Document - Historical Society Minutes - Historical Society Meeting Minutes - 8/11/2015MEETING NOTES/MINUTES
EAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TUESDAY
August 11, 2015
3:30 p.m. – 2nd Floor Conference Room
Members present: Chair Mary Ellen Voracek, Vice-Chair Kim Hazel, Millie Gignac, Ted Ringberg, Lori
Tripp, Greg Oxley, Kern Hough, Bea and Jim, and Dawn Simpson. Also present was Kerry Phillips to
discuss the Streets Alive Event. Not present was Communication Coordinator Joanna Foote.
MEETING MINUTES
The minutes from July 7, 2015 were accepted as presented.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY BUSINESS
1914 Town Hall Building Reconstruction
Foote provided the following information in her absence for today’s meeting. Which Voracek
conveyed to the committee.
The City received a letter from the State Historical Preservation Organization indicating they would
allow the 1914 Town Hall reconstruction to move ahead. All construction plans meet historic
specification with the exception of the landscaping plan which they believed was too ornate and not
in keeping with the historic nature of the property. They agreed to allow the project to move ahead
while the landscaping plans were redrawn.
Parkos Construction was therefore confirmed by the City Council and the bid accepted. Parkos will
be the General Contractor on the project. Work is expected to begin on the site next week with
completion expected by early November. No tours or access to the site will be given during the
construction project.
Nearby neighbors have been notified of the project and the letter they received which provides
some additional detail.
It was also determined, due to building codes that the Historical Society will need to provide a
bathroom option each time the building is open to the public. Unless fundraising is successful and a
permanent bathroom/workspace building can be constructed on site, an ADA compliant portable
bathroom will be arranged on-site. Staff has requested additional funding to accommodate this
unanticipated need in its 2016 budget request.
With the project underway, the meeting to gather those potentially interested in fundraising will be
convened shortly.
Streets Alive Event
Event which will be held Saturday, September 12, 2015, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., located at Eagan
Outlets Parkway near the new Outlets Mall.
A small group of members met with Kerry Phillips, the event coordinator, on site to look at the
selected area for the Historical Society activities during Streets Alive. Phillips will be on hand at the
meeting. She and members Ringberg and Tripp can provide information from that site visit.
An area at the corner of the plaza was selected for the music and dancing through the decades.
Ringberg can provide additional detail. He describe the area where it is located, it is a large brick circle
with easy access. If it should rain the event will be moved into the parking ramp. Items should be
brought in and set up between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Tear-down will take place at 4:00 p.m.
Members decided to supply a couple more tables (due to $40.00 charge for each additional table
provided). Foote, Hazel or Ringberg will supply a total of 2 tents and asked Phillips for twelve more
chairs. Phillips will ask if (existing) benches at center can be moved.
Phillips also discussed parking, drop off area for people with mobility issues, unloading supplies and
loading at the end. Participants of the event will have a parking passes, but, it was suggested that
carpooling would be most efficient. Informational events packets will be available during the first week
in September.
An area at the corner of the plaza was selected for the music and dancing through the decades.
Ringberg stated that it is a tough weekend to get musicians. He has one accordion player with a box
that makes all the different sounds of a band. Three piece band possibly for the afternoon. If we can get
enough people to participate, Hough could do a on a sing-a-long a capella style. Put up a schedule for
teaching simple line dancing with music from the 20’s thru the 70’s. If necessary we can use recorded
music. The dancing will be held in the half circle by the street.
Items needed for the event are: signs of our Historical markers and those highlighting Eagan by decade
(to be placed in the garden area), prints, books and card samples for order, business cards, brochures,
pencils, pins, poster board with newspaper articles ,plat map and story of the Lone Oak Tree. Need
information regarding the opening of the Old Town Hall. Use items that are ready to go. Committee
discussed placement of items.
Volunteers to work event are Voracek, Hazel, Ringberg, Reid, Gignac, Tripp and Oxley.
Joe Reid has indicated he will not be at today’s meeting but will plan to be a part of the event.
Town Hall Displays Assembly
Wait until after Streets Alive to coordinate this.
DCHS Update
DCHS has received thirty applications for new Executive Director. Five of the applicants look good.
DCHS has taken over Sibley Site with Andrew Fox as its temporary site manager, contract for next
two years. DCHS will be providing the volunteers.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 3:30 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.