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Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756
Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2007
7:00 p.m.
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Gordon Iseminger, Melinda Leach, Cory Lien,
Gerad Paul, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater, Dave Vorland
Others: Peg O’Leary
Motion: to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2007 meeting. (Paul, Lien)
Motion carries.

Certified Local Government Grant Request FY07
O’Leary presented a final draft of the proposed CLG grant request for FY07 (attached). She indicated that the document is a work in progress, missing p. 10 and subject to polishing. Commissioners reviewed the line items and approved the adjustment from the meeting of Jan. 23: to request funding only for admin/travel and the UND nomination. In the interim, O’Leary has confirmed that the University will not oppose the nomination.

Line items in the operational budget are based on actual expenditures of the previous year. The $15,000 request for the UND nomination is based on conversations with potential consultants regarding a realistic price for the work and on our experience with previous district nominations.
Motion: to approve the CLG grant request of $34,188 for administration, travel and the UND nomination. (Leach, Slater)
Motion carries unanimously.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
  Army Corps of Engineers Annual Report – Gunderson read portions of the report giving the status of remaining projects: Campbell House (completed), St. Michael’s Hospital and Nurses’ Residence (final stages of flood wall and reconstruction of entries), and interpretive panels for the Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge (finally going up in the summer of 2007).

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
  Lustron House – In response to a query from Sickels, O’Leary stated that no work is being completed at this time. She believed that the materials on site have been secured in Historical Society buildings.
  NAPC’s Code of Ethics for Commissioners and Staff – O’Leary distributed copies of the code being developed by the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. She invited comments and would forward them to the NAPC.
  Flood Anniversary Plaques – The mayor’s office has asked for help with the bronze flood anniversary plaques that are supposed to be ready by mid April, 2007. O’Leary has agreed to do what she can to make that happen and is working with Meredith Richards on wording. Discussion involved who is being thanked and where the plaques would go.
Other Business
  Phoenix Historic Districts – Vorland noted that he has recently been in Phoenix and there is much discussion about developers who are trying to redevelop historic neighborhoods; the scrape-off phenomenon.
  County Correctional Building – Gunderson noted that an architect for the county has contacted HPC about the possibility of replacing existing glass block and deteriorated main level windows with reflective glass paned windows. The glass would be dark, similar to that in the Ina Mae Rude Center on campus, and, he thinks, contrast nicely with the more modern edifice of the correctional facility. The glass would provide some climate control for the current and prospective occupants of the building. There is no federal funding involved. No decision is required at this time. Lien noted that the windows look terrible now. Gunderson asked that commissioners take a look at the building.
  New York Times Article – Slater distributed copies of an article about the New York Preservation Commission and its workings.
  Fargo Heritage Discovery Walk – Sickels provided a copy of the Fargo pamphlet on their historic downtown.
  Historic Building Tours – Lien asked if tours of the Federal Building and the County Courthouse could be arranged. O’Leary will try to set up a tour of the Federal Building, and it was suggested we might meet in the County Courthouse again.
  Flood Wall – Iseminger asked about the coloration of the wall at St. Michael’s Hospital. O’Leary said it would be stained to match the building.

Motion: to adjourn. (Sickels, Slater)
Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 8:30 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, in room A101, City Hall.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator