Document - Historical information/data - Agenda for March 4 meeting of celebration committee - 3/4/1985
AGENDA
CITY CELEBRATION COMMITTEE
MARCH 4, 1985
4:30 P.M.
EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER
1. Roll Call
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Election of Permanent Chairperson
& Vice Chairperson
4. SubCommittee Reports & Discussion
a. History Book
b. Lone Oak Tree
c. City Celebration
5. Other Business
6. Adjournment
CITY OF EAGAN
MINUTES OF THE
CITY CELEBRATION COMMITTEE
February 4, 1985
A regular meeting of the City of Eagan Celebration Committee was held on
Monday, February 4, 1985, at 4:30 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center. Present
were resident members Carol Bergh, Sandra Masin, Rod Smith and Mary Voracek;
Bob Treichel representing the Volunteer Fire Department; Larry Wenzel
representing the Eagan Chamber of Commerce; Don Klober representing the 4th of
July Association, Ken Ketcham representing the Eagan Lions Club; Bruce Harries
representing the Eagan Jaycees, Reverend Loren Nelson representing the
Ministerial Association and Richard Bertz representing the Minnesota Valley
Exchange Club. Also present were City Councilmember Ted Wachter, City
Administrator Tom Hedges, Historian Consultant Lisa Fleming and Administrative
Assistant Holly Duffy. Absent were resident member John McElligott and Brad
Benzick representing the Optimists Club.
Approval of Minutes
Administrative Assistant Duffy was named acting chairperson for this
meeting until a permanent chairperson was elected. The minutes of the January
21, 1985 meeting were approved as presented.
Committee Objectives
The overall objectives of the committee were discussed by those members
present. It was the consensus of opinion that, while the city birthday
celebration was mainly conceived as an event for the residents of the City of
Eagan, neighboring communities should be informed of the events and would be
welcome at any and all of them. Don Klober reported discussion held by the
4th of July Association regarding the celebration. Klober stated that the
association desired to collaborate with the City Celebration Committee and
that the association was enthusiastic about the possibility of combining
celebration activities with the 4th of July activities. He stated that the
association had budgeted $3,500 for fireworks for Thursday evening (the 4th of
July) and that the carnival might be willing to help with funds for a second
fireworks if the committee would schedule them for the Saturday of the 4th
weekend. A brief discussion was held concerning funding possibilities. Among
those mentioned were a contribution from the City authorized by the City
Council, donations from businesses and/or private citizens and fund raising
activities such as bake sales sponsored by community organizations.
Lone Oak Tree
Councilmember Wachter distributed to all committee members cross sections
of branches from the Lone Oak Tree which had been branded with the City of
Eagan/Lone Oak Tree logo as examples of possible souveniers which could be
offered for sale and which could help fund a possible sculpture of the main
trunk section. Rod Smith displayed a clock which had been made by the
woodworking students at Rosemount High School as another example of possible
uses for wood from the tree. The clock was to be presented to Mayor Blomquist
at the next City Council meeting.
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Dates and Events
A major preliminary decision for the committee is the selection of a date
or dates for the celebration. Four suggestions were discussed, those being:
1. Hold the celebration the Saturday before the 4th of July weekend in
order to attract those people who would leave town for the next weekend;
2. Hold the celebration on the actual 4th of July in conjunction with
the day's other festivities;
3. Hold the celebration on Saturday, July 6, in conjunction with the
other festivities for that weekend; and
4. Use the 4th of July parade as a kickoff for events that would be
held throughout the summer and early fall.
In the discussion of these suggestions, it was the consensus of the group that
whatever date or dates were finally approved the parade should carry the theme
of the 125th birthday celebration. It was mentioned that holding the
celebration events on July 6 would create one large celebration and would help
the 4th of July Association by providing more events for the weekend and
drawing people to the carnival and booths. Other members objected to the
main celebration being held on July 6th because so many residents were
planning to leave town for the long holiday weekend that all who might
otherwise wish to attend the events would be unable to do so. It was also
mentioned that limiting the celebration to the one weekend might cause
difficulties. For instance, if the publication of the history was not
possible prior to the 4th weekend, interest could be lost at the time of
actual publication. The same was true with the Lone Oak Tree sculpture. When
considering holding the main celebration in the fall, it was suggested that
more people could attend because more would be in town, the weather would not
be as hot, and it would be a fitting conclusion for the different elements
comprising the celebration, i.e., the publication of the history, the
completion of the sculpture, etc. No conclusion was reached.
Possible methods and events to attract publicity and people to the City
celebration were discussed. A large birthday cake symbolizing Eagan such as
that used at the recent state capitol birthday was a popular suggestion. A
community picnic was another possibility. Also suggested were an historic
fashion show and various athletic events.
Subcommittee Selections
The committee then was divided into three subcommittees: City
Celebration, Lone Oak Tree and History Book. It was determined that each
subcommittee would hold a short meeting, select a chairperson and select a
date for another meeting at which time in depth discussions would be held and
recommendations would be formulated for the committee as a whole to consider
and discuss. It was also determined that a permanent chairperson and vice
chairperson would be selected at the next regular committee meeting which was
scheduled for March 4, 1985 at 4:30 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center.
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Subcommittee members were:
HISTORY BOOK CITY CELEBRATION LONE OAK TREE
Loren Nelson, Chair Larry Wenzel, Chair Richard Bertz, Chair
Ken Ketcham Bruce Harries Rod Smith
Sandra Masin Mary Voracek Bob Treichel
Lisa Fleming John McElligott Brad Benzick
Ted Wachter Don Klober Ted Wachter
Carol Bergh
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:15 p.m.
Dated: February 4, 1985 hnd
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