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3. HPM 12-15-2011Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Elk River Ciry Hall December 15, 2011 MINUTES OF THE ELK RIVER HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, December 15, 2011 HPC Members present: Chair Lance Lindberg, Debra Mortensen, and Mark Konietzko, Joshua Fox HPC Members absent: Stephen Rohlf Staff Present: Environmental Administrator, Rebecca Haug Environmental Technician, Nicki Blake-Bradley Others Present: Michael Brubaker, Sherburne History Center 1) Meeting called to Order• Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Lindberg. 21 Consider December 15, 2011 HPC Agenda• MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA BY COMMISSIONER MORTENSEN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER FOX. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. 3) Consider October 20, 2011 HPC Minutes• MOTION TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 20, 2011 MINUTES BY COMMISSIONER MORTENSEN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER FOX. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. 4) Welcome new HPC Commissioner - Toshua Fox The newest commissioner, Joshua Fox was introduced and welcomed by the Commission. 5 Planning Commission Items Ms. Haug stated there are no Planning Commission items at this time that would affect the Heritage Preservation Commission. Great River Energy is moving their new processing plant (the "old" Resource Recovery Technologies, refuse derived fuel plant) under the existing Conditional Use Permit and license. Ms. Haug explained the archaeological model and procedure to Commissioner Fox. 6) 716 & 720 Main Street update Ms. Haug asked Ms. Deckert to attend to be able to answer any questions about the buildings. Ms. Deckert discussed the memo in the packet and stated that Veit has the contract. Asbestos in the buildings will be removed prior to being demolished between January 3`d - 9`" The site will be backfilled. Ms. Deckert stated that there are two separate walls for 716 and the meat market. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Elk River City Hall December 15, ?011 7) Downtown Task Force Update Chair Lindberg gave history on the Downtown Task Force to Commissioner Fox. He stated that the original plan called for taking out older homes along Jackson Avenue to make new businesses. The Task Force was put on "hold" until the Hwy 10 plan could be completed by MNDOT. Ms. Deckert stated that the City helped MNDOT finish the plan so that it would be done in a more timely fashion. The Task Force has been re-started and is being led by Jeremy Barnhart, Planning Manager for the City. The City Council added several more members so the task force is now at 18 people. They will be convening in January and hope to be done with the plan by July. Chair Lindberg sits on the Task Force as a representative for the HPC. He commented that the initial meeting had four Housing and Redevelopment Association (HRA) members in attendance without having been published as a meeting so two members had to leave. Discussion within the task force has been centered upon Hwy 10, the future of the road and resale values based upon the changes to come. The 2007 plan had a continuation of the bluff block with multiple story buildings having commercial business space on the bottom. Ms. Haug questioned whether it would be beneficial to have Michael Koop or Bonnie McDonald from the State Historic Preservation Office come and talk to the task force about preservation since there will be new: members who haven't heard about preservation before. Chair Lindberg questions whether four meetings will be enough to get all the work done. There is one meeting per month that lasts two hours. Ms. Deckert acknowledged that the time line was before new members were added so things could change. 8) Oral History Update Commissioner Mortensen is working on transcribing the tapes that she has. She hasn't heard back from Pat Dwyer yet. She talked with Leroy Toth about an interview. She planned to call him back and tried but hasn't been able to make contact yet. Ms. Haug sent an updated job description to Charlotte Strye and offered Michael Brubaker as a teacher for new interviewers. Other names discussed included Brad Rohlf, Phil Hals, Arne Engstrom, and Denny Anderson. Discussion followed regarding getting testimonials on videotape as well as interviewing details. Mr. Brubaker commented that he prefers using both digital and tape recorders. Purchasing digital equipment through a CLG (certified local government) grant was considered, and may be set up if possible. 9 Other Bailey Point: Ms. Haug informed the commission that there is an extremely high probability of a historic site on the property. Public archaeological digs may be possible once again on this property. As a passive use park, there will be a trail that may have historic signs because the area has significant historical value with regard to Elk River's early days. Dr. Richard Rothaus will be doing a "walk through" soon and will provide a report to the City Council. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Elk River City Hall December 15, 2011 Water Tower: New information delivered to Ms. Haug shows that the City owns the Jackson Street Water Tower, not the Utilities Commission. The paperwork is all in now for the nomination to the National Register, so we'xe just waiting to hear the decision. Commissioner Fox commented that he attended a student forum regarding the 10 most endangered sites in Minnesota and there was a presentation done by a young man concerning the Jackson Street Water Tower. It was interesting and Commissioner Fox stated that the plans are available via the Internet if anyone is interested in viewing them. 10) Adjournment The next meeting is scheduled to be held on January 19th at 6:00 p.m. in the Uppertown Conference Room at City Hall. Items for the agenda include elections, Planning Commission, the Downtown Task Force, Oral Histories, and Bailey Point. The meeting was adjourned by Chair Lindberg at 7:04 p.m Minutes prepared by Nicki Blake-Bradley Tina Allard City Clerk Lance Lindberg Heritage Preservation Commission Chair