Clay County historic preservation staff circulated a draft, fillable application for county historical signage and told the Historical Preservation Board it is based on the state marker application and can be posted online for groups to complete.

The draft was presented at the board's Oct. 1 meeting by Beth, a county historic preservation staff member, who said the form "is a fillable PDF, and we could post it online" and that she can make changes based on board feedback. She said the draft asks for resource type ("archaeological, historical"), coordinates for placement and days/times the sign will be viewable by the public.

The board discussed several implementation details the application will need to capture, including whether a single application may cover multiple resources or whether separate applications are required for distinct resources. Beth said she would expect separate filings "probably for each resource" unless multiple items will be on a single sign. She also noted the county would install county signs but that the draft should clarify who bears installation and ongoing maintenance costs.

Board members and community representatives from Middleburg asked whether county signs could be used as an interim measure while the state reviews a formal state marker application. Jerry, who has worked with local marker requests, said groups might seek a county sign "in the interim until we get the state" marker and the board discussed coordinating an interim county marker to avoid duplicate placement once a state marker is produced.

Beth said the county application is essentially the same text and documentation as the state application and suggested the county form could be used as a "trial run" before submission to higher levels. She also advised that supporting documentation that is not readily available online should be scanned and submitted with the application and that a bibliography of sources would be required.

The board agreed the draft should be vetted by county legal staff and that county staff (Beth) would route completed forms through internal review and to GIS for coordinate verification. The board also discussed limits on placing signs on private property and whether a memorandum of understanding or waiver would be needed; the chair asked staff to check with county legal counsel (Courtney) on that point.

The Middleburg delegation said its state application is nearly ready and that the group has compiled documentation from the National Archives; Beth said scanned copies and a bibliography should accompany the county submission so staff can forward materials to GIS and other reviewers. The group also discussed locating signs at park parking areas rather than on fragile archaeological sites.

The board identified follow-up steps: (1) staff will add a cost/financial-responsibility field to the draft application, (2) legal counsel will review the draft for private-property language and any required agreements, (3) staff will accept scanned supporting documentation and a bibliography, and (4) the county form will be used as a pilot for later submissions (Pleasant Point was cited as another planned sign).

Members asked staff to confirm with state reviewers whether a county sign would affect a later state review; Beth said she would ask state staff but did not expect a county sign to disqualify a later state marker.

The board did not take a formal vote on the application draft; members directed staff to proceed with the edits and legal review described above.