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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.
December 14, 2004
Grand Forks County Courthouse

Present: Marsha Gunderson (Chair), Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Rolf Ottum, Ken Polovitz, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater
Others: Rebecca Absey, Clerk of District Court; Peg O’Leary

Motion: to approve the minutes of the November 23, 2004 meeting as distributed. (Polovitz, Slater)
Motion carries.

Grand Forks County Courthouse Tour – Rebecca Absey
Commission members toured the remodeled portions of the Courthouse. Absey provided an overview of the work that went into the project and pointed out the attributes of the new work areas. She also described the efforts to maintain the look and feel of the original building. The Commission thanked her for her particular efforts in the remodeling and for providing members with a tour of the finished product.
Melinda Leach left at this time.
Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
  Downtown Design and Review Board (DDRB) – CVIC has reworked the building signage they brought to HPC last spring. They have changed the colors and are using a product called “Illuma Board” instead of plywood for the front sign. They will not be putting a sign on the side of the building. DDRB approved the reworked signs. CVIC does not have to return to HPC because they are no longer using federal funds for the project.
  Raw Water Intake Building, Minnesota and 4th Ave. South – Concern, by some Commission members and by a neighbor, has been expressed over the intense blue backlights in the large round windows of the building. The minutes do not indicate that the Commission was informed of the blue lights during the review process. O’Leary was directed to contact Todd Feland, Director of Public Works, about the incompatibility of these lights in a historic residential neighborhood.
  Fallout Protection Brochure – Ottum has donated a Fallout Protection brochure, which was issued by the DOD, Office of Civil Defense in 1967. It will be used in the Lustron House.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
  2005 Meeting Schedule – The attached meeting schedule was approved.
  CLG Grant – The University has not decided if it can support the nomination of its historic core to the National Register of Historic Places. O’Leary is continuing to respond to questions; concerns appear to be largely budgetary.
  County Historical Society Project – Leah Byzewski, CHS Director, is planning a writing project which will draw on the childhoods of various local people. Lois Benner has agreed to be the first subject. The project will highlight Grand Forks at various stages of its development through the eyes of a child. Members thought the project sounded interesting and agreed that O’Leary could spend some time assisting with research.
  Campbell House Archaeological Report – The final report has been delivered. It’s available at the office if anyone would like to look it over.
  Eau Claire Landmarks – Lonny Winrich has donated a booklet that illustrates various historic buildings and neighborhoods in Eau Claire, WI. It’s very nicely laid out and would make a good format for a Grand Forks based booklet.

Other Business
  Save America’s Treasures – Iseminger said that a Univ. of South Dakota building, the Old Armory/Women’s Gym, has received funding through the Save America’s Treasures Program of the National Park Service. He wondered if any UND buildings would qualify for the program. It was noted that a sub-committee is looking at a nomination of Babcock, which is significant for its association with the Cable Pottery and lignite coal research. There was some discussion of whether Montgomery would qualify; Sickels thought the interior “stacking” architecture might be significant.

Motion: to adjourn. (Polovitz, Slater)
Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 9:00 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 11, 2005 in City Hall room A101.


Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator