Historic Preservation Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I'd like to call the March 26 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to order. First order of business is oath of office to Mary Tanner.

I'm gonna ask you to raise your right hand. Tanner. I, Mary Tanner. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. That I will support the constitution

United Of

States Of America. The constitution of the state of Ohio. The constitution of the state of Ohio. The charter of the city of Green. The charter of the city of Green.

Ordinances, and resolutions enacted

all the laws,

there under.

We the lord.

So help me you God. Congratulations.

Just pause a moment till everybody gets situated.

And by coincidence, we have a spot with a plaque that already has your name on it.

It's always a good

officers as is required by the, charter that, once a year, we do that. And so

I can do that.

So Ms. Herring is going to, officiate, at least, the, initiation of the, election.

In the absence of the mayor, I am going to open the floor for nominations for the chair of the Historic Preservation Commission for the year 2026. Do I hear a nomination?

I would like to nominate mister Schreckenberger.

Do I hear a second? Second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, I close that motion. Will you take the role?

Mr. Schweikert? Yes. Ms. Tanner? Yes. Ms. Thinker? Yes. Ms. Panito? Yes. Chaz, do you accept?

I do accept.

Thank you.

Oh, now. Now it's your turn.

Okay. To continue the election of officers, the next position available is the, vice chair. And are there any nominations, with regard to the vice chair position?

I'd like to nominate Ms. Tanner.

Is there a second?

Second.

Roll call, please. Any discussion? Do we have a roll call, please?

Mr. Schweikert? Yes. Ms. Sanker? Yes. Ms. Panito? Yes. Mr. Schreichenberger?

Yes.

Ms. Tanner, do you accept? Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you. The

next order of business is the approval of the rules and procedures. This is, again, a requirement of the commission once a year. And, you all have had that, emailed to you, the rules and procedures. There have been no edits to this since last time. And, so, I would entertain a motion to accept the rules and procedures as they are presented. So moved. Is there a second?

Second.

Do we need a roll call for that? I think so. A roll call, please.

Mr. Schweikert? Yes. Ms. Tanner? Yes. Ms. Sanker? Yes. Ms. Panito? Yes. Mr. Schweikenberger?

Yes. Thank you. Now we have the roll call for the meeting. Please.

Ms. Senker? Here. Ms. Panito? Here. Ms. Tanner? Here. Mr. Schweikert?

Here.

Mr. Schweikenberger?

Here.

Also present are student representatives, Sadie Miller and Chloe Campbell.

Thank you for coming tonight, students. And, we're, it's a little late already in the year. It's spring already, and it's our first meeting of the year, so I'm glad you're here. And please don't hesitate to speak up if you have a thought. When we ask for any comments from the commission, please feel free to do so. We don't fight hard. So thank you. Okay. Next order of business is the approval of minutes from 10/23/2025. Is there, each of us have received the minutes from, through email?

And, is there a motion to approve the minutes? So moved. Is there a second?

Second.

Are there any comments, any corrections, any points? I just note that compared to the version circulated, I had messaged Mindy and that there was a change on one of the votes from present to yes to make clear that it was a yes voting instead of an abstention.

Okay. So noted. Any other comments? All right. Cindy, have you made that correction in the minutes? Yes. Okay. All in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

Motion carries. Thank you. Next, item on the agenda is the Southgate Farm, the, year end review that occurred January. January. I happen to be present for that, and, it was it's incredibly impressive of what they are doing over there, the records they keep, the amount of variety of vegetables that they deal with.

And so the farmers went through the entire list of everything that they've been doing. And it was like I said, it's very impressive. They also talked about their sheep and the fact that they have gained some sheep over the year. And that's planned. And so they did very well with that.

There are a couple of things. They do have some problems with some uninvited guests naming go coffers and other deer and Vols. And yeah. Vols. And and I'll be honest, I had to look up what a vole is because I never knew.

But a a vole is a also a rodent that kind of bothers some of the vegetables. But they're dealing with it very well, and their excitement to continue is very evident. And so, I think I can speak for the group that was there that, we are very happy with how things are going. They did bring up one item that, continues to be a little bit of a problem, and that is people that, don't have their dogs on leashes. And I don't know how we're going to deal with that, but, that's not a purview of this commission.

But it is a problem that they're dealing with. And, hopefully, there can be a solution. I mean, there's signage and everything else that we can do, but people still have to follow the law. Ms. Herring, is there any other that you wanted to know?

