Historic Preservation Commission

MINUTES Historic Preservation Commission February 6, 2025 City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake, IL 1) Call to Order B. Niequist called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. 2) Roll Call/Attendance The following Commission members were present: Zach Benkert, Ana Freund, Nancy Haskins, Brittany Niequist, Madison Sommerfield, and Bob Wyman. Bob Kosin arrived at 3:29 p.m. City Planner, Elizabeth Maxwell, was present for staff. 3) Public Comment Samantha Vickers said she is currently working at the Illinois Railway museum in the archives department and met the “Bobs” who invited her to the meeting. She is interest in history. They all welcomed her to the meeting. 4) Approval of Minutes of the December 5, 2024 Regular Meeting A. Freund made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 5, 2024 meeting. Z. Benkert seconded the motion. On voice vote all voted aye. Motion passed. The Chairwoman took the items out of order as Mr. Kosin was not in attendance to present about the train station. 6) Trolley Tour 2025 B. Niequist said she really liked the trolley company from last year. B. Wyman said he has a quote and it is the same cost as last year. B. Niequist said they need to review the times. They sold out last year so they should add more tours this year. These trolleys only fit 30 people comfortably so they need to sell fewer tickets per trolley tour time. M. Sommerfield said it would be a great idea to involve the high school history teachers to get younger people on the tour. It would be nice to relocate the tour and have supplemental exhibits. She will check with the Crystal Lake Historical Society or McHenry County Historical Society. They can have it at the Colonel Palmer House and have displays and food trucks. B. Niequist said there are a lot of homes on the tour and to fit with the 25 th year theme they can do 25 stops. A. Freund said if it is a longer tour they can charge more. B. Niequist said they will need advertising help. Please reach out to anyone you have in the past and ask for ad. A. Freund has the letter from last year and she will update. She will also do the poster. What will their theme be? These are all pre-1900s homes and structures. Longer tours will be hard for the tour guides. They need four groups. They will reach out to Brynn from last year and B. Niequiest’s assistant, Rita. B. Kosin said he will be out of town for that weekend. 1 A. Freund and B. Niequist are one group. Z. Benkert can be the wing person for B. Wyman. M. Sommerfield said she can be the wing person for one tour group. They still need another group. Samantha Vickers said that MCC has a history club. They should reach out there for help and for interest in going on the tour. She said she can help out by being a wing person on the tour. They should do 12 tours. Samantha said that she will talk with the history teacher at MCC. M. Sommerfield will reach out to Sara at the Colonel Palmer House about the event and using the space, as well as food trucks and parking. M. Sommerfield asked how much of the previous articles should be researched. B. Niequist said that they should verify everything and add anything new if they can. They discussed the trolleys and B. Wyman will get an updated quote. B. Niequist asked for a motion on the expenditures. M. Sommerfield made a motion to approve the expenditures to secure the trolleys for an amount not to exceed $5,000. A. Freund seconded the motion on roll call members Z. Benkert, A. Freund, N. Haskins, B. Kosin, B. Niequist, M. Sommerfield, and B. Wyman voted yes. Motion passed. 5) Crystal Lake Downtown Metra Station – National Register Application. B. Kosin said he had done some research. He showed some photos. 1854 to 1974 is the period of significance. He noted a book about train depots. He said they can apply for History or for Architecture. He submitted the application to the State. Staff noted that Council has not reviewed this yet. B. Kosin said the State representative should review and respond back in a few weeks. A. Freund made a motion to support the nomination. Z. Benkert seconded the motion. On voice vote all members voted aye. 7) Other Business a) Hill Park Barn update B. Niequist has moved this to the March meeting. 8) Member Inquiries and Reports The Commission members sang Happy Birthday to N. Haskins for her birthday. 9) Adjournment There being no further business, B. Kosin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. B. Wyman seconded the motion. On voice vote, all members voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 4:14 p.m. 2