Document - Historical Society Minutes - Meeting Minutes - 10/1/2013MEETING NOTES/MINUTES
EAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TUESDAY
October 1, 2013
3:30 p.m. – 2nd Floor Conference Room A/B
Members present: Chair Mary Ellen Voracek, Vice-Chair Kim Hazel, Martin DesLauriers, Millie
Gignac, Ted Ringberg, Kenneth Ekblad, Bernie Jansen, Lori Tripp and Fire Chief Mike Scott. Also
present was Communication Coordinator Joanna Foote.
MEETING MINUTES & SECRETARY
Foote took notes for the October 1, 2013 meeting. A motion was made by DesLauriers and seconded
by Jansen to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2013 meeting.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY BUSINESS
Streets Alive/Showcase Eagan Event Recap/Survey
Streets Alive featuring Showcase Eagan was held for the first-time on September 15, 2013.
Approximately 3,000 people attended. The Eagan Historical Society had excellent participation by
members and the public was very interested in the Dancing through the Decades activity, the table
and the historical markers and signs.
Committee members heard comments from the public about the route being so spread out which
Foote clarified the mile and half route was a requirement of the grant received from Blue Cross for
this type of event. It was determined that more signage was needed for ease of finding different
activities. Comments from event goers included how great the food was, that there should be more
food available throughout the route, how much fun the committee’s booth was, and many people
asked about or made comments about the fire at the Town Hall. Members agreed that this was a
great event and would like to have it held once every two years instead of every year. Members
suggested that we might consider a family and/or organization parade with signs in a future year.
Someone stopped at the booth and said she thought she had photos of Eagan she would donate to the
Historical Society. Martin talked to a member of the Goers’ family (daughter) she has photos she said
she would get to us.
Recap Middle School Presentation
Foot recapped a recent presentation she did for all of the 6th grade classes at Dakota Hills Middle
School. The presentation focused on the history of Eagan to six classes of 60-90 sixth graders on
September 24, 2013. Foote commented on how attentive the students were and the amount of
interacted she experienced with them. She used the History on Deck playing cards to supplement
stories and a powerpoint presentation with photos and the students were very engaged. She spoke
primarily about the timeframe prior to 1860. She has been invited back for a return presentation that
will move forward from 1860 in Eagan’s history, likely in early 2014.
Update on 1914 Town Hall
Fire Chief Scott gave an update regarding the Town Hall and fire and the ongoing investigation. He
is not able to share many details due to the arson investigation.
Scott revealed that an accelerant had been used at back of building. He knows members have asked
about the possibility of Increasing the reward and states that this would not likely reveal much more
information as an adult will likely not tell anyone if they set the fire and a kid will provide
information for much less than the $2,500 being offered. The Arson Reward Line standard reward of
2,500 comes through the State Fire Marshall’s office. Scott said arson is very tough case to prove,
but, a lot of good things have come as a result of the investigation. Also, because of this fire the
public support has been overwhelming. He and other firefighters are very frequently asked about the
case and its progress when they are at events and when responding to other fires. The committee
thanked Fire Chief Scott and his department for his update and for its extraordinary assistance
immediately following the fire.
Foote gave an update on the inventory of the building. The only item remaining in the building now
is the potbelly stove and that will be moved shortly. All other items that could be salvaged are now in
the hands of Service Master in Eagan. This company specializes in cleaning and restoring items
damaged by fire and water.
She explained the different in insurance types and coverage on the building and the documents. The
City has insurance coverage through the League of MN Cities Insurance Trust. The coverage specific
to significant or precious documents is separate from the building coverage and is being utilized to its
fullest potential. This allowed Service Pro to go in and clean the floor in search of salvageable
documents. They did find enough to fall under the coverage which then justified and paid for the
bracing of the roof. Due to the significant damage throughout the building including the gaping hole
in the back, the beams are collapsing and the roof is collapsing. The construction company braced
and built a box on stilts to hold the rafters section up.
