CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL – meeting convened at 6:32 p.m.

Members present: Audrey Alton, Betty Most, Ursula Peterson, Jeanne Zirbel, Lori Kukuska; Bob Ebert; Rick Burgsteiner

Staff present: Jaclyn Throne, Planning Intern

Guests present: Margaret Smith, Marge Stokke, Aloha Hovde

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/MINUTES –

Marge Stokke shared a collection of Tubbs’ medicines. Stokke attended an auction in Prescott in 1991 where cases of Tubbs’ items were sold. She also believes the record/accounting books were auctioned at that time. Tubbs was in business in River Falls until the 1920’s when it was purchased by the Freemans. Stokke had samples of Witch Hazel Corn Salve, Fli Di (to kill bugs), Perfume, Window Cleaner, Sewing Machine Oil, Pure Glycerine, Lemon Extract, Ready Relief, Petroleum Jelly, Tubbs’ Veterinary Salve, Iodomyrrh (alcohol) and Oil of Cloves. The Commission thanked Stokke for sharing these items with them.

1. Update: Leadership River Falls Plaque Project

Margaret Smith stated that she would like the Commission to approve the Rossel plaque. Doing so will allow the Leadership River Falls Group to have Pella proceed with the rest of the drawings for plaques. Building owner Erin Tomlinson has seen and approved the plaque as well.

Smith stated that Dale Jorgenson suggested that all of the plaques be hung at a height of 60" from the ground, which should work on all of the buildings.

Smith also noted that on all of the buildings only the last name was used to identify the builder, except on the Duncan McGregor Building. In this case both the first and last name was used. She asked if the Commission wanted to be consistent and just call the building the McGregor Building. Peterson replied that the building is known by both the first and last name because that is how Duncan McGregor was always known. There was a father and son in River Falls by the name of McGregor and she feels that it is important to leave the building identified as the Duncan McGregor Building.

At the last meeting it was decided that for the Wolff Building, the picture on the plaque would be of the Wolff Building and the Sanderson Building together. Carol McClelland had done some work in Photoshop to join the two buildings and remove some of the modern additions to make the photo of the buildings look as close to the original as possible. In doing so it was revealed that the lower portion of the buildings looked distinctly different.

Throne stated that the Commission needed to decide how to proceed. She presented three options, the first was to have the picture of the two buildings and their differences and the words "Wolff Building 1884." The second was to only show the Wolff Building, not the Sanderson portion of the building and the words "Wolff Building 1884." The final option was to show both buildings and the words "Wolff Building (Left) 1884." The Commission agreed it liked the second option, which was to show a picture/drawing of only the Wolff building.

Smith will call Pella to have them convert all of the photos to drawings. She will then meet with Zirbel, Throne and the business owners to get final approval for the plaques. She also stated that when the plaques are mounted it was suggested to use liquid nails in the holes as well as on the back of the plaque to help ensure a more secure mount. Smith also noted that on the Freeman Building the plaque would be on the side of the building rather than on the front.

2. Update: Glen Park/Glen Park Swinging Bridge Plaques & Dedication Ceremony

Throne stated that she is still waiting for the new posts to arrive. They should be shipped on Friday 8/15. It will take a few days after they arrive to have them placed in the ground.

The dedication ceremony was tentatively scheduled for September 13, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. Zirbel will invite Mayor Richards and Throne will contact the paper to have an announcement published.

3. Review Photos of Main Street Businesses

Throne has completed most of the pictures of the downtown area businesses. There are a few remaining because of high traffic and the buildings being partially blocked. There are also a few others for which a wide-angle lens is needed to complete the process. She is looking into purchasing one and hopes to have the photos for this session completed soon.

4. HPC Web Page

Throne met with the consultant that will be working on the new web pages for the City’s new website. There will be a link from the Community Development page to the Historic Preservation Commissions’ page. She hopes to have a page mock-up for the September meeting. Throne asked for any suggestions to the pages and/or content for the new site.

Kukuska suggested that there be a link for each of the buildings that have already been designated as historic as well as any upcoming projects.

Ebert added that the new site will be easy to work with and should be able to be updated in the future as other projects develop.

5. National Trust Preservation Grant

Throne received information on the grant last month. She would like everyone to keep it in mind. At this time there are not any projects that the Commission is working on that seem to fit into the strict guidelines of the grant.

6. 2008 Local History and Historic Preservation Conference/Scholarship

The Conference is being held in Madison the last weekend in September. The City will pay for hotel, travel and meals for those interested in attending. Throne and Lucero will be attending and Alton and Zirbel said they would like to attend as well.

7. Agenda Items for September Meeting

Zirbel would like to work on getting the Academy building designated. She will contact the new Superintendent to attempt to schedule a meeting to discuss what the Commission would like to do.

ADJOURNMENT – Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jessica Urbach, Recording Secretary