Committee Minutes

Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
P. O. Box 13876
Grand Forks, ND 58208-3876
701-772-8756

Tour of Grand Forks Ronald N. Davies Federal Building
6:30 p.m.

Meeting Minutes
June 12, 2007
7:15 p.m.
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Chuck Flemmer, Melinda Leach, Cory Lien, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater, David Vorland
Others: Kevin Severson, Red River Valley Community Action; Peg O’Leary

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m.; a quorum was present.
Motion: to approve the minutes of the May 22, 2007 meeting. (Slater, Sickels)
Motion carries.

Red River Valley Community Action – Kevin Severson
1019 N. 4th St., built 1936 – The owner proposes to use a federally subsidized loan to remove existing slate siding and install insulation and double-four vinyl siding; replace five windows with vinyl double-hung windows; install one egress window in the south side façade; install a pre-hung steel door on the rear entrance with a new storm door; install a new garage door; and perform assorted interior work. Discussion focused on the original siding and windows but it was determined that numerous additions, including an ill-fitting front bay window, a front deck, a new front door, and a dormer had resulted in significant loss of integrity. Slater expressed concern for documenting changes to house the Commission reviews because some changes occur within the period of significance. It was agreed that some of the changes to this home may have occurred more than 50 years ago but they are not sympathetic to the style of the house.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the work proposed at 1019 N. 4th St. (Sickels, Cory)
Motion carries.
Melinda Leach arrived at this time.
1517 13th Ave. S., built 1957 – The owner proposes to use a federally subsidized loan to remove and replace basement window units with vinyl windows; replace twelve main floor (including double-hung and picture style) windows with vinyl windows; install a metal hand rail at the front entry; replace the driveway and sidewalks with new concrete; install new precast concrete steps at the side entrance; and complete various interior work.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the work proposed at 1019 N. 4th St. (Slater, Flemmer)
Discussion: Concern was expressed that the windows should maintain the existing style and size. It was noted that the mid-century housing areas could be detrimentally affected by this type of change just when they are becoming eligible for the National Register.
Motion carries.

UND 125th Anniversary – No report.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
National Trust for Historic Preservation – Gunderson read the response, from Richard Moe, to our letter thanking the National Trust for their help following the 1997 flood.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
Regrant Status
- The Hook and Ladder Company work is completed. O’Leary is holding the check until the necessary pictures of the project are provided. That will complete the contract.
- The Dinnie Apartment Contract is completed and awaiting signatures. Todd Nedberg is coming to the office on June 13 to sign.
Riverside Nomination Revisions – Martens, O’Leary and Ryan plan to have the revisions ready to submit to the National Park Service by about June 22.
Lustron House – The reconstruction continues to go slowly.
Motion: to send a letter to the Office of Urban Development, copying North Dakota State University, expressing concern at the amount of time that has elapsed since the project was begun, at the vulnerability of the house, site and materials, and the inconvenience to the County Historical Society. (Flemmer, Slater)
Motion carries.
Reappointments – The Mayor will be reappointing those members who have chosen to reapply and will appoint Caprice Benoit to the vacant position. These appointments will be on the Committee of the Whole agenda on June 25.
State Preservation Grants – O’Leary reported that the Grand Forks CLG grant has been signed by the Mayor and returned to the state. The notice of the state-wide preservation grants is expected to go out in the mail next week to all National Register listed property owners.
Donated Time Reports – Members completed time reports for March - May, 2007.
Alexander Griggs Award – O’Leary read notes received in the office regarding the award to Curt Siewert. Walt Bailey, Fred Schneider, John O’Leary, Sherrie Lequire, and Rolene Schliesman all expressed appreciation for Curt and his efforts on behalf of preservation and agreed that the award was appropriate.
HPC Letterhead – It’s time to order letterhead; if we want to make a change now is the time to do it. The current letterhead features a Queen Anne style house and name of the Commission. Since we are incorporating the Griggs statue into the web site, do we want to make a corresponding change on the letterhead? Members asked O’Leary to work out a couple samples and bring back for review.
Flood Anniversary – The Mayor send a letter thanking O’Leary for her work on the flood plaques.
Mayor’s Urban Neighborhood Initiative (MUNI) – O’Leary said she attended the Saturday meeting at Wilder School to discuss the initiative and she passed out copies of the handout. The initiative could result in many more projects coming through HPC for review.
National Preservation Conference, St. Paul, Oct. 2 - 6, 2007 – O’Leary passed out copies of the preliminary program for the conference and noted that there is $997.69 remaining in the FY06 travel budget. This must be expended prior to Sept. 30 but could be used to pre-pay registration and/or lodging expenses for attendees at the conference. The early bird deadline (for $225 registration fee) is July 31. Members were asked to review their schedules to see who would like to go and to think about how the funding could be used to help.
Roger Foster, Transportation Superintendent, City of Grand Forks – There is a retirement party for Foster on June 28th. It was noted that Foster has been instrumental in documenting the history of local transportation through plaques and other material. Members wished him well.
UND Nomination – The RFP went out on June 8th and O’Leary has already received one query, so there is interest.

Meeting adjourned. 8:45 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 10, 2007, room A101, City Hall.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator