4.7. SR 02-06-2017
Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 4.7
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Consent February 6, 2017 BrieAnna Simon, Planner
Item Description Reviewed by
Heritage Preservation Commission Annual Report Zack Carlton, Planning Manager
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Receive, by motion, the 2016 Annual Report of the Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission.
Background/Discussion
The annual report of the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) summarizes activities from the
previous fiscal year and outlines goals for the next. The report is required by Minnesota statute, filed with
the State Historic Preservation Office, and required for maintaining Certified Local Government status.
The HPC reviewed the annual report during their January 19, 2017, meeting.
During the 2016 fiscal year, the HPC worked to increase public awareness of the Jackson Street Water
Tower and completed a Conditions Assessment Report which evaluated the current condition of the
structure. The report was the first step in the restoration process and will guide future efforts. The HPC
continues to work on an Elk River historic walking tour, and will include the tour on the city’s website.
Members also attended the Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference in Hastings, MN.
For 2017, the HPC will continue to focus on the restoration of the Jackson Street Water Tower. This will
include additional grant opportunities to assist with the process. Commissioners will work with local
residents and conduct oral histories. The Commission is discussing expanding this program to encourage
additional members of the community to not only be interviewed, but interview other residents. The
HPC will work with the Elk River Community Education and Parks and Recreation Department to
coordinate educational opportunities into their programs when possible.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
2016 HPC Annual Report
Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission
Annual Report
(October 1, 2015–September 30, 2016)
The following is the annual report of the Elk River Heritage Preservation
Commission (HPC) for October 1, 2015–September 30, 2016. The report was
prepared according to the guidelines outlined in ‘Procedures for Applying for
and Maintaining Certified Local Government Status (CLG).’The Minnesota
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) administers CLG status for the
National Park Service in Minnesota.An annual report is arequirement to
maintain CLG status.
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City of Elk River
Certified Local Government
2016 Annual Report
Background
The Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) is a Certified Local Government (CLG)
for the purposes of expanding local involvement and participation in historic preservation issues.
The CLG program is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). A requirement
of the CLG program is submission of an annual report to SHPO documenting the activities of the
HPC for the previous Federal fiscal year, which runs October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2016.
The HPC consists of five Elk River residents appointed by the City Council. Each serve three-year
terms beginning on the first day of March. The HPC shall include, if available, a member of the
Sherburne County Historical Society.
Exhibits:
A. HPC Members
B. Annual HPC Certified Local Government Assurances Form
C. Draft Historic Walking Tour Brochure
Analysis
The HPC held four regular meetings during the reporting period. All meetings were posted as public
meetings and conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Minnesota Open Meeting Law
(Minnesota Statues 471.705). Minutes of each meeting are recordedandfiled at City Hall and can be
viewed on the city website.
2016Projects
Ongoing Review of Development Proposals
The HPC reviewsdevelopment proposal s using archaeological modeling. Between October 1, 2015
–September 30, 2016, there were no development proposals deemed to be a threat to historical sites
or historical information.
Jackson Street Water Tower
The Jackson Street Water Tower (circa 1920) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2012. Since that time, the HPC has worked to increase public awareness of this historical
structure with a 3D model and printed materials of the tower’s history at schools, environmental
workshops, messaging on the city website and at city open house events.
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The HPC utilized a CLG grant award from 2013 and hired Collaborative Design Group to complete
a Condition Assessment of the tower. The report was completed in August 2015 and has been very
helpful in preparing for the final goal of painting and repairing the water tower. The estimated cost
to repair the structure was below previous estimates received by the city. The reduced cost was a
pleasant surprise as Elk River Municipal Utilities, the current owner of the tower, has earmarked
money for tower repairs. That money will be used for matching funds in a future grant application.
The next phase of the project includes preparing construction drawings for the actual restoration
work. The city has again been working with Collaborative Design Group to complete this work. An
application for grant funding will be completed in fiscal year 2017 to help with the costs of the
restoration and the timing of the improvements will be based on grant receipt and timing.