Thank you. Yeah, I have just a few pictures I want to share with the commission. Chaz, thank you for sharing the farm work. I want to share with you on the other side some of the things that the city has been busy doing at the farm this year, and the next slide. These we did install signage.

I don't know that it actually helps with the dogs, but, at least there is a notice there. There's been some other directional issues. The mayor was at the review meeting and made the comment that it might be, time to have more of a a sheriff's presence out there. The problem with the dogs, and I'm not unsympathetic to wanting to take your dog to that park where there's so much acreage and let them go, but there are other dogs, and they don't always play nice with each other. For me, the most heartbreaking part of it is that there's a farm dog, Josie, who is never off the leash and usually in the house because he's a little crazy.

Anyway, but but, you know, that's just an ongoing issue. This is the way we have addressed it this year. The next slide you're familiar with. This has been installed. It's right in front of the farmhouse. So as you're walking the path, it's very visible. I'm gratified to tell you that every time I'm there and there are people walking on the trail, they are standing there reading it. So very good. That's great. The Twisted Olive, and they were very gracious this year.

They developed, and you've seen them out here. I think I've shared them with you before. These are also at the Twisted Olive because you can walk to the farm from the restaurant. So this was a very meaningful partnership. They would like to do some more things. They offered actually to include a map so people could figure out how to get there. It's a very convoluted path. So we're still working on some of those things, but wanted to share that with you. Lot of capital improvement projects. This is one.

This is the equipment shed doors before. This is the equipment shed doors after. Although they look even better than that, they are now painted red. We've been really fortunate to work with a master wood craftsman. I'm not sure what the right term is for that.

Buck Buchanan has a lot of experience working for, the Hale Farm village, and he has done a tremendous amount of work for us out there this year. This is some of his doing. You we don't I don't have a picture of it, but there is now a concrete, drive in front of this particular equipment shed, which makes it a lot easier for them to get their tractors in and out in the spring when the weather is better. There will also be a new concrete drive between the house and the summer kitchen. Here are some major points.

I've already said butter butters. The butters. The butters and the downspouts. The butters and the downspouts. We looked at this for months and finally had a roofer come out and say, roof is fine. It's the the gutters and the downspouts that need to be cleaned out and pitched differently. Basement was getting a lot of water. Dehumidifier has helped that somewhat. There's more plumbing work to do there. We electrified the tool sheds, so there is exterior and interior light there for them.

Justin remodeled the interior of the summer kitchen. Looks so much so much nicer. The biggest one, I think, for everyone involved is Starlink. Some of you know that Internet, Wi Fi, and James is very familiar with this because they have the same issue at the schoolhouse in Butler. The Wi Fi is just really inadequate, and Justin works from home a good bit of the time.

So we purchased, a Starlink infrastructure, and it's working really well. I also wanted to share this really cool picture of our student municipal reps who came out, every year. Oh, I forgot to take the wording out of the middle of that picture. Oh, sorry. Anyway, our students, every August, September, go to the farm. That's Rachel leaning against the golf cart and the kids listening to her talk, harvest potatoes. This year, I think we got about 400.

That was a lot.

It was lot. It's and it's a big help to Rachel. She really appreciates that. Next year. One of the things I'm going to hand I have some this wasn't in your packet.

Because what I'm handing you is a draft. There's nothing secret about it. It's just that I'm not done, but I sure would appreciate having your eyes on it. You'll remember that we were discussing solar installation at the farm, which didn't get far. And one of the recommendations, that I had from Power Clean Future Ohio surrounding projects like that is to develop a strategic plan for the Farmstead initiative, so that those things are captured in the capital improvement plan, that so we're preparing for them.

Also, in a year and a half, there's going to be a leadership change, in terms of the Farmstead initiative. And so, it seemed like this was a great time to develop a strategic plan and identify roles, who's in charge of what, what needs to be addressed, what needs to be fixed, put together, mapping of where all the utilities and the new utilities are. It's also just about time to review their lease. I know it's year seven, and we don't renew it until year ten, but that will come faster than you think. So, we are putting together what you have in front of you is a request for proposals to do a formal strategic plan for the Farmstead Initiative.

The pieces I'm missing from this, there's nothing in there really around sustainability, which I'm working on. But even more importantly, what is missing from there is narrative about Rachel and Justin and the fact that, yeah, this is a city initiative. This is in a park. Capital improvements are involved. Lease is involved.

