Owosso Historical Commission Minutes
August 17, 2004 - 7:00pm
Members present: Chairman Piper Brewer, City Treasurer Ron
Tobey, and members Lance Ellenberg, Joane Ford, Phil Heavilin, Marti
Lameti and Bonnie Snyder.
Chairman Brewer called the meeting to
order at 7:05 p.m.
Motion by Ford to accept minutes of July
20, 2004. Second by Heavilin. Approved.
Tobey presented the Treasurer’s report
for July 31, 2004. It was noted that $1000.00 had been received today
from the Curwood Festival designated for Curwood Castle Maintenance and
that only 2 bricks had been ordered in the past month for the brick
fundraiser. Motion by Ford to accept July 31, 2004 Treasurer’s report.
Second by Snyder. Approved. Tobey also reported that Gould House
apartment #3 is now vacant and that the Comstock Cabin has been cleared
for cleaning and pest control.
Ellenberg arrived 7:11 p.m.
No members from Shiabruck were present
to discuss the Medieval Faire. Brewer reported her conversations with
Ken McGhee had noted reduced attendance despite good weather and
increased vendor participation.
Individual homes for the Home Tour were
not secured. Chairman Brewer reported that a twenty-nine-passenger bus
could be rented from Indian Trails for the day to conduct an Historic
Bus Tour. The cost for the bus and driver would be $475.00. It was
suggested that hourly tours could be conducted beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a half-hour break at noon.
Tickets for a designated time would be sold with refreshments at the
Gould House offered as part of the ticket. A guide, skilled in bus
tours, would be secured to give commentary specifically geared this year
toward the various architectural styles in
Owosso. Ticket prices would be
set at $10.00 per person. Motion by Lameti to hold an historic bus
tour, September 25, according to the plans discussed. Second by
Heavilin. Approved. Heavilin noted that it would be useful to prepare
a fact sheet for participants prior to the tour.
Brewer reported that Jennifer Passow had
been appointed by Council to serve on the commission for the term ending
12-31-05.
Motion by Lameti to accept the
resignation of Commission member Jed Dingens, regretfully. Second by
Ford. Approved.
Tobey brought word from Building
Official, John Archer, that only one bid had been obtained to for castle
chimney repair, but more would be solicited. Brewer reported a proposal
by Jed Dingens to administer bidding process, review and recommend bids
and to provide construction administration for castle chimney repair,
insuring conformance to historically designated specifications. Motion
by Ford to accept Dingen’s proposal. Second by Snyder. Approved.
Tobey reported that discussions with
John Archer were held concerning rotting of eaves and temporary repairs
at the Gould House. Archer promised to inspect situation and solicit
bids, as needed for replacement of copper eave troughs, shingles and
eave soffits. Members reported that T.L. Rodgers and Brett Kosier could
do copper work and these names will be submitted to Archer.
A neighborhood complaint concerning the
paint on the Gould House carriage house was noted. Members discussed
that it might be the garage that was the concern. An effort to solicit
someone in the neighborhood to purchase and move the garage with the
purpose of restoration was discussed. Brewer reported that the bottom
step of the Oliver Street entrance of the Gould House was again
rotting. It was noted that a new board might be obtained from a sawmill
at a lesser cost than a special order from a lumberyard.
It was noted that Richard Clark and
Ellen Hartley donated several hours of labor for weeding and trimming in
front of the Gould House. Commission members appreciated the
improvements.
Brewer read an invitation from the mayor
for commission members to attend the ribbon cutting of the new
Michigan Avenue brick pavement,
August 18th at 1:30 p.m. It will be held at the corner of
Genesee and Michigan.
Motion by Ford to adjourn. Second by
Lameti. Approved.
Adjournment at 8:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ronald J. Tobey, Secretary/
Treasurer
