Owosso Historical Commission Minutes

October 19, 2004 - 7:00pm

Members Present:  Chairperson Brewer, members Ford, Passow, Heavilin, Lametti, Stechschulte, Ellenburg and Charlie Wascher of the Shiawassee County Historical Society.

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chairperson Brewer.

The Minutes of the September 21, 2004 meeting were reviewed.

            Motion by Stechschulte to approve, supported by Lametti; motion carried.

The Treasurer’s Report for September was presented in the absence of Treasurer Tobey.

            Questions & Discussion:

§        What is the Home Tour Phone Expense line item?

§        The Johnson Controls fees assessed to the buildings in the Commission’s care are still in contention.  The fiscal responsibility of the cost-for-service rendered in our buildings is seriously questioned, and the reasoning for assessing it to those buildings when the amount of service rendered is not in proportion to the fees charged all begs further justification from City officials.

o       Motion by Heavilin, supported by Lametti to request maintenance logs from Johnson Controls for their service on the buildings under Historical Commission oversight.

            Motion carried.

o       Motion by Lametti to table approval of the Treasurer’s report pending feedback from the city, supported by Ford.

            Motion carried

Old Business

            Historic Homes Bus Tour –

            There was general satisfaction expressed about the success of the Bus Tour concept for its first try.  The regular Homes Tour format is preferred by all, as it is more desirable to the public, thus more successful. However, since it is not always possible to get enough homes to populate a conventional home tour, and since it is agreed that a lapse in annual homes tours makes it difficult to generate interest in subsequent years, it is the consensus of the board that a bus tour may yet play a role in future homes tours. Various ideas were discussed should this type of tour be tried in the future, including partnering with Baker College as part of their fall orientation bus tour for the families of new students.

Brick Fundraiser –

            Motion by Lametti, supported by Stechschulte to approve the bid from Sunburst Gardens for the amount of $250.00 for re-laying the brick pavers around the flag pole to include new bricks purchased.  Motion carried.

            The castle chimney repairs have not occurred yet but are expected to commence shortly.

            Castle interior displays:

o            Shiawassee Co. Historical Society displays have been removed.  There was discussion over potential future short-term exhibits of local interest by local collectors.

o            SCHS has discussed possibly selling their books to us on a wholesale basis for us to retail at the Castle

George Hoddy Birthday Reception –

Since Baker College is planning a large reception honoring Mr. Hoddy’s service and his centennial birthday, Chair Brewer suggested that it would be appropriate to partner with them rather that attempt to do a separate celebration in his honor.  There was general agreement with this observation.

New Business:

            The City is preparing to review the Curwood Castle Park Master plan, and requests a member of the Historical Commission to sit on that committee in addition to Chair Brewer.

Motion by Ford to appoint member Jennifer Passow to serve on the Curwood Castle Park Master Plan Review Committee, supported by Lametti.  Motion carried.

            December Meeting –

                        After discussion, it was suggested that we scale back decorating the Gould House compared to previous years.  It was also suggested that we do a combined holiday celebration with other groups such as the Garden Club, Owosso Musicale and/or others, possibly on December 12, Sunday evening as an Open House from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Motion to adjourn @ 7:54 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Phil Heavilin