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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.
November 23, 2004
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson (Chair), Dave Beach, Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Randy Lee, Ken Polovitz, Sandy Slater
Others: Curt Siewert (Office of Urban Development), Peg O’Leary

Motion: to approve the minutes of the October 26, 2004 meeting as distributed. (Polovitz, Slater)
Motion carries.
Motion: to approve the minutes of the November 9, 2004 meeting as distributed. (Lee, Jelliff)
Motion carries.

1119 Almonte
The current owners of this covenanted home would like to place a second light on the front of the house to balance the current porch light. Members present on Nov. 9 agreed that this would be appropriate on the home, since it is very symmetrical in style.
Motion: to approve installation of second porch light on the front of the home at 1119 Almonte. (Jelliff, Polovitz)
Motion carries.

107 Conklin (built in 1915) – Curt Siewert
Innerface Inc. STEP Program is planning to acquire and rehabilitate this house using federal funds. They want to paint the exterior, install an egress window in the SE corner (facing driveway), and make several changes to the interior of the house. The house has color-lock Masonite replacement siding. Members present on Nov. 9 agreed that the proposed changes would not affect the historic integrity of the property. Polovitz wondered if the fake stone would be removed; Siewert said it would not.
Motion: to concur that the work described at 107 Conklin would not affect any historic properties. (Leach, Jelliff)
Motion carries.

1504 Oak Street (built in 1949) – Curt Siewert
Easter Seals-Goodwill North Dakota is rehabbing this house. They will finish the basement, update plumbing, update electrical, replace kitchen cabinets, replace bathroom fixtures, patch and paint walls and ceilings, refinish hardwood floors, and put new vinyl in the kitchen and bathroom. No exterior work is planned.
Motion: to concur that the work described at 1504 Oak Street will not adversely affect this historic property. (Polovitz, Slater)
Motion carries.



309 N. 7th St. – Curt Siewert
Siewert said he has not received further plans from the contractor. He will bring this project back when he has more information.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
  622 6th Ave. S. – RRVCA reported that the chimney is failing on this property, which is currently being rehabilitated, and they will rebuild the chimney exactly as it was.
Motion: to concur that rebuilding the chimney in its original configuration will have no adverse effect on this historic property. (Slater, Polovitz)
Motion carries.
  History Conference Report – Gunderson reported on the awards given at the conference and noted that Grand Forks was recognized for the listings of the Grand Forks Mercantile Building 1898 and of the Near Southside Historic District.
  December 14, 2004 – GFHPC will meet at the Grand Forks County Courthouse. A tour of the building will be followed by our regular meeting. This will be the only HPC meeting in December.
  April 29-May 1, 2005 – Annual CLG/PND meeting to be held in Fargo.
  Nov. 11-12, 2005 – Annual North Dakota History Conference to be held in Bismarck. Gunderson noted that this date may change since it coincides with Veteran’s Day.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
  Near Northside Survey Update – We received no responses to our RFP. A meeting with ND State Historical Society staff Amy Rouleau (Grants Administrator), Mary Kate Ryan (Architectural Historian), and Fern Swenson (Director) resulted in their strong recommendation that we use the funds to pursue the nomination of the UND historic campus. O’Leary read portions of a letter to Rick Tonder, Associate Director of Facilities and Planning at UND, about this possibility and will provide members with an email copy of the letter.
  NDDOT
  University Avenue north to Gateway on 20th Street – A mill and overlay project in conjunction with installation of handicap ramps on sidewalks. O’Leary reported driving the street and seeing nothing that would be disturbed by the project as described. All work is to be within the existing road right of way. It was noted that Judy’s Bar is along this route; Judy’s was named for its first owner, Judy Ruddy; he was also a boxer and boxing promoter from Grand Forks.
Motion: to concur that no historic properties will be affected by the project as described. (Jelliff, Polovitz)
Motion carries.
  DeMers and 42nd Street intersection reconstruction – This project would include a railway grade separation structure and improvements to the I-29 ramps. Additional right of way will be required. The NDDOT is requiring a Class III Cultural Resources Inventory for this project. Members agreed with the need for the survey; HPC will receive a draft for review.
  Cell Towers – The State has notified us that five cell towers are proposed for the following addresses within the Grand Forks city limits: 3501 DeMers Ave. (a monopole disguised as a flagpole), 312 9th Ave. N. (collocated on the KTHI tower), 2300 Oak St. (collocated on the water tower), 2204 DeMers Ave. (collocated on the tower at the recycling plant), 4000 32nd Ave. S. (collocated on a Nodak REA tower). O’Leary was asked to find out if UND approved the flagpole/monopole on their Ray Richards property and if it is known what flags will fly. Members agreed that none of these locations pose an adverse effect but general concern was expressed about the proliferation of towers in the community.
  Local History Workshop – O’Leary attended the Friday workshop at the History Conference, which covered ‘doing’ local history. A list of suggested readings and a synopsis of ideas for involving the public in local history projects was provided for the members.

Other Business
  Historic Building Report – Gunderson said that Steve Martens, NDSU Architecture Dept., and his students worked on an evaluation of Valley City historic buildings. They compiled information on about 30 downtown buildings, including historic and contemporary pictures and uses and made recommendations about possible historic rehabilitation. Martens said 15 students working 15 hours a week took 18 weeks to complete the project. Gunderson had a copy of the report available.
  Frances Kannowski – Gunderson noted the passing of Frances Kannowski at 106 years of age. Mrs. Kannowski was the first woman to lead a municipal parks program in the United States and was a dedicated community leader and activist all her life. She was an early recipient of the Griggs Award.

Motion: to adjourn. (Polovitz)
Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 8:00 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 14, 2004, in the
Grand Forks County Courthouse.


Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator