Item 4.1 8-12-25 OHPC Meeting Draft MinutesOTSEGO HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING
Lily Pond Conference Room at City Hall
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
7:00 PM
Call to Order.
This meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM.
Roll Call: Chair: Tami Stinski; Commissioners: Jim Penick, Kelly Kiffmeyer, Brooke Nault, Toni
Seroshek, Chris Wilson
City Council: CM Corey Tanner, Ryan Dunlap
Open Forum Call: N/A
1.Consider Agenda Approval:
Commissioner Seroshek to approve the agenda as written, seconded by Commissioner
Kiffmeyer. All in favor. Motion carried 6-0.
2.Consider the following minutes:
2.1 July 8, 2025
Commissioner Kiffmeyer motioned to approve the minutes as written, seconded by
Commissioner Seroshek. All in favor. Motion carried 6-0.
3.SPHO Conference
Commissioner Kiffmeyer and Commissioner Stinski are both interested in attending and will
register.
4.Old business
4.1 Cemetery Tour
Commissioner Kiffmeyer created a draft of the cemetery tour narrative. Commissioner Seroshek
mentioned that La Plant walked all the wa y to Saint Paul from Otsego as he didn’t like th e
prices he was getting for his furs. Also, a lot of Catholic burials also took place at the Dayton
cemetery. Commissioner Stinski asked what age Dave Ingersol was as this would be something
to add to the narrative. Commissioner Kiffmeyer will ask Corey Tanner to see if he was able to
contact Harlan Rask. Commissioner Seroshek asked if there would be any type of refreshments.
Commissioner Kiffmeyer said she’d be able to provide apples as she has an orchard.
Conversation took place on the date of the cemetery tour and October 30th was suggested
around 5:30 pm.
Commissioner Nault will check calendar for Halloween activities as well as other OHPC
commissioners to solidify the date at the next meeting and promote at the Prairie
Festival. When a date is solidified, Commissioner Kiffmeyer will reach out to Heidi Carey to post
on the Otsego Facebook page.
4.2. Old City Hall
Commissioners Seroshek and Stinski did not find much information when looking through micro
film. They did find articles from Elaine Noran and historical highlights article on the original site.
Commissioner Seroshek would like to learn more about the decision to move the town hall.
4.3 Time Capsule
Commissioner Nault shared a time capsule graphic to include at the Otsego Prairie Festival. It
was determined a large 24x30 graphic printed on foam core would be ideal to showcase against
Commissioner Wilson’s previous canvas backdrop. Commissioner Nault will reach out to Heidi
Carey about getting the graphic printed on foam core and a smaller 8.5 x 11 size for the voting
box as well as having a QR code created and included on the graphic to allow online
suggestions. Commissioners discussed different ways people can make suggestions at the
Prairie Festival including having notecards for people to write ideas on and put into the voting
box; QR code for online submissions; small white board and markers for kids to make
suggestions. Time capsule size and material were discussed. Commissioner Wilson mentioned
donating a wooden box for the time capsule.
4.4 1914 Barn
Commissioner Wilson has new pictures of the gable roof for the poster. Commissioner Penick
re-contacted Kathy Beaudry for additional information and sent out a revised version to OHPC
commissioners in July. Commissioner Seroshek requested more information on the original
Beaudry’s to be included in the final version and poster and asked Commissioner Penick to re-
send his revised version to OHPC again. OHPC will add this to the next agenda for final review
before it is sent off to Dan & Kim to create a new sign.
4.5 2025 Prairie Festival/35 years celebration
Commissioner Wilson left a message for Dan Licht on Otsego milestones. She then received a
timeline on major advancements to Otsego in the last 35 years from Barb Williams. OHPC
commissioners discussed adding the timeline to butcher paper across the bottom of the canvas
backdrop starting at 1990 with important milestones notated through 2025. Other ideas to
include are three population markers: the addition of the Great River Center, Public Schools,
Waterfront East additions, etc. CM Dunlap suggested checking out the Fireside Room, which
has posters that include timelines for Otsego for ideas to include. Having post it notes was also
discussed for residents to write in different advancements that we can add at the Prairie
Festival. Another suggestion was to ask what the public wants to see in terms of advancements
in the future. Commissioner Nault will check if she has rolled white art paper at home and
Commissioner Wilson will check on butcher paper supply. OHPC discussed adding an hour onto
the next meeting to complete the timeline graphic for the festival. Commissioners Wilson and
Seroshek will create a mock draft beforehand.
4.6 AI Transcription/Proofing
N/A. This will be removed for the next two meetings.
5 Updates:
5.3 Updates on City Council ac1ons.
CM Tanner updated OHPC on City Council Items.
6 Adjourn.
Commissioner Seroshek motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 P.M., seconded by
Commissioner Wilson. All in favor. Motion carried 6-0.
Minutes prepared by Commissioner Nault.