Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 06/26/2023AGENDA EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY JUNE 26, 2023 7:00 P.M. Heritage Rooms City Hall HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steven Schumacher-Chair; Paul Thorp-Vice Chair, George Maxwell, Robert Bowes, Rod Fisher, Andy Ludowese, Melanie Willett, Catherine Lau COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING ON MAY 15, 2023 V. NEW BUSINESS A. 5 MINUTE HISTORY REPORT (BOB) B. UPDATE ON TOUR OF BIRCH HALL AT CAMP EDEN WOOD WITH SHPO (BETH) C. HERITAGE SITE PLAQUES (BETH) D. BIRCH ISLAND ROCK (PAUL) VI. OLD BUSINESS A. DISCUSS NEXT STEPS FOR EDEN MILL DESIGNATION NOMINATION (BETH/PAUL) B. UPDATE ON INTERVIEWS FOR THE REFLECTIONS ON THE 1968 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROJECT (BETH) VII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF VIII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY A. GENERAL UPDATE – (PAUL/BOB) IX. FYI ITEMS X. NEXT MEETING July 17, 2023 XI. ADJOURNMENT UNAPPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, MAY 15, 2023 7:00 P.M. Meeting Heritage Rooms 8080 Mitchell Road HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Rod Fisher (Chair); Paul Thorp (Vice- Chair); George Maxwell; Steve Schumacher; Robert Bowes; Andy Ludowese; Melanie Willett; Catherine Lau STUDENT MEMBERS: Avik Garg, Sophie Lunda, Mary Margaret Mellen, Ilhaam Mohamed, Jash Parekh, Suweda Said, Siri Tanget COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Fisher called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Absent were commission members Schumacher and Willett and student members Garg, Lunda, Mohamed, Parekh, Tangeti and Said. II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Fisher read the land acknowledgement statement. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Lau to approve the agenda as amended by Thorp to add PeopleFest under Item VA, New Business. Motion carried 5-0. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Lau moved, seconded by Bowes to approve the minutes of the April 17, 2023 minutes. Motion carried 5-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. FIVE-MINUTE HISTORY REPORT (MELLEN) Mellen reported on strong women in history: Julia Nelson, one of the first women to graduate from college (Hamline) in the 1890s in Minnesota, who then taught EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION May 15, 2023 Page 2 Kindergarten in Red Wing, then taught slaves in the Freeman’s Bureau in Texas. She worked alongside Susan B. Anthony on justice issues before her death in 1914. B. DISCUSS POSSIBLE GRANT APPLICATION FOR BIRCH HALL IMPROVEMENTS (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs stated that at the last meeting at Camp Eden Wood, it had been discussed that John LeBlanc wished to make improvements to Birch Hall, with the HPC expressing an interest in assisting to write a grant. Novak-Krebs added she had spoken with LeBlanc, who was meeting staff from SHPO at the site for a tour. Commission members were invited. Fisher and Thorp volunteered to attend this tour as well. He added former Eden Prairie staff liaison John Gertz was also interested in this potential project. Discussion followed on the history of Gertz’s work. [Maxwell arrived at 7:08 p.m.] The tour with LeBlanc was set for June 6, from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Novak-Krebs stated LeBlanc was considering hiring an architect. Thorp stated this might not be necessary, as a study of the site had been completed. He offered to bring this along on the tour. Novak-Krebs stated a cost estimate and drawings were needed to apply for a grant. Thorp replied these were also in the study: $45,000.00 without interior improvements. Discussion followed on the costs of the interior improvements. Novak-Krebs added she could write the application for a grant or a consultant could be hired to write the application for the grant. Everyone would know more about the grant cycle and needs after the tour. C. DISCUSS JOINT MEETING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs announced Megan Yerks had emailed her regarding a joint meeting in the fall, with the daughter of Agnes Daluge, who had presented at the Historical Society’s Annual Meeting and documented her mother’s experiences in Rosas Miracle Mouse: The True Story of a WWII Undercover Teenager, giving a presentation. Thorp replied she lived in Illinois. Novak-Krebs stated she could reach out to Megan for agenda items and a possible other speaker. Mellen suggested a Zoom/Skype meeting or recorded session might be an option for the speaker. Thorp offered to speak to Kathie Case about this. