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Department: Historic Preservation
Date: Feb 17, 2010 at 4:00 PM
| | This meeting will be held in the Board Room on the Lower Level of Linn County West, 2500 Edgewood Road SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
If you have questions regarding the Historic Preservation Commission or meetings, please contact Jan Every at 319-892-5117 or at jan.every@linncounty.org.
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I. Call to Order
II. Election of 2010 Officers
III. Public Comments
IV. Announcements / Communication
A. New Commission Member Gary Feddern
B. Survey & Inventory on CD
C. Architectural Properties Index
V. Minutes
Minutes of December 16, 2009
VI. Old Business
A. Planning Reports
1. Linn County Fairgrounds
2. Granger House
B. Historic Preservation Month
VII. New Business
A. 2009 CLG Annual Report
B. FY11 Historic Preservation Grant
1. Calendar
2. Application
3. Scoring Matrix
4. Workshop – March 6
VIII. Next Meeting
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
IX. Adjournment
Associated File:
 2010-02-17 Agenda.doc, 117k
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Members Present
Mitch Bloomquist
Fred Easker, Vice Chair
Gary Feddern
Brent Harstad
Katharine Hardy
Peter Jaynes, Chair
John Pfiffner
Lyle Strathman
Dick Thomas, Secretary
Others Present
Joi Bergman, Staff Liaison
Jan Every, Recording Secretary
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by Chair Peter Jaynes.
Gary Feddern was introduced as the newest Commission member, whose term will expire at the end of 2012.
Election of 2010 Officers
Motion by Harstad, seconded by Thomas, to nominate Jaynes as 2010 Chair and that nomina-tions cease. Motion passed.
Motion by Jaynes, seconded by Harstad, to nominate Easker as 2010 Vice Chair and that nominations cease. Motion passed.
Motion by Jaynes, seconded by Harstad, to nominate Thomas as 2009 Secretary and that nominations cease. Motion passed.
Announcements/Communication
Survey & Inventory on CD
The Linn County Survey & Inventory documents have been copied onto CDs. Commission members have each been provided a copy, which includes a map showing completed subsections, a list of completed subsections and Survey & Inventories for subsections B, C, E, F, G, H, J, N, O, P and Q. The CD also includes the Comprehensive Planning Project and Early Settlement Era documents.
Architectural Properties Index
The Historic Preservation Commission’s web site now has the Architectural Properties Index, compiled by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The 400+ page index lists all Linn County properties (including those in incorporated cities) that have been reviewed for historic architectural significance. The property name, ID number, brief legal description, consultant year and opinion of eligibility are listed. Further information on each property can be obtained from SHPO by referring to the ID number.
Bergman shared with the Commission a meeting she attended February 16 with FEMA and the State regarding the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which is part of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for Linn County. This meeting was in follow up to meetings held from July 6 through October 16, 2009 during which the Commission named the restoration of Dvorana Hall as its “Stipulations and/or Treatment Measures” top priority. During the February 16 meeting it was suggested an architect experienced in historic structures be hired to provide an estimate on the restoration. There was debate who pays for the architect; not the County, as Dvorana Hall is a private organization. Perhaps funding the architect could be written into the MOA. It was also recommended the structure be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. The Commission may want to have a discussion at a future date on assisting with the costs associated with a nomination.
Harstad has an acquaintance who owns a structure that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The acquaintance would like to improve the building within NRHP guidelines, but does not want his property tax to increase. He has asked Harstad if the Commisson could convince the Board of Supervisors to freeze the tax assessment on the structure. Thomas recommended Harstad refer this person to the State Historic Preservation Office regarding tax incentives for historic structures. Every provided Harstad with literature regarding the same.
Minutes
The minutes of the December 16, 2009 meeting were approved as submitted.
Old Business
Planning Reports
Linn County Fairgrounds – At the December meeting, it was decided Thomas would contact the Fair Board to ask exactly what they are requesting of the Commission – whether they want all structures reviewed, or only those potentially eligible for the National Register. Thomas has had no success in his attempts to reach a representative of the Fair Board. It was recommended a letter be sent to the Fair Board as the Commission’s last attempt to make contact. Thomas will write the letter and place it on file.
Granger House & associated Carriage House – Based on their review of the structures in November, Bloomquist and Ed Sauter have written a draft planning report. Once final, copies will be given to Granger House staff and the Historic Preservation Commission.
Historic Preservation Month
Bergman suggested a subcommittee be formed to work on the Linn County historic sites project. Hardy, Harstad and Pfiffner volunteered. It was questioned whether the History Center is conducting a similar project. Hardy will check with History Center staff.
Thomas stated the timing is right for a panel of the County’s CLGs to host a public forum to bring awareness to historic preservation. With continued attention on flood recovery, “Historic Preservation in Crisis” would be an appropriate forum title; share with the public the impact on numerous historic districts and businesses. The press, FEMA and SHPO could be asked to participate. Thomas and Bloomquist comprise a subcommittee to work on this event.
New Business
2009 CLG Annual Report
The Commission reviewed the 2009 CLG Annual Report, which is due to the State Historic Preservation Office on February 26, 2010.
Motion by Thomas, seconded by Pfiffner, all those present voting aye, to approve and submit the 2009 CLG Annual Report.
FY11 Historic Preservation Grant
The Commission reviewed the FY11 grant calendar, application and scoring matrix. Bergman stated the Board of Supervisors’ intent for the grant is that all applicants are equally eligible, regardless of the size of the organization. Hannen was not present, but submitted comments on application item 6 as follows: “Wondering why we need to know the budgets for all an organization's other projects. Maybe we could clarify it as applying only to groups that have separate operations under their head. Seems like needless complication for us and them regarding most of the smaller organizations, but maybe I'm missing the point. Don't really see why we need it for anybody for anything but the grant project proposed. I'm all in favor of simplicity in applications--from standpoint of both the asker and the giver. We don't want to get this application to the point where people have to hire a pro to do it!”
Jaynes commented on item 7, that it would be helpful to know if an organization received endowments or other resources. If one organization is well established, supported and has other means to fund its project, and another organization is struggling, it would be helpful to the Commission in making award decisions. Hardy said the application as is should be as far as the Commission should go with requesting information. Pfiffner suggested evaluations of grant requests should be limited to the worth of the project, not worth of the organization. Harstad felt its important to know other sources of funding. Hardy suggested asking about matching funds, but not requiring it. Bergman is reluctant to even mention matching funds if they’re not required. Pfiffner doesn’t want to delve into an organization’s finances or be influenced. Bergman said the application could be revised to ask for a complete printout of the most recent income/expenditures rather than a 5-year summary.
Harstad said finances are not important; the project is what is important. He made a motion to scratch items 7, 8 and 9 from the scoring matrix. It was pointed out that item numbers on the scoring matrix must coincide with the item numbers on the application. Harstad withdrew his motion.
Motion by Thomas, seconded by Pfiffner, all those present voting aye, to approve the FY11 Historic Preservation grant documents, and to have a review and discussion on the application’s financial questions following this grant cycle, but well before the FY12 cycle begins.
Bergman mentioned the annual workshop for potential Historic Preservation grant applicants. It will be held on Saturday, March 6 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Carl & Mary Koehler History Center. Several Commission members committed to attend.
Thomas announced a workshop to be held March 26 in Ames and March 27 in Mt. Vernon. “Mortar Madness” addresses major issues regarding mortar in historic structures and will be beneficial to architects, contractors and property owners.
Next Meeting
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Approved,
Associated File:
 2010-02-17 Minutes.pdf, 1,062k
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