10-23-97 OHPC MINOTSEGO HERITAGE PRESERVATION
COMMISSION MEETING
23 October 1997
7:00 pm at the Otsego City Hall
AGENDA
• Approval of September minutes
• CLG Grant - Update
• Heritage Day - Evaluation
Cemetery Book
• McDonald / Peavey House
Other business
• Adjourn
Next Meeting - 20 November 1997
7:00 pm at the Otsego City Hall
OHPC-51. WPS
CITY OF
TSEGO
8899 Nashua Avenue N.E. ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD (612) 441-4414
Elk River, MN 55330 Fax: (612) 441-8823
October 20, 1997
Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers,
You have charged the Otsego Heritage Preservation Commission by ordinance
with several responsibilities. The principal responsibility is to safeguard the heritage of
the City of Otsego by preserving sites and structures which reflect the elements of the
city's cultural, social, economic, political, visual or architectural history. In response to
the Council's directive the Commission secured certified local government status. Thus
enabling the City to apply for funding of preservation activities from the Minnesota
Historical Society. In March 1997, Otsego was awarded a grant by the Minnesota
Historical Society to conduct a historical context study that will assist in identifying
significant archictectural properties and cultural landscape features located in Otsego. The
study will also serve as a framework for guiding future planning activities with our rapidly
growing community.
Several years ago a public spirited family and a forward thinking Township Board
of Supervisors reached an agreement whereby a priceless cultural and historic community
treasure was sold to the public body of Otsego at a price substantially less than market.
That public asset is commonly known as the McDonald/Peavey house.
The Commission has been advised that inquiries have been made to the City about
the McDonald/Peavey property being sold back to private interests. We wish to remind
the Council that the Commission and the residents are vitally concerned with the quality of
life here in the city. One of the measures of the quality of life is not by how much or how
little spending the city does, but where it allocates the scarce resources it has.
The Otsego Heritage Preservation Commission respectfully requests that any
overtures at this time to sell the McDonald/Peavey property be rejected out of hand. We
will be prepared to present long range plans for use of the McDonald/Peavey property
together with the old Town Hall/School site upon completion of the context study
sometime next year.
Respectfully,
Otsego Heritage Preservation Commission
City of Otsego - Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting
Thursday, Octobcr 23, 1997
CHAIR Joy Swenson called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM. Joanic Nichols, Elaine
Norin, Ron Black, Frieda Lobcck, Norm Schwanbeck, Janet Bridgland and Arlene Holan
were present. Council Member 1`.'Iark Berning attended. .
RON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER, 1997
MEETING. SECONDED BY FRIEDA, MOTION CARRIED.
Joy reported on the CLG Grant and the context study. Hoisington Preservation
Consultants and Robert C. Vogel & Associates submitted proposals for the historic
context study. The commission members will review the proposals for one week. Janet
and Joy said Hoisington hada strong background in architectural preservation and Vogel
had -a strong background in archeology, anthropology and geography.
RON MOVED THAT JOY POLL THE COMMISSION MEMBERS BY PHONE BY.
OCTOBER 30,1997 FOR THEIR CHOICE OF FIRM FOR THE CONTEXT STUDY.
SECONDED BY ELAINE. ALL APPROVED.
Elaine reported on Otsego Heritage Day. We served 82 people. Joy turned in $117.00 to
the City and was reimbursed $124:64. This event cost $7:64. Elaine suggested
expanding our displays in the future. Ron suggested showing pictures with the location
indicated on maps.. Elaine thought the maps could be used for pictures her and Norm
took. People enjoyed. visitingat Heritage Day and liked the nice brochure. Press
coverage for Heritage Day was good.
Norm reported on the cemetery book inventory. He sold 28, twelve were given away as
decided at the September meeting and an additional four more arc with City Hall. There
are fifty-six copies left.
Paul LuPlant died in June of 1996 at the age of ninety-one. Arlene told Paul's
daughter we'd send a copy of the transcription of his oral history interview.
FRIEDA MOVED THAT JOY BRING ALL OF THE DATA ON PAUL LAPLANT TO
CITY HALL. RON SECONDED. ALL APPROVED.
Maureen Galvin from Wright County Historical Society suggested we print more copies
Of "Otsego in the Beginning". Joy thought it would be Worth while if they would sell
within. two years. Ron thought we should see haw the cernete, y book sales ga and look at
reordering "in the Beginning" books for Heritage Day 1998. Norm and Joy thought the
books should be reordered now.
NORM MOVED WE PRINT FIFTY MORE COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL "OTSEGO -
IN THE BEGINNING". RON SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 6 TO 1 WITH RON
OPPOSING.
Ron and Joy gave a brief history on the McDonald /Peavey house. It was built about
1857. The Peavey family offered the house to the City at below market rate. The house
was to be for the public. The City acquired the property that consists of 5 to 8 acres.
The City is renting the property so the City does pay real estate taxes even though the
property is owned by the public.
The letter to the Mayor and Council members from the OHPC regarding the
McDonald/Peavey House was reviewed and it will be sent.
Joy said the Wright County Heritage Center is offering an Oral History Interview
Seminar (strictly on video tape interviews) on November 13, 1997 from 1:30 to 3:30
P.M. Reservations are needed.
Norm moved to adjourn, Janet seconded. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Joanie Nichols, Secretary
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