Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 012 - Department of Arkansas Heritage › Division 02 - Historic Preservation Commission › Rule 012.02.01-004 - Revisions to the Manual for the County Courthouse Restoration Grant (CCRG) Program

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
I.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Purpose
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) recognizes a
				lack of financial assistance as one of the largest obstacles to the
				preservation of historic resources in Arkansas. The purpose of the County
				Courthouse Restoration Grant program is to encourage and promote the
				preservation and continued use of Arkansas's historic courthouses by providing
				financial assistance for restoration, selected maintenance and accessibility
				projects. The County Courthouse Restoration Grant is an annual grant that has
				been in existence since 1988. It is funded primarily by an annual grant to the
				AHPP by the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) using Real
				Estate Transfer Tax funds. Fifty-four of the sixty-four Arkansas counties with
				eligible courthouses have received grants from the AHPP.
Funding Source
Grants awarded by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
				(AHPP) are funded by General Revenues of the State of Arkansas and Special
				Revenues under the Real Estate Transfer Tax passed as Acts 729 and 818 of 1987,
				the Arkansas Conservation Tax established by Amendment 75, or by the National
				Park Service, United States Department of the Interior. All grant recipients
				must follow the policies and procedures of the Arkansas Historic Preservation
				Program, as well as regulations governing the expenditure of ail state and
				federal funds. The regulations set forth in this manual must be strictly
				adhered to by both the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and by all grant
				recipients.
State and Federal
				Regulations
All grant recipients must agree to abide by and comply with
				applicable state and federal regulations and policies, including Fair Labor
				Standards, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [
				42 USC
				2000(d) ] and Section 504 of
				the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 [
				29 USC Section
				794 ], Title IX of the Education Amendment of
				1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991, as well as all other
				applicable state and federal laws, regulations, and executive orders.
II.
GRANTS AND
			 ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES
Eligibility
Eligible county courthouses include 1) those listed on the
				National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as a contributing
				resource in a historic district; and 2) those that are
not
listed,
				but are eligible for listing on the National Register, as determined by AHPP.
A county receiving grant funds for a non-National Register courthouse
				must submit a completed National Register nomination with its final
				invoice.
Authorized Uses of County Courthouse Restoration
				Grants
County Courthouse Restoration Grants may be used to preserve,
				restore, rehabilitate, repair, or stabilize county courthouses listed on the
				National Register of Historic Places. Highest priority is assigned to projects
				mitigating a threat to a structure's integrity and survival. Grants
cannot
be used to reimburse expenses for
				work done outside the grant period specified in the grant contract.
				Additionally, it should be stressed that these grants are
not
intended for general maintenance projects. Grants may be used for, but
				are not limited to, the following projects:
- Repair and/or replacement of roofing materials.
- Repair and/or replication of original windows.
- Repair and/or replication of original exterior siding
				material.
- Removal of artificial siding (vinyl, metal, asbestos
				plate).
- Repair of foundation and/or masonry problems.
- Repair or replication of significant
exterior
architectural elements such as missing or securely dilapidated/missing
				columns, turrets, cupolas, domes, or clock towers.
- Exterior painting (if existing paint has failed).
- Exterior cleaning.
- Repair of integral guttering systems.
- Repair of structural elements such as floor joist, ceiling
				joists, rafters, foundations, rotted floors, load-bearing walls, trusses, metal
				columns or beams.
- Removal of asbestos or lead paint.
- Alterations to meet requirements of the federal Americans
				with Disabilities Act of 1991.
- Repair and/or installation of seismic reinforcement in a
				historic structure.
- Repair, restoration, or replication of missing or
				deteriorated original interior features considered significant to the National
				Register eligibility of the property. The features must be documented through
				historic photographs, original architectural drawings/specification, or
				architectural investigation. Projects may include but are nor limited to the
				following items: decorative plaster work, murals, stencils, faux finishes,
				decorative painting, carved/decorative moldings and trim, wood paneling,
				fireplace mantels, staircases, stained-glass windows/skylights, parquet
				flooring, and the repair of mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems if the
				existing systems jeopardize the historic property.
III.
PREPARING THE GRANT
			 APPLICATION
Planning the Project
An applicant for any County Courthouse Restoration Grant must
				first determine the scope of the project to be funded. Historic preservation is
				an expensive endeavor, and most projects require careful prioritization. Tips
				on developing a good project include:
-
Ask an expert.
An architect can be invaluable in
				helping you to determine your needs and planning your project. In addition to
				giving an estimate of the project cost, an architect can also provide
				information on structural priorities and efficient scheduling. Also, feel free
				to contact the Historic Preservation Program if you have questions regarding
				project funding priorities or guidelines for rehabilitation.
-
Phase it out.
Funds for Courthouse Restoration
				Grants are often limited, and few applicants receive the total amount requested
				in their application. By dividing the project into prioritized phases, you
				provide a way for funding to be used effectively even if you don't get
				everything you requested. You can apply for more funding in the next grant
				cycle.
-
Know your limitations.
Or maybe we should say,
				"Don't bite off more than you can chew." Administering a grant project requires
				staff time and attention to detail. Don't commit yourself or your county to a
				project if you are unable to invest the necessary resources to complete it. By
				the same token, don't commit the county to
a
cash match or other
				investment of scarce resources unless you can be sure it will be in place when
				you sign the grant contract.
Application Packet Format
The County Courthouse Restoration Grant application packet
				should be organized using the following format, with sections numbered
				accordingly:
1.
Application:
A two-page document, mailed
			 to the applicant with this booklet, containing basic information on applicant
			 and the proposed project. Includes space for
a
brief
(2-3 sentence) summary of the
			 project.
2.
Detailed Project Description:
Drawings and
			 narrative explaining how the project is to be accomplished, what materials will
			 be used, and timeline for project. Narrative should include specific
			 explanation of what project components will be funded by the grant.
3.
Color Photographs of
			 Property:
Color prints of north, south, east, and west
			 elevations of the building, along with close-up color prints of any work that
			 is to be funded with the grant.
FAILURE TO SEND COLOR PRINTS WILL RESULT
			 IN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION FOR THE APPLICATION. SCANNED OR DIGITAL IMAGES,
			 BLACK AND WHITE PRINTS, OR SLIDES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
4.
Detailed Project
			 Budget:
A line-item project budget, including material
			 costs, labor, and architect/consultant fees. A detailed estimate written by the
			 architect is acceptable. Budget should also specify which items are to be
			 grant-funded.
5.
Letter of Agreement for Easement:
If a county
			 applies for funds to restore a courthouse on which AHPP does not hold an
			 easement, the application must include a letter from the county judge stating
			 that he/she has read the section of this booklet entitled "Conservation
			 Easements" and understands that no grant funds will be released until a Deed of
			 Conservation Easement has been conveyed to AHPP and filed with the circuit or
			 county clerk.
6.
Letters of Commitment and Support:
Letters from
			 project stakeholders (friends groups, other local government officials, donors,
			 or volunteers) demonstrating community and/or financial support for the
			 project.