commission shall not obligate the county without prior consent;
n. Review and make comments to the historic preservation division of the department of natural resources concerning the nomination of properties within its jurisdiction to the National Register of Historic Places; and
o. Participate in private, state and federal historic preservation programs and, with the consent of the county commissioner, enter into agreements to do the same.
(e) Adoption of rules and standards. The commission shall adopt rules and standards for the transaction of its business and for consideration of applications for designation and certificates of appropriateness, such as bylaws, membership provisions, and design guidelines and criteria. The commission shall have the flexibility to adopt rules and standards without amendment to this article. The commission shall provide for the time and place of regular meetings and a method for the calling of special meetings. The commission shall select such officers as it deems appropriate from among its members. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members.
(f) Conflicts of interest. The commission shall be subject to all conflict of interest laws set forth in statutes and in the county Charter.
(g) Authority to receive funding from various sources. The commission shall have the authority to accept donations and shall ensure that these funds do not displace appropriated governmental funds.
(h) Records. A public record shall be kept of the commission's resolutions, proceedings and actions.
(Ord. of 8-21-2002, § III)