Document - Historical Society Minutes - Historical Society Meeting Minutes - 7/1/2014MEETING NOTES/MINUTES
EAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TUESDAY
July 1, 2014
3:30 p.m. – 2nd Floor Conference Room A/B
Members present: Chair Mary Ellen Voracek, Vice-Chair Kim Hazel, Bea Blomquist, Kenneth
Ekblad, Millie Gignac, Ted Ringberg, Dawn Simpson and Lori Tripp. Also present were Larry
Landis and Communication Coordinator Joanna Foote.
MEETING MINUTES & SECRETARY
The minutes from June, 2014 meeting was accepted as presented.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY BUSINESS
Larry Landis – Final Painting
Larry Landis presented the final painting to the committee. The members were delighted
with the painting. He talked about making sure that everything including the people
depicted were to proper scale. He indicated he had drawn people both from the day
members assisted with modeling on site and from photos that had been provided so they
include a mix of former and current EHS members and images from the Lone Oak Years.
He will have the painting scanned and on a DVD so prints can be made for fund raising
purposes. The painting 18x24 step down to 16x20 for signed prints the paintings can come
with a certificate of authenticity. Members asked about having a set number of prints on
hand and then take orders. Landis suggested not numbering the prints because of the
liability issues, but, than suggested offering a couple hundred prints as limited additions and
there after signed prints (materials and pricing to be determine at a later date).
Members discussed options for selling prints at the September 8 event. Foote suggested
taking orders for the more expensive canvas prints but having a number of matted and
unmatted prints that could be sold on site. The Historical Society can then afford to pay for
these prints to have available..
Members ask Foote about accounting of where and how the proceeds from the painting will
be dispersed. Foot will be meeting with City Finance Department staff to determine the
process the Historical Society will need to follow (likely identical to what was done by the
Eagan Fire Department) in selling the prints and accepting donations.
Landis will give the committee a signed contract along with a DVD which will allow the use
of this painting as well as the painting he did for the Fire Department for note card and such.
Update on 1914 Town Hall Recovery /Transition Planning
At its June 10 City Council Workshop, architects from Mohagan Hansen/McDonald
Mack presented several options for the future of the 1914 Town Hall, to the City Council. The
architects had been charged with providing additional information regarding feasibility and
cost for three options (with variations) associated with relocating/reconstructing the Old
Town Hall: building a stand-alone building on the municipal campus, reconstruct Old Town
Hall as a building addition of City Hall, and to explore use of the former Fire Administration
building.
The City Council discussed the options and their preferences at some length. They noted a
preference to restore the Old Town Hall structure and moving it to the Municipal Center
Campus. They directed staff to continue working with the architects to gather additional
feasibility information and costs. Options included exploring relocating Old Town Hall to the
Municipal Center Campus, as a structure-only with no services (seasonal use only) to a fully
restored structure with HVAC, a basement foundation, etc.
They also asked for limited options and costs regarding the future of use of the current Old
Town Hall site.
The City Council directed that no addition to City Hall be explored at this time , but that
programming space for the Eagan Historical Society should be a considered in the space
needs study underway for the Police Department and City Hall. They also suggested that the
relocation of Old Town Hall could happen in advance of any decisions being formalized with
regard to space needs.
At the workshop, Ringberg expressed his concern that the City Council had only discussed the building
and not the function of the Eagan Historical Society—noting that while displays are a part of what the
group does it is not all of what the group does or hopes to do for the community. There are many
documents and a great deal of information that needs to be scanned to save and to make available for
the public and there is presently no space to do that within.
Communications Coordinator Foote noted that while the 1914 Town Hall is a good representation of
Township days, the space needs of the EHS, particularly as it relates to programming, file storage and
maintaining documents and displays from more recent history (e.g. 1960’s-1980’s) does not exist. The
Mayor indicated that these needs should be addressed within the space needs study.
The Council briefly discussed fundraising opportunities, and suggested that once an option is selected
with regard to restoring Old Town Hall, the EHS could then consider fundraising for a specific aspect of
the project (e.g. HVAC system, a monument on site, etc.)
The Council directed that the options being prepared by Mohagen Hansen be brought back to a future
Options are expected to be further reviewed by the City Council at a September Council
Workshop.
1914 Town Hall 100 Year Recognition
Monday, September 8, 2014 Commemorative Event
The celebration is planned for Monday, September 8, 2014 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the 1914 Town
Hall site.
Sub-Committee Update additional notes
Tripp led the discussion for the sub-committee to update the members of the night’s
itinerary and where they are at.
An original oil painting depicting the 1914 Town Hall by artist Landis will formally be donated
to the Eagan Historical Society at 6:00 p.m. and prints will be available for the public to
purchase. Landus will attend the event starting at 5:00pm to answer any questions that
attendees may have. A formal presentation of the artist and framed oil painting will be held
at the City Council meeting, likely on Tuesday, September 16.
The local musician friends of Ted Ringberg who performed at the “Streets Alive” will
entertain the public with their 1914 period music again on stage. Visitors can browse Eagan
Historical Society displays and the public will be encouraged to enjoy old-fashioned games.
There could be a map showing the future placement of the Old Town Hall. They will have
two tents, but, just in case the Eagan room has been reserved as a backup in case of
inclement weather.
Committee would like to get the word out through many different forms of media as
possible, including an invitation to the Mayor and City Council, City Administrator and email
to all City employees. They will use the history signs created before the Streets Alive event.
The committee will serve root beer floats and are looking for volunteer staff to help with
making the floats and staff tables where they will be selling books, cards, pencils, etc.
Committee would like to have bookmarks depicting facts along with a picture of the Old
Town Hall, information about the Eagan Historical Society and information about the
building itself. These would be used for other events as well.
Other
Foote passed out invitations for the July 23, 2014 Annual Volunteers Recognition at which
will be held at Market Fest. The group decided to meet at Memorial Plaza - 5:45pm to watch
presentation 6:00pm. And plan dinner afterward at a local restaurant.
DesLauriers and Foote did their tour of Eagan’s historical sites along with Dave Elbon from E-
TV. Foote gave a brief description of the places they had visited while DesLauriers told
stories and facts that he knew on each place. The tour was capture on video for the
collection and future uses.
Blomquist and Simpson talked about the history of the crib they are donating to the Eagan
Historical Society (See attachment).
Attachments: The history of the metal crib donated by Bea Blomquist with pictures of the
Trapp and Heuer families; “Eagan Green getaway” article printed in the July 2014
Mpls/St. Paul Magazine
NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 3:30p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:24p.m.