Finance Committee and staff recommend that the Board of Supervisors accept the attached budget adjustment and appropriation of the FY 2018 Virginia Circuit Court Records Preservation Grant Award.

In June 2017, the Clerk of the Circuit Court submitted a grant application under the Virginia Circuit Court Records Preservation Program.  The application requested state funds to hire a consultant to provide conservation treatment of four Deed Books.  This project will provide for future protection of the original records.  Images are already digitally accessible to the public from the Land Records System. The public can view and print images from this system. All of the original hardcopy items have been pulled from public accessibility due to deteriorating conditions.

On August 25, 2017, the Clerk of the Circuit Court received notification of the grant award in the amount of $9,157 for conservation treatment of three Deed Books from the 19^th century.  The Deed Books are as follows:  Deed Book AB, 1888; Deed Book AD, 1891; and Deed Book AF, 1892-1895.  The Clerk accepted the award on September 6, 2017.  There is no local match requirement and no ongoing costs associated with the award.  Grant funds are available for a two year period. 

Christy Jett, Clerk of the Circuit Court;Annette D’Alessandro, Grants Manager                                

If the grant funds are not appropriated, then the Clerk of the Circuit Court will forego the opportunity to secure state funding to conserve three historical deed books.