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Minutes
September 9, 2008
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Caprice Benoit, Sharon Bures, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater
Others: Al Morken, Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP); Kevin Severson, Red River Valley Community Action; Peg O’Leary

Motion: to approve the minutes of the August 12, 2008 meeting as presented. (Slater, Bures)
Motion carries.

Red River Valley Community Action
807 Chestnut Street, built 1906, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as contributing to the Near Southside Historic District. The owner proposes to use a federally subsidized grant to replace the roof. The current roof is asphalt and would be replaced with a 30 year asphalt architectural style shingle. Interior work is also proposed.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no adverse affect from the proposed work at 807 Chestnut Street. (Benoit, Flemmer)
Motion carries.
1423 5th Avenue North, built 1912 – The owner proposes to use a federally subsidized loan to install seven Marvin combination storm windows to the front porch, install new vinyl double-four siding, metal fascia and soffit, warp all trims in metal and insulate; install 14 new vinyl double hung replacement windows in the existing openings; install new steel exterior doors; and complete various interior work. The house has many charming details including beveled glass windows (which will not be changed out) but is not individually eligible for the Register nor is a Historic District likely in this neighborhood.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected from the proposed work at 1423 5th Ave. N., but to encourage the owner to retain the side lites and top lites on the porch and the eave returns, which give the house much of its character. (Benoit, Slater)
Motion carries.

Police Department Communications Tower – Al Morken
The proposed tower will be new construction at the rear of the Police Department on S. 5th Street. The site is at the edge of both the Downtown and the Near Southside Historic Districts. This placement of the tower makes connectivity problems less likely and provides the best coverage of the area. They propose a 180’ mono pole tower, which will be much less intrusive than a lattice tower with guide wires. Gunderson asked if there are plans to rent space on the tower; Morken said they will not be renting space because they need the space themselves for the variety of antennae used by the different 911 responders and because other signals might interfere with the emergency signals. Gunderson noted that the tower will not be in a historic district, is the least offensive of the possible choices, and that there are no federal funds involved in the project. Flemmer noted that the tower is necessary for safety and he might feel differently about its placement if it were commercial in nature. Jelliff mentioned that there was a water tower on this site until urban renewal in the 1970s. Gunderson stated that the Commission appreciated the update on this project and agreed that the mono pole is the best choice available.

Preserve America Nomination
The Commission submitted a nomination for the Preserve America Award in 2007 and we were told at that time that we should consider resubmitting. The St. Michael’s Hospital has been completed for a year and our nomination would now meet all the criteria. Benoit and O’Leary will check on the deadline and update the nomination for resubmission.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
There was some discussion of an ad in the paper for bids on lots in Walnut Place and spray paint on the street/sidewalk at the corner of 4th and Belmont. O’Leary will check into both.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
UND Nomination Update – O’Leary attended the State Review Board meeting on Aug. 29 at which the nomination was reviewed. Comments from Board members were brief and do not involve any major changes. The nomination was approved based upon staff approval of the final draft.
County Fairgrounds Nomination Update – Steve Martens has the review draft almost ready and the Public Hearing on the nomination will be held at the Sept. 23 meeting of the HPC. It should go before the State Review Board at their October meeting.
Riverside Pool Update – Steve Martens documented the current state of the interior of the Bathhouse. O’Leary showed a slide show of the pictures and presented the EAPC plans for the renovation of the interior and the changes that will be made to the exterior. Exterior changes include removing the cement block addition to the public Men’s Room and removing the exterior stairway to the basement, as well as changing the configuration of the poolside steps and installing a Deco styled railing. Existing windows will be painted and reglazed as necessary; glass block will be repaired. Interior changes include filling the basement and reconfiguring the dressing rooms. (See attached plans.)
City Budget FY09 Update – The HPC budget has not been changed.
CLG Annual Meeting – O’Leary asked how many would be attending the annual meeting in Devils Lake on Sept. 20; Benoit, Flemmer, Slater, Gunderson and Sickels will definitely attend. Several others will check their schedules and get back to O’Leary by Monday, Sept. 15. O’Leary will submit the reservations for everyone.
Donor Forms – Members completed documentation of their donated time for July and August, 2008.

Other Business
Gunderson stated that there has been some damage to the Granitoid riverward of St. Michael’s Hospital. The contractor will be on the agenda at the next meeting to present options for righting the problem.
Iseminger suggested that the Commission go on record as supporting the preservation of Smiley the Water Tower. He felt there is a good deal of support for keeping the tower throughout the community. Gunderson said an unscientific poll on the GF Herald web site is running 53.7% in favor of retaining the tower. Jelliff wondered what the cost was to remove the one that was in East Grand Forks; he also thinks that our tower was probably part of the WPA projects in the city.
Motion: to send a letter expressing the Commission’s support of efforts to preserve the tower. (Iseminger, Jelliff)
Motion carries.

Motion: to adjourn. (Leach, Bures)
Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 8:45 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23, in A101 City Hall.


Respectfully submitted,

signed

Peg O’Leary
Coordinator