Bob Herskovits of the MN Historical Society, who has been working with Foote and assisting the
City through this process, indicates there is also some remaining emergency grant money available
for 2013. This could be used for a number of items including shelving and to set up an area for
storage of the Town Hall contents in a new temporary or permanent location.
The insurance adjusters/testing companies didn’t find any asbestos in the building (which would
drive up costs for rebuilding or dismantling) with the exception of the glass in the windows. Little
lead was found either, with the exception of areas on and near the windows. Staff will be receiving
an estimate for rebuilding the present structure using non-historic materials. This will be used simply
for insurance estimating purposes and does not indicate any decisions having been made for what
may happen to the building. If the estimate should come back and is above the insurance coverage
cost there is no need to look beyond this point as any use of historic materials would likely go well
beyond insurance coverage for the structure.
Foote asked the committee to think carefully about its priorities for what the Historical Society needs
now and into the future. Consideration needs to be given as to the display needs the Historical
Society has, what other functions could or should be considered. She cautioned that the group needs
to look at this process as a needs assessment opportunity so we don’t simply restore the building and
then find that this might be deficient for the Society near or future needs. We need to carefully
consider several options to bring forward to the City Council and perhaps later to the community, and
these need to be based in thoughtful consideration of needs as opposed to the emotion of the loss.
Foote stated that in her opinion, she doesn’t see the Town Hall “going away in its entirety.”
Although, the insurance representatives speak of the structure as “a total loss.” With this said she
indicated a variety of possible scenarios such as:
• “parting out” by salvaging things like the floors, windows, etc. for use in a future display or
location.
• restoring just the building outside,
• restoring the building back to the museum it was, at its existing location
• restoring the building back to the museum it was, at an alternate location
• restoration plus an addition to include bathrooms and office/work space
• taking the front portion or elements of the building and recreating some form of the building
in another “purpose-built location.
• utilizing another building in the community to serve museum and other functions
• other possibilities to be determined
Hazel asked about the old Fire Administration building, if could be kept as a City building. Scott
gave a brief update on the building and when sold where the funds were to go.
Chief Scott indicated the former Fire Admin building is 17,000 sq ft. He said the estimates for the
building’s worth are $1.2 to $1.5 million dollars. It offers many amenities that are very attractive to
school and business community looking for space. The City Council directed that the building be
sold to help offset the construction costs of the new Fire Administration/Station #2. There has been
interest by other outside arts and community groups as well as City entities in the use of this building
included the Art house and Police to store their Swat Trucks.
Foote indicated that it would be highly unlikely for the City to consider donating the building to the
Historical Society outright. She said the possibilities could potentially increase if a partner with a
funding source could be found. Ideally, a partner that has like interests to those of the Eagan
Historical Society would be optimal. A partner that comes to mind is the Dakota County Historical
Society. DCHS’s history centers are located in South St. Paul and Hastings but the major population
is in the County is in Eagan and Burnsville. Discussions of sharing displays and resources has been a
interest of both organizations. Other possibilities that could be researched could be the Eagan
Convention and Visitors Bureau or the Chamber of Commerce and/or a general non-profit
organizations, business incubator.
Most scenarios would require some level of fundraising. Foote warned that this type of fundraising
could not likely be City lead. Therefore, members might begin considering who they know in the
community that might provide leadership skills and a willingness to serve in the capacity of
spearheading a fundraising effort. She encouraged members to especially consider those that might
have a special interest in history. This type of discussion will be set aside for consideration at a later
date.
OTHER
Jansen updated the members about the Lawshe Museum with DCHS an ongoing exhibit called ERA
to Lockheed Martin - The Computer Industry in Minnesota. The public will be able to view artifacts
from ERA in St. Paul, Univac in Eagan in1963, Unisys, and finally Lockheed Martin.
Members discussed taking a tour as a group but ultimately decided to set this aside for a later date.
Ekblad commented that his dad is in construction and would be willing to assist where ever
necessary with the 1914 Town Hall.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting is moved to Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. as a number of
members are involved in School Elections on the regular meeting date of November 5.
ADJOURNMENT
Tripp made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Hazel seconded, all members voted to adjourn at
5:22 p.m.