Document - Historical Society Minutes - Minutes - 1/6/2004Eagan Historical Society Minutes
December 2, 2003
Page 2
Eagan Historical Society Minutes
of January 6, 2004 Meeting
A meeting of the Eagan Historical Society was held on Tuesday, January 6, 2004, in
the Community Room at Eagan City Hall at 3:30 p.m. Present at the meeting were Ted
Wachter, Dan Kahnke, Gin Knight, Mary Ellen Voracek, Bea Blomquist, and Ray
Wade. Also present were City Administrator Hedges, Mayor Geagan, Councilmember
Carlson and staff member Joanna Foote.
Approve November 4, 2003 Minutes
Blomquist moved, Knight seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the November
4, 2003 Historical Society meeting as presented. All members present voted in favor.
Historical Society Business
Update on History Group at Community Center
Foote informed the group that an invitation has been extended for them to join the
Senior History Group for a presentation by David Schreier about his book about
Dakota County in the 20th Century. The presentation will be held on January 15 from
6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Lone Oak Room at the Community Center. The group briefly
discussed the invitation and determined who would be available to attend.
Joint Meeting with City Council Representatives, Mayor Geagan &
Councilmember Carlson
Chair Wachter welcomed Mayor Geagan and Councilmember Carlson and
Administrator Hedges. The group discussed the Historical Society accomplishments in
2003 and its recommendation to the City Council regarding the proposed upgrading
and possible addition to the 1914 Town Hall, which would make the facility more
usable as a museum, as was the original intent of the Council and the Historical Society
when the building was refurbished in the 1990s. Mayor Geagan complimented the
group on the display cases that they have compiled in the Municipal Center and
mentioned that he often saw people looking at and enjoying the displays.
In discussing the list of renovations that have previously been undertaken at the 1914
Town Hall, it was noted that in 1975 the roof was first replaced due to leaking
problems in order to preserve the last historical building in Eagan. Wachter also stated
that when the initial renovations began in 1990, there was no floor in the Old Town
Hall because it had been torn out when the building was being used as garage/storage.
A floor was installed as a part of the renovation.
There was some discussion regarding possible additional storage areas within City
property. Mayor Geagan expressed concern about the security of artifacts in a building
that was unoccupied most of the time. Wachter described his vision for an addition
onto the 1914 Town Hall.
Eagan Historical Society Minutes
December 2, 2003
Page 2
Mayor Geagan suggested handling the storage issue in two phases, the first being
inventory space within City property. The second phase would involve discussion by
the City Council for both long and short-term storage. The group suggested that the
Historical Society recommendation be presented to the City Council.
Mayor Geagan, Councilmember Carlson and City Administrator Hedges left the
meeting at 4:18 p.m.
Blomquist requested that Wachter be videotaped recounting his remembrances of how
the 1914 Town Hall was restored.
Next Historical Society Meeting
The next meeting of the Historical Society will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
Febraury 3, 2004.
Adjournment
Voracek moved to adjourn the meeting; Knight seconded the motion with all members
present voting in favor.