Gaining a better understanding about procedures of local historic preservation commissions is the focus of a historic preservation training meeting Friday at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library.
The meeting is from 1-3 p.m. in the library”s upstairs meeting room, and is open to the public. It was originally scheduled for Jan. 8, but was postponed because of weather conditions.
Representatives of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History will be present to work with members of the Columbus Historic Preservation Commission and preservation board members from other towns and cities.
Michelle Jones, local preservation assistance coordinator with MDAH, said representatives from historic preservation committees from the agency”s north region will also attend Friday”s meeting.
“This region not only includes Columbus, but extends to Corinth, Holly Springs and down to Meridian. We expect to have people from Tupelo, Corinth and other places to attend,” she said.
Nancy Carpenter, Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation project manager, encourages local historical preservationists as well as local government officials to attend this meeting.
“We want our people in Columbus who are involved with historic preservation, as well as our elected city and county officials, to attend this meeting. We want the public to come to this meeting, too. Not only can they learn about preservation, they can meet the people with (the Department of) Archives and History,” she said.
Each year members of a historic preservation commission in a certified local government are required to receive training on matters related to historic preservation, Carpenter said.
“The Department of Archives and History has a division devoted to historic preservation and offers training to local historic preservation commission members, CLG coordinators and local elected officials at no charge,” she said.
Each year, Jones said, the MDAH has different issues they like to place emphasis on during the training sessions.
“This time, we are offering training on procedures the local preservation committees has to follow,” she said.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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