Elk River Walking Tour
The HPC worked with students and faculty at St. Cloud State University to prepare a self-guided
walking tour of historically significant locations in Elk River. Late fall 2014 the city hosted a
presentation from St. Cloud State University students where they presented a number of different
draft brochures. The HPC has been utilizing these to prepare a mobile brochure on the city’s
website.
The city continues to work on getting the walking tour on the city’s website to increase the
availability of the information. In 2017 the city will begin offering a guided walking tour facilitated
by a member of the HPC.
Oral Histories
Commissioner Mortensen continues to seek out additional residents willing to be interviewed for the
oral histories project. The HPC is also in the early stages of expanding this program to encourage
additional members of the community to not only be interviewed, but interview other residents.
37th Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference
In September 2016, HPC staff liaison BrieAnna Simon attended the Annual Statewide Historic
Preservation Conference in Hastings MN.
Houlton Farm Natural Area
The City of Elk River worked with the Trust for Public Land, the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage
Council, and the Friends of the Mississippi to acquire the Houlton-Olson family farm and add it to
the city’s park system as a conservation area.
The 335-acre riverfront property is located west of downtown near the Orono Dam and has been in
the family since the 1870’s. The park opened in the fall of 2016 and has been very popular. The
HPC will look for opportunities to explore historical topics associated with the park.
2017 ProposedProjects
Preservation of Jackson Street Water Tower
The HPC will apply for a grant to assist with the restoration of the Jackson Street Water Tower.
Matching funds are available, but the actual restoration will be based on specified grant timelines.
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Oral Histories
The HPC will continue to look for additional opportunities to interview residents for the oral
histories project.
History Fair Judging
The HPC has participated in judging at the Salk Middle School History Fair in the past, and
members of the commission will again have an opportunity to volunteer as a judge for the fair in
February 2017.
Educational Opportunities
HPC will continue to work with the Elk River Community Education Department and Parks and
Recreation Department to incorporate educational opportunities into their programs. A historic tour
could be coordinated with the Parks and Recreation Department. Elk River Community Education
may be willing to host training to conduct oral histories in the community.
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Exhibit A
Heritage Preservation Commission Roster as of September 30, 2014
Joshua Fox(Chair) H – 763.241.7893
10372 180th Ave NW fojo0404@gmail.com
Elk River MN 55330
Term Expires: 02/28/19
Lance Lindberg
18621 Simonet Dr NW W – 763.241.7614
PO Box 877 LanceLindberg@KW.com
Elk River, MN 55330
Term Expires: 02/28/17
Robert Jones H – 763.441.1966
13514 Island View Dr NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Term Expires: 02/28/18
Debra Mortensen C – 763.498.2281
17149 Olson Ct NW d.morten@yahoo.com
Elk River, MN 55330
Term Expires: 02/28/17
Mike Nicholas C - 612.251.4502
18001 Sunrise Circle NW mrnicho@yahoo.com
Elk River MN 55330
Term Expires: 02/28/18
Staff Liaison to the HPC
Zack CarltonW –763.635.1035
13065 Orono Parkway NW zcarlton@elkrivermn.gov
Elk River, MN 55330
City Council Liaison to the HPC
Jerry Olsen H – 763.241.9396
18264 Kent Street NW Jerry.Olsen@ElkRiverMN.gov
Elk River MN 55330
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Exhibit B
Annual HPC Certified Local Government Assurances
Name of HPC: City of Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission
Fiscal Year: October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016
State of Minnesota
County of Sherburne
City of Elk River
1. I hereby certify that the Elk River, Minnesota Heritage Preservation Commission has adhered to the public
participation provisions as stipulated under Section III.D of the "Minnesota Certified Local Government
Procedures Manual" issued by the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office.
2. I hereby certify that the Elk River, Minnesota Heritage Preservation Commission has adhered to the procedures
of the State Archives Department of the Minnesota Historical Society, regarding commission records (see the State
Archives publication "Preserving and Disposing of Government Records," pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 138.17,
online at www.mnhs.org/preserve/records/recser .)
Witness my hand officially on February 6, 2017.
_____
John J. Dietz, Mayor
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Exhibit C
Draft Historic Walking Tour Brochure
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