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION May 15, 2023 Page 3 D. DISCUSS RUINS EAST OF PURGATORY CREEK AND NORTH OF PIONEER TRAIL FOR POSSIBLE DESIGNATION (THORP) Thorp displayed a map and stated the Welter family once owned a large tract of land north of Pioneer Trail near Purgatory Creek. There was a dam feeding the mill where Purgatory Creek crossed Old Pioneer Trail. Thorp had visited the site with Ron and Kathie Case following the directions from Welter. The stone foundations related to the mill still existed onsite. The complex had been part of a hotel. Novak-Krebs explained the location of the stormwater facility and that the owner of the property is the City. Thorp explained the dam was still a functioning dam, built in the 1950s. The DNR had had no record of it until Thorp contacted that agency. He displayed the foundations for a barn for the hotel and the mill foundation and the historical no-build easement (not always obeyed by homeowners). Thorp displayed a photograph of the foundation, made of boulder rocks, and stated Gertz was also interested in working on this project. The area was very dense and not easily accessible. The mill had been built in the 1870s and eventually abandoned. The dam was constructed to feed the mill from the creek. Novak-Krebs displayed an aerial view of the site to aid the location of the foundation. Thorp pointed out the location of the dam. Maxwell asked for clarification on the site of the hotel, which had been located among farms. Novak-Krebs asked if anything was left of the old road that went over the creek and Thorp replied there was not. Discussion followed on the requirements of the historical easement and the prohibition against throwing yard waste (or any waste) on City land. Lau asked if there would be signage for the site. Maxwell stated that first required having someone clean up the site due to homeowners pitching yard waste into the site. Discussion followed on the prohibition against throwing any refuse on City property. Thorp stated the site needed to be better documented. Mellen suggested recruiting students to clean up the site. Thorp stated this was a point of information; discussions were ongoing with City staff about a consultant. MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Lau to approve a further study by the HPC commission with the intent of pursuing location designation of the site. Motion carried 6-0. E. PEOPLEFEST (THORP) Thorp explained this event was somewhat outside of the commission’s scope but added the commission had participated in the past, with a display table with maps. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION May 15, 2023 Page 4 Fisher stated he also wondered if this was a fit for the commission. Discussion followed on the question of whether or not to have a table at the event. Mellen suggested a booth publicizing the HPC. Maxwell read the requirements aloud including the exhortation to have a hands-on activity. Lau suggested tabling the discussion for now, perhaps until December with the intent of developing a hands-on activity for the 2024 People Fest. Novak-Krebs stated she would put this item on the November or December commission agenda. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. STUDENT PRESENTATION ON THE SHPO HERITAGE COMMISSION TRAINING MANUAL (SAID) Said was not present. Mellen offered to present at the next meeting on outreach and recruitment of student representatives and methods of student engagement. UPDATE ON INTERVIEWS FOR THE REFLECTIONS ON THE 1968 PLAN PROJECT (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs stated she and Tom Achartz needed to set up a time with Maxwell to read the introduction to the interviews. VII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Novak-Krebs stated Scipioni was moving from Eden Prairie and therefore had resigned from the commission. The opening will not be filled until the next round of commission recruitment in 2024. Fisher confirmed that Maxwell’s and Thorp’s seats were up for reapplication then as well. VIII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Bowes stated the Farmhouse Market and Sale at the Cummins Phipps Grill House earned three or four thousand dollars. All proceeds went to PropShop. The Historical Society had its annual meeting with the daughter of Agnes Daluge presenting. The next meeting for the Society was Thursday. Katie Qualey would be honored at this meeting. The Cummins Phipps Grill House improvements were mostly completed. Thorp stated the Society had received a donation of a geometry book owned by John Cummins, who built the Cummins Phipps Grill House, with the date 1850 written in it along with his name. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION May 15, 2023 Page 5 IX. FYI ITEMS X NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. Schumacher would be the new Chair, and Thorp the Vice-Chair, as determined by the City Council. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Bowes to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m.