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4.1. DRAFT HPC MINUTES 7-15-2021Meeting of the Heritage Preservation Commission Elk River City Hall Thursday, May 20, 2021 Members Present: Chair Lance Lindberg, Commissioners Zachary Griffiths, Mike Hangaard, Tony Mauren, Debra Mortensen, Michele Cole, and Joshua Fox (6:20 p.m.) Members Absent: None Others Present: Planning Manager Zack Carlton and Councilmember Garrett Christianson 1. Call Meeting to Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Heritage Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:01 p.m. by Chair Lindberg. 2. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. Consider May 20, 2021, Agenda Chair Lindberg requested to add item 5.4 – First Settler in Elk River, David Faribault to commemorate where Elk River got its start. Moved by Commissioner Mauren and seconded by Commissioner Mortensen to approve the May 20, 2021, agenda with the addition of 5.4. Motion carried 6-0. 4. Minutes of March 18, 2021, Heritage Preservation Commission meeting Commissioner Mauren noted on page 2 of the minutes to remove a repeated sentence. Moved by Commissioner Mauren and seconded by Commissioner Mortensen to approve the March 18, 2021, meeting minutes, with the noted change. Motion carried 6-0. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Elk River City Hall May 20, 2021 5.1 Jackson Hills Water Tower Mr. Carlton stated the city has received positive feedback on the painting of the historic water tower, and he felt the overall construction project went as well as could be expected. He stated the original bid amount was $165,000 and explained that with a change order related to structural work, the final cost was reduced by $15,000, grant monies and donations, the estimated final cost will be approximately $130,000. Mr. Carlton stated any remaining monies will be kept in a fund to provide for future maintenance or upkeep. Grading and hydroseeding will help with the landscaping of the project. He stated the discussion with the Historical Society was successful. Commissioner Mauren congratulated staff and commissioners who have spent quite a few years to complete this project. Councilmember Christianson stated the water tower rehabilitation has been an interesting project to learn the history about and watch its transformation. Mr. Carlton discussed the siren that was affixed to the water tower and asked about whether it should be kept for historical purposes. He noted fire department staff have expressed an interest in displaying it as it was used to alert firefighters to a fire call. It was the consensus of the commission to donate the siren to the fire department. Commissioner Lindberg stated he spoke to Jim Boyle at the Star News, who would be using part of the article about the well/water tower in a future edition of the newspaper. 5.2 Elk River Documentary Commissioner Griffiths stated he would like to receive any documentary script comments or changes to begin the storyboard process. He stated the reason the script was so light is because the video will tell the story. He also has a friend who is a music education major and asked him if he would be interested in writing music for the documentary, and he stated he would. Mr. Carlton stated he requested city staff to provide B-roll footage to Commissioner Griffiths sometime in July or August. He stated they can coordinate with him to gather walking tour-type, modern day footage of the city, to provide engaging footage of the documentary. Commissioner Fox arrived. Councilmember Christianson asked if there was other historic footage available to use from other sources like the Historical Society, noting it would be worth asking to see what was available. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Elk River City Hall May 20, 2021 Commissioner Lindberg noted there was footage available from the late 50s owned by The Bank of Elk River. He noted the quality probably would not be the best. He noted footage could also be in someone’s basement. Councilmember Christianson suggested asking The Bank of Elk River as the city has a good partnership with them. He wished there were an easy way to locate and obtain historical footage from people who live here. Commissioner Lindberg wondered if John Houlton would have anything. He asked if there would be any reference to the Hungarian settlement. Commissioner Griffiths stated he will try to include that reference. Commissioner Mortensen asked if he would include information about the fur trade members, discussing a book about fur traders moving back east and leaving behind their families, many of whom took Native American wives, and how they survived without their husbands. Commissioner Lindberg discussed the French Canadians and their intertwining lives with Native Americans. He also suggested looking at a book called The History of the Upper Mississippi River. Mr. Carlton stated at the July HPC meeting, they could review the final script for the documentary and discuss the B-roll footage to be taken in July and August. 5.3 Additional Projects and Updates Commissioner Mauren spoke with Jim Boyle about asking questions and receiving comment from a representative of the HPC and asked who that person would be to speak on behalf of the commission. Mr. Carlton indicated the chair would be the HPC spokesperson or if there were questions, they could direct them to him to answer questions. He will find out if that needs to be codified by updating their bylaws. Commissioner Mauren was going to write his next article on the history of aviation in Elk River. He has enough information to write something about the Elk River Aircraft Company, a group of Elk River residents who formed to provide commercial travel around 1928. He explained that time in aviation history was very active with Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart in the news. He stated they set up the air landing strip where Sunrise Circle is currently located. The commission discussed additional air history sites and information, noting how many private planes and air landing strips were available in Elk River. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Elk River City Hall May 20, 2021 5.4 First Settler in Elk River, David Faribault Chair Lindberg stated he was contacted through Mayor John Dietz to talk to Ron Wilkes, who had emailed Mayor Dietz about the first Elk River settler in 1846. David Frederic Faribault, son of French-Canadian fur trader Jean-Baptiste Faribault built a trading post near the conjunction of the Elk and Mississippi Rivers in 1846, which he later sold in 1848, to French trader and guide Pierre Bottineau. The trading post stood on a bluff just east of the present-day bridge across the Elk River on Main Street. He was requesting some sort of recognition or plaque to commemorate where Elk River had one of its first settlers. Commissioner Mauren explained the site he is referring to is the future site of the Elk River Municipal Utilities field services building. He thought it was possible to discuss placing something noting the historical nature of the site. Mr. Carlton asked about any photos available to incorporate into a plaque. He stated he would be happy to begin conversations with ERMU to discuss placement of a plaque referencing the first trading post and cost. He will have that information available for discussion at the July HPC meeting. The commission discussed the water tower site design and plaque, and a vacant lot near the site for sale. Ron Wilkes arrived to discuss his request for a historical marker, a statue of David Faribault, and located at the site on the Sherman Sachs Riverside Tavern. He stated if not a statue, a marker noting, “this is the original site of the original trading post founded in 1846 for the founding of Elk River by David Faribault.” He stated the Star News did some articles in the 90s from a relative of Mr. Faribault’s which would provide more information. 6. Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Lindberg adjourned the meeting of the Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission at 7:11 p.m. Minutes prepared by Jennifer Green. Tina Allard City Clerk Lance Lindberg Heritage Preservation Commission Chair