Committee Minutes

Meeting
July 14, 2009
7:00 p.m.
City Hall A101

Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Sharon Bures, Chuck Flemmer, Ted Jelliff, Cory Lien

Others: Kevin Severson, Red River Valley Community Action; Perry Marto, GF School District; Susan Quinnell, State Historic Preservation Office; Peg O’Leary

Red River Valley Community Action – Kevin Severson
616 N 7th St., built 1900 – The owner proposes to use a federally funded loan to install double-four vinyl siding, vinyl double-hung windows, wrap all fascia, soffit and trim in metal and insulate. Gunderson noted that the house is not individually eligible for the National Register nor is it in a neighborhood that is likely to become a Historic District. Consensus of those present: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the proposed work at 616 N. 7th Street. However, it was noted that this project is well under way and Severson was asked to be sure that funding a partially completed project falls within the funding guidelines.

Central High School – Perry Marto
Marto and O’Leary reported on the tour of Central, on which they were accompanied by Susan Quinnell of the State Historic Preservation Office. The windows that date to 1917 are clearly in need of replacement; other classroom windows (not original to the building) will be upgraded in both appearance and efficiency by replacement. Marto noted that it is the intention of the School District to replicate the style of the historic windows exactly. O’Leary questioned whether the interior of the historic windows could be wood instead of a metal, since they are keeping the original oak moldings. Marto will cost out that option. Quinnell asked of the muntins could be salvaged; Marto said they would certainly keep pieces to enable them to faithfully replicate the existing windows but he believed most of the material would be too brittle and/or rotten for salvage.

Members determined that the School District should go ahead with the project; final material selection will be reviewed when the final specs are available for review and mitigation will be formalized at that time. It is anticipated that mitigation will reflect that the loss of the historic windows is mitigated by the reintroduction of historic appearing windows throughout the classrooms and the replication of the size and style of the historic windows.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
Chautauqua – Gunderson reported that the 2009 Everett Albers Chautauqua, “Lincoln, Land, and Liberty,” will be in Grand Forks on July 24, 25, and 26. Evening events will be at the Empire Arts Center. There is no charge for admission.
Downtown Design and Review Board – A recent meeting approved signage for an attorney’s office at 317 Kittson and freestanding signage for 405 Bruce Avenue (the old Ecolab building).
Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
Salvage Release Dates – O’Leary asked that salvage release dates be established for a time when members could commit to helping with the distribution. She noted that the garage is packed tightly. Flemmer stated that the lot on which the garage stands will be up for infill within the year and we need to clear out the garage. Members decided to distribute salvage on the evenings of August 5 and 6, 2009. O’Leary will send out preliminary notices.
FY09 Nomination Projects – The state still has not received its federal funding so we have not been able to release the contracts for our ’09 projects.
HPC Appointments – O’Leary said she believed the names of Gunderson, Jelliff, Lien, and Sickels had been forwarded to the Committee of the Whole along with new appointees: Judy Swisher and Sylvia Kloster. Final confirmation should take place at Council on July 20.
NTHP Award – The St. Michael’s Hospital project nomination was not a winner.
Downtown Plaques/Stands – Four more commemorative plaques remain to be placed in the downtown: 205 DeMers, 215 S. 3rd St. (Red River Valley Brick), 317 S. 3rd St. (a boomtown known as Yesteryears Antiques), and 309-311 S. 3rd St. (Viets Hotel). Placement of these plaques was held up for the completion of the dike. The plan was to mount them on the stands and place them next to the sidewalk at the locations of the various buildings. Engineering is questioning whether this placement of the S. 3rd Street plaques is too close to the dike. Also, the recent attempt to steal the Clifford Annex plaque, which is prominently placed on DeMers Avenue, raises the issue of whether the new plaques, in a much less busy area of downtown, would be more vulnerable to theft or vandalism. O’Leary suggested placing the 205 DeMers plaque on the planter wall of Town Square. She also reported that Meredith Richards has said the plaques would be a welcome addition to Loon Park (10s block, S. 3rd Street) in place of the current tile plaques that have not worn well. At only a 25’ frontage, this lot is unlikely ever to be redeveloped. O’Leary also pointed out that the existing plaque stands are rusty and unattractive; if they are to be used for these new plaques, we don’t want to end up with the same problem in a year or two. One of the rusty stands will be hauled to Rolf Ottum’s and he is going to try various ways of dealing with the rust. Richards also approved moving the Clifford Annex and Electric Construction plaques from stands to wall mounting on the Corporate Center, provided placement is agreed to by the primary tennants. Members were of differing opinions about the Loon Park location and the decision was postponed to the next meeting.
Fairgrounds Plaque – O’Leary reported that approximately $700 remains in the nomination budget for the GF County Fairgrounds WPA Structures. She has called Amy Munson, the state grants administrator, to ask if it would be appropriate to use that money for a plaque indentifying the property as being listed on the NRHP; Munson agreed that this would be an appropriate use of the funds. Commissioners agreed. Flemmer asked about doing a more informational plaque, similar to those along the Greenway. O’Leary said the funds have to be expended by Sept. 30, 2009, and the bronze plaque would be easier to get done in that time. It might be possible to do both, using other money for the info plaque. Consensus: to go ahead with the bronze plaque at this time.
Stockpiling of Levee Removal Clay – Quinnell has forwarded a request from the Corps of Engineers for Section 106 Review of the proposed ramp to the dike that is to be placed approximately 300’ north of the pump station at Belmont and 15th Ave. S. Members noted that it is within the viewscape of the Near Southside Historic District. Consensus: members are not in favor of placing a ramp along Belmont and near the district; however, if the ramp is grassed over it will be less objectionable than if it is gravel as are other ramps to the dike.
Office Chair – members present noted that the Chair is authorized to approve purchase of a new office chair in the amount of $454.50. The commission has previously approved the purchase of a new chair in concept.
Other Business
Historic Tree – Gunderson noted that the most historic tree in Grand Forks had been felled over the weekend. According to Gunderson, former commissioner Art Raymond had often stated that the tree, located riverward of homes in the 500 block of Belmont and already tall by the mid-1800s, served to guide native tribes to the fork of the rivers many years before any community was established here. The cottonwood tree was 29’ in circumference and, based on the rings, more than 200 years old. It was necessary to remove the tree for public safety due to internal rot.

Meeting adjourned. 8:45 p.m.

The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 11, 2009, room A101, City Hall.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator