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Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756
Minutes
7:00 p.m.
October 26, 2004
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson (Chair), Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Randy Lee, Rolf Ottum, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater
Others: Mike Yavarow (GF Engineering Dept.), Peg O’Leary

Motion: to approve the minutes of September 28, 2004, correcting the spelling of HOME (not HOM) funds in two references on page 2. (Slater, Lee)
Motion carries.

Granitoid Pavement – Mike Yavarow
Yavarow reported that a decorative bronze name plate has been salvaged from an area of Granitoid on Lewis Boulevard. The plaque (see attached picture) is embedded in an 18 square inch section of Granitoid, which currently is housed in Al Grasser’s office. Yavarow suggested that the plaque might be used at the Granitoid interpretive area just south of St. Michael’s Hospital and Nurses’ Residence along existing Granitoid that will remain intact on the wet side of the flood wall. There was general discussion about this area versus a possible interpretive area in the United Lutheran Church area. It was decided that both would be appropriate if funding is ever available for the south side area.
Motion: to agree in principal to the placement of the Granitoid plaque at the interpretive area near St. Michael’s Hospital on Lewis Boulevard and to work out the details with Engineering and the Corps of Engineers. (Jelliff, Lee)
Motion carries.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
  Sorlie Bridge Lighting Project – While O’Leary was on vacation, Gunderson received and reviewed the architectural drawings for the proposed lighting of the Sorlie Bridge. She and Vice Chair Slater determined that the plan addressed HPC’s concerns regarding unnecessary lights and Gunderson signed off on the plan. She read her memo to Merl Paaverud, State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). (See attached.)
Motion: to ratify the action taken on October 20, 2004, by the Chair and Vice Chair regarding the lighting project on the Sorlie Bridge. (Lee, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
  S.S. Titus House, 75 4th Ave. S. – Gunderson read a letter from the current owner, Garry Pearson, thanking the Commission for its efforts on behalf of the house during the dike alignment process and in the nomination of the Near Southside Neighborhood.
  16th Annual Governor’s Conference on North Dakota History – The conference will be held in Bismarck at the Heritage Center on November 12 and 13. Everyone is invited. Gunderson and O’Leary will be attending.



Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
  NPRR Bridge Interpretive Plaques – O’Leary displayed the proofs and invited comment. This is the second round of proofs and there will be at least one more round.
  Central Business District Nomination Update – Ann Emmons, consultant, is responding to the state’s comments.
  Near Southside Historic District Plaques – O’Leary distributed a proof of the plaque. Corrections will be made and resubmitted to the foundry. The plaques are funded through Beautification funds and the uncommitted portion of the $5,000 Urban Development allocated to the Downtown Historic District Nomination.
Motion: to approve payment of the 50% deposit for the plaques ($2,092). (Sickels, Slater)
Motion carries.
Ottum suggested we should check into the cost of plaques if, in the future, we went through a mortuary instead of the specialized foundries.
  Near Southside Historic District Inquiries – Owners of register properties in the neighborhood have received letters from the SHPO apprising them of this fact and several have contacted our office for more information on their houses and about placing plaques on the homes. We have determined that we will compile a list of companies that sell plaques and make this available to homeowners. Regarding particular homes, 620 Reeves and 912 Almonte owners have requested histories and old photos of the houses. O’Leary has provided the histories from the survey and asked members if they are aware of any old pictures of the houses.
  55th Ave. S. DOT Project – A copy of the Class III Cultural Resource Inventory Report, sent to the office, substantially reiterates Leach’s on-site evaluation. The area is not considered to contain significant information relevant to any current scientific investigation. A stop-work order is in place should workers find unanticipated material.
  Indiana Lustron House – O’Leary read parts a letter from a woman in Indiana who is taking apart and rebuilding a Lustron house. She was very grateful for the information we were able to provide.
  Restore America – O’Leary noted that, on Oct. 24th, HGTV’s Restore America featured a segment on “the Grand Forks Historical Preservation Commission rescues downtown buildings in the North Dakota town after the devastating flood of 1997.”

Other Business
  Grain Elevators – Ottum noted that the current issue of Horizons features a story on the state’s grain elevators. This was a topic at the May CLG conference.
  Almonte Development – There was general discussion about the size of the homes that are being built on the site of the former Almonte Nursing Home.

Motion: to adjourn. (Flemmer, Ottum)
Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 8:30 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, November 9, 2004, at 7p.m., in room A101, City Hall.


Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator