Landmarks Commission

Landmarks Commission Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater Str, Whitewater, WI, 53190 *In Person and Virtual Wednesday, September 03, 2025 - 6:00 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT Council Representative Orin O.Smith Board Member Pat Blackmer Board Member Kelsey Reilly Board Member Jordan Reilly ABSENT Board Member Penolope Alwin STAFF Llana Dostie, Neighborhood Services Administrative Assistant GUEST Andrea Svec APPROVAL OF AGENDA A committee member can choose to remove an item from the agenda or rearrange its order; however, introducing new items to the agenda is not allowed. Any proposed changes require a motion, a second, and approval from the Committee to be implemented. The agenda shall be approved at each meeting even if no changes are being made at that meeting. Motion made by Council Representative O.Smith, Seconded by Board Member Reilly. Voting Yea: Council Representative O.Smith, Board Member Blackmer, Board Member Reilly, Board Member Reilly Motion was carried CONSENT AGENDA Items on the Consent Agenda will be approved together unless any committee member requests that an item be removed for individual consideration. 1. Approval of August 6, 2025 Minutes. Motion made by Council Representative O.Smith, Seconded by Board Member Reilly. Voting Yea: Council Representative O.Smith, Board Member Blackmer, Board Member Reilly, Board Member Reilly Landmarks Commission Minutes September 03, 2025 Page 2 Motion was carried. HEARING OF CITIZEN COMMENTS No formal Committee action will be taken during this meeting although issues raised may become a part of a future agenda. Participants are allotted a three minute speaking period. Specific items listed on the agenda may not be discussed at this time; however, citizens are invited to speak to those specific issues at the time the Committee discusses that particular item. To make a comment during this period, or during any agenda item: On a computer or handheld device, locate the controls on your computer to raise your hand. You may need to move your mouse to see these controls. On a traditional telephone, dial *6 to unmute your phone and dial *9 to raise your hand. None. CONSIDERATIONS / DISCUSSIONS / REPORTS 2. Update on Starin Park Water Tower. (Blackmer) Blackmer explained that O. Smith, J. Reilly and Andrea Svec were at the Common Council meeting. Things didn't good as well as expected, however they didn't go unexpectedly. It would have been nice if we had the total support of the Common Council moving forward. I think we have some support that demolition will not be in the near future. There was a shift in the Council members since the election. At a time when we may have had complete support we have varied support at this time. Blackmer would like to go back to Council, there has been an anonymous donation of $10,000 but they would like the city to match the amount or the donation will go away. If we did nothing to the tower it would be stable. One the other hand we need to get an estimate to see if the secondary beams should be replaced. K. Reilly asked what the concern was. Smith stated the concern was the referendum was worded would you like to see any tax dollars. The push was to focus on moving to the Friends of the Tower. Blackmer stated that they went back to the nonbinding referendum seemed to be poorly written. There were other avenues they could have suggested or used. They have already invested $100,000 in the water tower. Andrea Svec is the president of the Whitewater Common Sense Group. Stated that TIF could be used for Landmarks. Smith stated that we could asked if the tower was in a TIF District. Dostie stated it is not. Smith doesn't know how TIF's are formed at the details, but could ask city staff. Svec asked how the referendum was written. Are we able to redo the referendum. If the answer is no, if we want to go back to Council. How can we get citizen's input. Can we do a door to door petition or other methods to get people to get involved? What would something like Friends of Tower do. Landmarks Commission Minutes September 03, 2025 Page 3 Smith stated it would be primarily fundraising. Svec asked who would be responsibility for the tower upkeep. Blackmer stated that we do not want take over the landmarks from the City. There is not enough local population, it is not over 5,000. Svec is there a way to get State or Federal money to support these. Blackmer stated that no there are no grants at this time. The administration would have to change. The next grant cycle, we would have to apply by September 12. They are more interested in developing historic district. Smith stated that the referendum could be redone but it would have to be a significant change. The city is looking at get a survey done within the city on a number of items. That will be done next year. We could ask to be included. Blackmer stated that we are not looking at a restoration but preservation work only. City Council directed the commission to raise private funds. J. Reilly asked if we go back to Council what the plan would be. Blackmer stated that the interior scaffolding is at an estimated cost $9,000. There is no estimate on where the beams go into the stone work and what that repair work would cost. Blackmer stated that there is a local option that has not been contacted for an estimate regarding work on the water tower. Motion to bring to Council to get matching funds to the the anonymous donor. Motion made by Board Member Reilly, Seconded by Council Representative O.Smith. Voting Yea: Council Representative O.Smith, Board Member Blackmer, Board Member Reilly, Board Member Reilly Motion unanimous carried. 3. Update on the historical gardens that were found next to Effigy Mounds. (Alwin) Alwin absent will put on next agenda 4. Discussion and possible approval of new location for the bookcases from the Whitewater Memorial Library or recommendation to send to Council for disposal. (Smith) Smith stated that there is not much to update. The move of the bookcase to the Anderson Library is now being organized by Kevin and archivists who are working together. Blackmer stated that she would suggest that the bookcases be posted to the auction site for disposal. Motion to Recommend to Common Council to send the bookcase to the State Auction site. Motion made by Council Representative O.Smith, Seconded by Board Member Reilly. Landmarks Commission Minutes September 03, 2025 Page 4 Voting Yea: Council Representative O.Smith, Board Member Blackmer, Board Member Reilly, Board Member Reilly Motion unanimously carried. 5. Updated on Hamilton House. (Blackmer) Blackmer stated that the house is for sale at $849,000. Before the Barber's purchased it a fraternity wanted to purchase it. 6. Discussion regarding the Historic District Banners. (Blackmer) Blackmer stated the historic district banners were ordered sometime ago. The Landmarks Commission did that as a fundraiser. Currently they are in the wrong location. They are very faded. We received a grant from the Whitewater Community Foundation. It would be nice to replace them. Smith asked if we knew if they Foundation would be interested in replacing them.. Blackmer stated we would have to write the grant. Smith stated we should look at getting them moved to correct location in the future. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -Historical Gardens at Effigy Mounds -Check in on Archivist bookcase -Anonymous Donation for Water Tower -Birge Fountain Concerns -Bassett House 100th Celebration of WFWC Ownership and America 250 Celebration -Community Education NEXT MEETING DATE OCTOBER 8, 2025 ADJOURNMENT Adjourned at 6:48 p.m. Anyone requiring special arrangements is asked to call the Office of the City Manager / City Clerk (262-473-0102) at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.