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Heritage Preservation - 06/21/2004 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2004 7:00 P.M. Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Betsy Adams, Chairperson; Jennie Brown, Vice Chairperson; Bob Amell, Deborah Barkley,Jennie Brown, Molly Gilbertson, Elise Kist COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist; Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Adams called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All Commissioners were present. Gertz was unable to attend. Janet Jeremiah, Community Development Director, was present. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Kist moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - May 17, 2004 Adams made corrections on pages 3 and 4. The last sentence on page 3, under Anderson School should read, "They would like to scan artifacts in as well." On page 4, paragraph 2, the second sentence should end, " . . . to Prairie View School property, after funds are raised and plans approved." MOTION: Amell moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on May 17, 2004, as published and amended. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF V. OLD BUSINESS A. Update on Riley-Jacques Farm HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 21, 2004 Page 2 Adams made a report for Gertz, who said site work is underway with the construction of a new parking lot. Mechanicals are being installed. The concrete floor of the barn has been poured, and work on the restroom has begun. The project is on schedule. Last month Gertz mentioned he was getting a bid to lay sewer and water lines to the house. However, the bid was $12,000 and Gertz believes it is unlikely that the City Council will approve the bid. However, when it becomes necessary for sewer and water to be connected to the house, that would be made part of the budget for the next project. 1. Dorenkemper House Dan Herbst has been speaking to Scott Neal and other staff about funding possibilities. It is hoped that volunteers will be found to complete the work. B. Update on Cummins-Grill House Gertz has received a proposal on the cost of adding certain features to the house, one of which is to set up a kitchen area for an adaptive reuse or for catering, so that the cost of carrying out some of the programs discussed at the April meeting can be determined. Adams reported that the Historical Society's annual meeting was held at the Cummins-Grill House on June 12, when Kathie Case was elected president. Marie Wittenberg will be curator of the museum. The Arts & Antiques in the Garden event was held on the same day. There were more arts and craft vendors than last year. There were not as many peonies blooming as last year,possibly due to the rainy spring. Brown suggested that next year the peony garden be listed in the Garden Calendar of the Home and Gardens section of the Star Tribune, as a showplace worth visiting. There was discussion about who is responsible for maintenance of the peony garden. Janet Jeremiah said Parks Maintenance is responsible for maintenance of the grounds, including the garden. C. Update on Anderson School Adams reported that the Anderson School task force is making some progress. Cards depicting the exterior of the school in watercolors are being sold, with the proceeds going to the Historical Society to renovate the school building. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 21, 2004 Page 3 Adams read the mission statement of the Anderson School Task Force, which is "to reclaim the Anderson Historic School House, breathe new life into it, and give it back to the community for the enjoyment and education of our children." The school district will not allow the task force to move the building or sign a contract until they have the money to complete the project. The task force is meeting with the facilities director and property manager of Prairie View Elementary School, the architect who is donating his services, and an engineering firm that is putting together mechanical specifications for the building, as well as site preparation, at no charge. Adams said the timeline for the project is to complete the budget this summer and probably have a kick-off event that would get corporate leaders and others in the community to support the project. They plan to raise 80 percent of the funds this fall and winter. Over three semesters, students from Hennepin Technical College will reconstruct the school, beginning with the foundation, in the spring of 2005, and work on the building in the subsequent fall and spring semesters. The task force hopes to have the grand opening on July 4, 2006. Brown is a member of the School District's Education Council. Adams asked Brown to arrange for her to talk to the group about the Anderson School project at their September meeting, if possible. D. Update on CLG Grant Project - Cemetery Registration Gertz and Vogel met with Mike Rogers, president of the Eden Prairie Cemetery Board Association,regarding historic designation of both cemeteries. Rogers agrees it would be a good idea to designate Eden Prairie Cemetery. Vogel will be coming to the July HPC meeting to give his report and designation suggestions for those two projects. He will not be able to do photo documentation of the grave stones before the end of the grant period,but Gertz hopes to find a way this summer for a group to work on it. They would have to be sure the information on the grave stones is consistent with what Vogel has found out about them. In addition to hearing from Vogel at the July meeting, the HPC will be updated on the designations of several Eden Prairie properties that the Commission has selected. VI. NEW BUSINESS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 21, 2004 Page 4 VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Barkley moved, seconded by Brown, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Adams adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.