Orion Township trustees have agreed to help foot the bill for the Orion Historical Society to hire a professional to conduct a ‘windshield survey? that could cost up to $15,000.
In June, the board voted to authorize $11,500 to conduct a survey of areas in the village that might be considered for the National Register of Historic Places.
Janine Saputo of the OHS said the society now wanted to hire a professional, at a cost of $12,000 to $15,000, to conduct a ‘windshield survey,? which is a reconnaissance-level survey that would formally identify remaining resources in the township that are integral to the township’s heritage.
Saputo said those resources could be included in future master plan revisions as an inventory list, and a map that would be useful for planning.
‘This is an alternative type of survey, not as an intensive as the one for the national register,? she added.
According to Saputo, the survey included in the current master plan was out of date, as it was done in 1993.
Since (1993), the state has established guidelines for doing this type of survey.
‘Knowing what to do and what (historic resources) look like…it is invaluable,? said Saputo, adding that maps and photos done as part of the survey could be included with the master plan.
She said the $12,000 to $15,000 estimate that the OHS was providing to the township was ‘guesswork,? because they were unable to find current examples of this type of survey being done.
‘We quoted what we think is a reasonable sum for someone to do it,? Saputo added.
She said the professional hired should be someone recommended by the state with a background in architecture.
Because the OHS knows where to find companies that do this type of survey work, it would work with the township to put together a proposal to hire someone.
‘There’s no one in (the OHS) that could complete this?? trustee Matthew Gibb asked.
?’Windshield? sounds like a drive around the township, I know,? Saputo responded. ‘But not exactly. This will take time and professionalism.?
Gibb was worried that by authorizing money to complete the survey, the board might later find it difficult to do anything with the information.
‘I’m concerned there won’t be money to do anything with it,? he said.
Trustees agreed to authorize an amount not to exceed $15,000 to have the survey done, with funds coming from the general fund. They said the survey should exclude any sites located in the village.