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Board of Commissioners - Public Works - To Authorize the County Manager, or Her Designee, to Execute Any Necessary Contract Documents with Foundation Forward, Inc. and the City of Gastonia for the Installation and Maintenance of the Charters of Freedom
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STAFF CONTACT
Daniel K. Ziehm, PE - Public Works - 704-862-6795
BUDGET IMPACT
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No additional County funds.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
At a previous meeting, Foundation Forward, Inc. made a presentation to the Gaston County Board of Commissioners regarding the Charters of Freedom. Foundation Forward, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, apolitical, and areligious educational organization. The goal of Foundation Forward is to educate people and preserve American history. Foundation Forward provides easy and open access for all to the founding documents: The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
The scope of the project is to design and build a replica of the Charters of Freedom display as exhibited in the National Archives Rotunda, Washington, D.C. The display must be central and open to the community, with high visibility, voluminous foot traffic, and easy access for school children, veterans, and all others. The bases of the settings will be constructed with concrete and brick veneer, and the Charters of Freedom documents will be original size on ¼ inch etched bronze and covered by a sheet of engineered industrial viewing glass. The setting will also include a plaque and a vault with a time capsule sealed inside.
Gaston County has met with Foundation Forward, Inc. representatives multiple times to review potential locations and the mutually agreed upon preferred location is the Rotary Pavilion. A map showing the location of the Charters of Freedom setting is attached to this Board Action.
Foundation Forward, Inc. will fund construction of the Charters of Freedom setting. Site costs, restoring concrete sidewalks, long-term maintenance, etc. will be the responsibility of Gaston County.
Approval of this Board Action by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners authorizes County staff to work with Foundation Forward, Inc. and the City of Gastonia for the design, construction, and future maintenance of the Charters of Freedom located at the Rotary Pavilion. Further, approval of this Board Action authorizes the County Attorney to negotiate and draft any necessary agreements, including encroachment and maintenance agreements required by Foundation Forward, and/or the City of Gastonia and authorizes the County Manager, or her designee, to execute said agreements.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
Foundation Forward Letter of Intent and Charters of Freedom Site/ Location Map