AGENDA DATE: 9/8/2020
TITLE:
Title
Selection of Offeror to Receive Civil War Memorials
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: To select an offeror or offerors to receive the following monuments or memorials for the veterans of war located on the County-owned portion of Court Square - the statue known as "At Ready", cannons, and the stacked cannonballs.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Kamptner, Walker, Henry, Stewart, Russell, Kilroy
PRESENTER (S): Trevor Henry
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Doug Walker
BACKGROUND: Until July 1, 2020, Virginia Code § 15.2-1812 made it unlawful for localities to “disturb or interfere with” any war monuments or memorials. “Disturb or interfere with” included removing, damaging, or defacing the monuments or memorials.
Senate Bill 183 and House Bill 1537 (2020) amend Section 15.2-1812, effective July 1, 2020, to authorize a locality to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover war monuments and memorials from its public property, provided that the locality complies with the procedures required by the new law.
At its July 1, 2020 meeting, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors took an action to advertise a public hearing to receive public comment on the Board of Supervisors’ intent to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover the following monuments or memorials for the veterans of war located on the County-owned portion of Court Square - the statue known as "At Ready", cannons, and the stacked cannonballs.
On August 6, 2020, the Board held a public hearing and adopted a resolution to remove the memorials and initiated an offer period of 30 days for relocation and placement to any museum, historical society, government, or military battlefield.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Engaged Citizens: Successfully engage citizens so that local government reflects their values and aspirations
DISCUSSION: Staff will receive offers through the end of the offer period and provide a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors at its adjourned meeting. Offers will be evaluated based on offeror type, geographic location, local connection, the memorials sought (statue, cannons, cannonballs, and the base), the nature of access to the intended location, responsibility of transport and installation, visibility of the intended location, and the purpose/context of the intended location.
The 30-day offer period runs through September 5, 2020. At its September 2, 2020 meeting, the Board adopted a resolution to accept offers received by mail, private parcel service, or through hand-delivery through September 8 at 5 pm, as September 5 is a Saturday and September 7 is a federal holiday.
To date, Albemarle County has received offers from the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation, the Petersburg Federal Correctional Complex, a private citizen, Gordonsville Grays, Isle of Wight County Historical Society, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Civil War Museum at the Exchange Hotel, Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation, and Hampstead Farm. A final list will be provided to the Board on September 8.
BUDGET IMPACT: The Board’s previous appropriation for the removal of the memorials is sufficient to cover expenses related to the offer, if any.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board consider the recommendation provided during the presentation.
ATTACHMENTS: None.