Committee Minutes

Meeting Minutes
Jan. 13, 2009
7:00 p.m.
City Hall A101

Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Caprice Benoit, Sharon Bures, Gordon Iseminger,
Melinda Leach, Cory Lien, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater
Others: Peg O’Leary

Gunderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.; a quorum was present.

Motion: to approve the minutes of the Dec. 9, 2008, meeting as presented.
(Slater, Sickels)
Motion carries.

FY09 CLG Budget Discussion
The CLG budget deadline is Feb. 13, 2009. O’Leary distributed copies of the FY08 approved budget (see attached) and asked the commissioners to identify projects for which funding should be requested in 2009. She noted projects which have been previously discussed: nomination of the Kegs Drive-in, nomination of 1302 Belmont Road, survey/nomination of the Williams Brothers Pipeline building at 3830 Gateway Drive. Gunderson suggested the stonework in Calvary and Memorial Park Cemeteries, the synagogue at 601 Cottonwood with Montefiore Cemetery, and a Grand Forks WPA thematic nomination for discussion. Members noted that the Kegs has been surveyed and good research is readily available. 1302 Belmont has also been surveyed because of its highly unusual architectural style; the owners would need to be contacted to see if they are receptive to the nomination of their home. Some research has been completed on the synagogue; Iseminger will talk to the researcher about the status of that work. Cemeteries are not typically eligible for the National Register of Historic Places but there are extenuating circumstances; O’Leary will look into the possibilities. O’Leary requested that the projects be prioritized to help her with budget preparation.
Motion: that the Synagogue, 1302 Belmont Road, and the Kegs be nominated in that order, funding being available. (Benoit, Slater)
Discussion: Slater suggested it would be helpful in prioritizing to have approximate costs available and also to know if individual owners would be open to having properties nominated. O’Leary agreed to research costs and contact the private owners.
Motion withdrawn. (Benoit, Slater)
O’Leary will also find out if the West Fargo pipeline building, which is virtually identical to ours, is listed on the Register.

Library Building Committee Update – Caprice Benoit
Benoit reported that the committee met Thursday, 1/8/09, and established sub-committees. She is on the sub-committee to define attributes required for a consultant. The consultant RFP will go out in February and proposals will be due in March. Benoit urged commissioners to send comments to the library regarding their concerns and suggestions. Gunderson added that anyone who hasn’t been to the library recently should stop by and see the situation first-hand. The City has appropriated $35,000 for the consultant. General discussion ensued regarding the amount and the duties of a consultant.

National Trust for Historic Preservation Award Nomination – Caprice Benoit
The NTHP recognizes several preservation projects at its annual conference. Benoit suggested that the St. Michael’s Hospital and Nurses Residence flood wall project seemed a good fit for one of these awards. The “National Trust/ACHP Award for Federal Partnerships in Historic Preservation” seemed the most appropriate category. O’Leary will visit with the SHPO and she and Benoit will work on the nomination.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
Meeting Time – Gunderson noted that HPC is the only GF standing committee or commission that continues to meet in the evening; others have all moved to a late afternoon time. She said she was not recommending a change, only bringing it to the attention of the members in case they wished to address it. Members decided to make no change at this time but to keep the possibility open. An earlier time, say 5:30 p.m., would work better for at least one member but would be difficult for at least one other; several members were ambivalent. Members not present also need to be canvassed. A 6:30 p.m. starting time was also suggested.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
UND Nomination – O’Leary has received notice from Lorna Meidinger, SHSND architectural historian, that the Park Service will be returning the nomination “for additional information about the boundaries and certain resources.” This action jeopardizes our goal of announcing the listing at the Founders’ Day banquet in February.
Donor Forms – O’Leary provided forms to be signed for time donated in Nov./Dec., 2008.

Other Business
Gunderson said there will be an article on “prairie cathedrals” (grain elevators) in the next issue of American Profile magazine in the Grand Forks Herald.


Meeting adjourned. 8:30 p.m.

The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 27, 2009, room A101, City Hall.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator