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historic preservation

 

Historic Preservation Commissions

Historic preservation commissions (HPCs) are one way many local governments organize preservation efforts. Preservation commissions are volunteer boards of local residents with interest and experience in historic preservation. HPCs from larger communities usually have a staff member who is a city planning or finance office employee and devotes at least part of their time to the commission. Eighteen South Dakota HPCs participate in the Certified Local Government (CLG) program.

The role of the CLGs in the federal-state-local preservation partnership includes responsibility for review and approval of nominations of the National Register of Historic Places. They are also eligible to apply to the state historic preservation office (SHPO) for funds earmarked for CLGs. The CLG Program is designed to promote the identification, documentation, and preservation of prehistoric and historic sites, structures, objects, buildings, and historic districts by expanded local involvement in historic preservation. The National Historic Preservation Act includes provisions for the SHPO and the Secretary of the Interior to certify local governments to participate in the partnership.

The South Dakota SHPO has compiled a two handbooks for local preservation groups. The first, Local Preservation Handbook, introduces HPC members, local government staff and officials, and other interested parties to the field of historic preservation. Because most of South Dakota's HPCs are also CLGS, the handbook contains information on the CLG program and its annual grants. The second, Certified Local Government Procedures, was produced to outline how the CLG Program is implemented.