07-8-25 OHPC Meeting MinutesOTSEGO HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING
Lily Pond Conference Room at City Hall
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
7:05 PM
Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM.
Roll Call: Chair: Tami Stinski; Commissioners: Kelly Kiffmeyer, Brooke Nault, Chris Wilson and
Toni Seroshek.
City Council: CM Corey Tanner and CM Michelle Lund
Open Forum: CM Tanner advised OHPC should add open forum after call to order as this is a
public meeting.
1. Consider Agenda Approval:
Commissioner Seroshek to approve the agenda as written, seconded by Commissioner
Kiffmeyer. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0. Commissioner Wilson would like to add the Otsego
View to the agenda as it relates to the time capsule.
2. Consider the following minutes:
2.1 June 10, 2025
Commissioner Kiffmeyer motioned to approve the minutes as written, seconded by
Commissioner Seroshek. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.
3. SPHO Conference
September 10-12 in New Ulm. Scholarship from SPHO for hotel and conference. The city pays
the mileage. Commissioners Nault and Kiffmeyer will look into going.
Old business
3.1 Cemetery Tour
Commissioner Kiffmeyer worked on an outline for the cemetery tour including the gravesites to
include. Kiffmeyer and Nault will visit the cemetery on 7/24 to plan the best walking path for
the tour. It was decided to introduce the cemetery tour to the community at the Prairie Fes1val.
The consensus among the commissioners is to host the tour in October if possible. CM Tanner
mentioned that Rask has old documentation on the cemetery that he may be willing to share.
CM Tanner will follow up with Rask. Commissioner Seroshek advised that the original plat of the
cemetery is on MN digital library if OHPC wanted to include that in the tour.
3.2 Old City Hall
Commissioner Seroshek believes there are pictures taken of the old city hall before it became
the city hall. She recommends a field trip to Becker in Sherburne County to get more
information.
3.3 Time Capsule
The number of years the time capsule should be sealed was discussed after Commissioner
Penick posed the question. There was consensus among the OHPC commissioners for 50 years.
Commissioner Seroshek motioned to set the time capsule up for a 50 year term limit. Seconded
by Chair Stinski. All in favor 5-0. Motion passed.
OHPC discussed introducing the time capsule at the Prairie Fes1val. The following ideas were
discussed:
• 2075 graphic for time capsule voting box.
• Time capsule poster.
• Huge paper on easel that people can write their suggestions on at the festival.
• QR code for those who are in a rush. Heidi could print it, Kim graphic artist for QR code.
Commission Nault will look for time capsule graphics ideas and bring to next meeting.
3.4 1914 Barn
Commissioner Seroshek hoped for additional information of the history on the original couple
who came from Canada and the Beaudry’s who had participated in the building of the barn;
including more photographs of the interior of barn as well as a complete photo of the outside of
barn today at the same angle that was taken in 1916 for comparison. Commissioner Wilson will
ask John to take a few additional photos.
3.5 2025 Prairie Festival/35 years celebration discussion (September 13)
OHPC discussed ideas for the timeline display to get the most active engagement from the
community. Commissioner Seroshek mentioned Commissioner Wilson’s canvas that was used
back in 2017 and OHPC loved the idea of using that canvas as a backdrop for the 1990 - 2025
timeline that will be shown on standing poster boards. Commissioner Wilson will reach out to
Dan Licht get highlights of the past 35 years of Otsego history and will bring the highlights to the
next meeting.
3.6 AI transcription/Proofing
Nothing new to report.
4. Updates:
4.1 Updates on City Council ac1ons.
CM Tanner and CM Michelle Lund updated OHPC on City Council action Items.
5. Adjourn.
Commissioner Seroshek motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:28PM, seconded by
Commissioner Wilson. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.
Minutes prepared by Commissioner Nault.