HPC Minutes 05-21-2026Meeting of the Heritage Preservation
Commission
1 Held at the Elk River City Hall
ity I j Thursday, May 21, 2026
Elk ---
River
Members Present: Chair Lance Lindberg, Commissioner Linda Campbell, Commissioner Zachary
Griffiths, Commissioner Jayne Dietz, Commissioner Elizabeth Balmanno,
Councilmember J. Brian Calva
Members Absent: Commissioner Gavin Tuckey
Staff Present: Community Development Director Zack Carlton
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting was called to order at 5:04 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
CONSIDER AGENDA
Moved by Commissioner Griffiths and seconded by Commissioner Campbell to approve
the agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
4. CONSIDER MINUTES
Moved by Commissioner Dietz and seconded by Commissioner Griffiths to approve the
following consent items as outlined in their respective staff reports. Motion carried 5-0.
4.1 DRAFT Minutes -March 19, 2026
5. GENERAL BUSINESS
5.1 Interpretive Signs and Walking Tour Information
Mr. Carlton reviewed that the committee had paired off and chosen signs either at William H. Houlton
Conservation Area, Bailey Point Nature Preserve, or the downtown area to create content.
Commissioner Tuckey will present his information on Bailey Point at the July HPC meeting.
Commissioner Griffiths presented information on the downtown area. He stated the current
information is coherent but not polished.
Heritage Preservation Commission Minutes Page 2 of 3
May 21, 2026
Chair Lindberg stated there is a book called "History of the Upper Mississippi Valley" that may contain
useful information regarding people involved in the founding of Elk River.
Commissioner Balmanno proposed an idea of including maps of the downtown area as it changed over
the decades and add photos. Councilmember Calva liked that idea. Mr. Carlton stated that the
Communications department could modernize some of the maps to give them a consistent look.
Chair Lindberg stated someone was hired to evaluate the historical significance of Elk River
"uppertown". Mr. Carlton added the context study was done in 2006 to see if the area would qualify for
the national register of historic places.
Commissioner Balmanno suggested using a QR code on the kiosk sign that linked to a city webpage
with additional information. Mr. Carlton stated the historic context study could be added to that
webpage as well.
Commissioner Griffiths shared a historic map he had purchased at an antique store. The
Commissioners discussed the map.
Commissioner Campbell presented information on William H. Houlton Conservation Area. She
researched history, family members, how the property was used, farming, information on the land,
wildlife, and conservation efforts. She stated one key feature was that the property was purchased and
farmed and didn't go through a lot of other transitions. She stated many people who are still alive have
stories about the property. A QR code could be used to link to audio files of these interviews.
Commissioner Dietz recalled the HPC had talked about having an interpretive sign at Elk River
Municipal Utilities as well. Handke school may be another potential site for a kiosk.
Commissioner Campbell proposed an idea of having downtown business owners submit information on
the history of their building.
Mr. Carlton stated that he would bring designs from the Communications department to the July HPC
meeting for the Commission to review.
5.2 HPC at the Farmers Market
Mr. Carlton stated the Commission would have a booth at the Elk River Farmer's Market on July 23,
2026. He stated that the Commission could discuss the sign designs at their July 16 HPC meeting and
then bring some designs to the farmer's market.
The Commission asked if the trivia questions used in the past could be sorted by difficulty.
Mr. Carlton stated he would email the Commission with a sign-up for shifts during the farmer's marker
Heritage Preservation Commission Minutes Page 3 of 3
May 21, 2026
6. STAFF UPDATE
Mr. Carlton reviewed that Commissioner Campbell, Commissioner Dietz and Mayor Dietz, and
Commissioner Griffiths would be attending the National Alliance of Preservation Commission annual
forum July 17-19. Parking and mileage would be reimbursed.
Mr. Carlton stated that the Vernon Cemetary 150th Celebration no longer needed volunteers.
However, the Commission was invited to attend on June 20, 2026 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Mr. Carlton reviewed the items submitted by Commissioners for the 250th Anniversary of the United
States timeline. The Commission discussed potential events of interest within the past 30 years to add
to the timeline including the Great River Energy plant closing down, reconstruction to Highway 169,
building a dike that prevented flooding, removing a trailer park to build Wal-Mart, Target moving out of
Elk River, Hockey Day MN, and the Furniture and Things Event Center being built.
Mr. Carlton will share a draft of the timeline once it is prepared.
7. MOTION TO ADJOURN
Moved by Commissioner Dietz and seconded by Commissioner Campbell to adjourn the
meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Katie Porath.
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Justin Dunford, City Clerk