Minutes; Historic Preservation: January 2007

Evansville Historic Preservation Commission
Minutes
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 7:00 P.M.
2nd Floor, City Hall

Present: Steve Culbertson, Rich Modaff, Betsy Ahner, Dennis Wessels
Absent: Steve Christens, John Decker, Susan Finque
Others present: City Administrator- Dan Wietecha, Tim Magee

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by chair Rich Modaff. Motion by Dennis Wessels, second by Steve Culbertson to waive the reading of the December 20, 2006 minutes and approve them as written. Motion carried.

Applications – Appearances

226 W. Liberty Street – Dale Nipple home
Tim Magee of Magee Construction was present to explain the work to be done and to answer questions. The application is to demolish the sagging one-story portion at the rear of the home and construct a two-story addition to enlarge the kitchen and bedroom. Also to remove all siding on the home and reside with vinyl siding. The siding will be 3” restoration siding, designed to very closely resemble wood. Motion by Steve Culbertson to approve the application. Second by Dennis Wessels.
Commission members asked a number of questions about the planned work and the present condition of the home. It was noted that all of the doors and windows had already been changed and were not of the style original to the home. Motion passed on a vote of three yes and one no.

Administrative

Budget – nothing new to report
Update on bricks – Dan Wietecha, City Administrator reported the City is preparing to submit a grant application for an extra block of bricks on Main Street.
Grove Society – Betsy Ahner reported the board is getting prices on a new back door and window for the building. They are waiting to hear if the City will be using the yard as a staging area for the street construction project. A young man in Evansville has indicated his interest in working with the landscaping as his Eagle Scout project.

Redevelopment – spent almost two hours working on the agreement between the project developers and the RDA. The questions with the Department of Commerce development loan are being addressed. Modaff noted the Business Improvement Grant committee met on Monday to review applications. They decided to accept applications at any time until the fund no longer has money to grant.

Easement form draft – this has been sent to the State for review and approval.
Plaque program – Dennis Wessels is going to talk to the high school shop teacher to ask for help drilling the holes, engraving identification numbers on the back, and painting the plaques. Ahner suggested it would be worth a donation to the class to get the work done.

Other Business

Chair Modaff read a thank you letter from Deanna Lund, Coordinator of the History Hunters, thanking the HPC for their support.

Ahner asked what Evansville’s responsibilities would be for the fall meeting of the Wisconsin Society of Historic Preservation Commissions. Modaff will discuss this with Mayor Decker. She suggested we may want to send a delegate to the Spring meeting to learn more and make contacts.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. The minutes of meetings of the Historic Preservation Commission are not official until approved by the Commission.