But this is also their home, and they want to stay there for a long time. And so understanding how to look through the lens of all of those things as leadership for this initiative changes in the next, eighteen months or so is really key. So if you have a moment to take a look at that and, offer your feedback, I'd appreciate it. And, I'm happy to take any questions or comments about the farm, if you have any.

I guess I would have a question if any of the capital improvements have anything to do with historic preservation commission in terms of approvals or, you know, certificate of appropriateness, any of that?

I imagine absolutely. But I the strategic plan will identify what those are. I think, not just identify an inventory, you know, here's what needs to be addressed now. Here's what probably needs to be looked at in five years, ten years. But that plan will also identify roles. Okay? So we wanna put a new roof on the woodshed. That's you. That's Historic Preservation Commission. If we want to, put a new roof and we don't on the equipment shed, that is city because it's not part of the National Register listing.

So that's listing. Did I say listing? That's, for me, the the beauty of doing a strategic plan. It lays it out. Mhmm. Here's here's what needs to be done. Here's who's responsible for it. Here's who's who who pays for it. Here's where there's potential funding for it, so that everybody is on the same page.

Sounds good. Any other questions or comments on that item? Anybody? Audience? None?

Hearing none, we thank you for that report. It is amazing that what's what's happened, what's transpired over the last few years with with that well, seven years with the farm. And, it's it's very exciting that that, when I was sitting in that room and and could feel the enthusiasm of the farmers, just in in their knowledge, it's an incredible feat that they're doing on their own.

Yeah.

And the volunteers are definitely welcome, but, you know, they're doing a great job and somehow making a living in it. So I appreciate that. Okay. Next item is the East Liberty, plaque review.

You got these in your packet. Yes. Yes. I Yes. Have some copies here if you don't have them right in front of you.

We talked about this at our last meeting. All of our local landmarks have a historic plaque somewhere on the exterior. I asked, Interior Graphic Systems, who's who is the company we use and have used, to, design a couple of options. One of the things that we haven't done in the past, for instance, Southgate is also on the National Register, but doesn't we don't have a plaque that, memorializes that, for want of a better word. So I asked her, to design with both in mind.

And so she on the left, you see there's two separate ones. The one on the right combines them. I'm open to any and all suggestions, even wording, for what use the wording that you see for local historic landmark has was established by a commission many people before you. And it has not changed. It doesn't mean it can't because there is no requirement for wording. There's no, you know, set thing set message, if you will. So just putting this in front of you to see if you have some feedback.

I do have a question, and it's because I can't remember. And while I'm about to ask is usually the same. So I see 2006 or 2026 on the plaque, which is obviously the current year and the year the plaque would go up. Is that the date we put on or is it when it's designated I local historic couldn't remember which date we choose, the date it got certified or the date that we put the plaque on?

I am almost 99% sure it's the date that it became the year that it became a landmark.

Because when did we designate that was before it was moved, wasn't it, the building itself?

No, think it was after after? In its current Before it was transferred. Before it was sold.

Yes. Moved. Yeah.

Well, I don't know about locally. I think it was after. I know the National Register was after.

But regardless I mean, it wasn't 2026.

Oh, no. Mm-mm.

That was the only question I had.

I That's just couldn't a good point. I you know, nothing on the plaque tells you that that's the significance of the date, but you're right.

And then this is just probably completely unnecessary. I don't have a big preference for either the set of plaques or the one big plaque, although the local designation and the national designation are technically separate. So there could be a time where those two things are not connected. And so I don't know if we would want two plaques so that you could always address one but not the other. I don't know. It's probably not going to ever be the case that you would lose one status but not the other, but it's theoretically possible.

They aren't linked. You're right. It's a good point.

I don't know.

Is this a better suggestion to separate them?

Maybe. I don't know. Then you've got dual mountings and how many holes do we want to put in the building. Like I said, I don't really have a strong feeling either way. It was just something I had noticed when this was circulated.

Well, my personal, opinion on it is not for the same reasons, because I I hope they would never be, removed from those designations. But I think it's just more appropriate to have two, two plaques because they're two very different designations. And, I think it it just, aesthetically is, to me, more pleasing to have those separated than having in one. And I agree with the date. It it probably ought to be the date of that designation.

And I'm wondering if that should also be on the National Register plaque.

Was my question too. Yep. Was does National Ones not have dates around here?

We I've been involved with some in in other not in green, but in other places, and that usually has the date.

Yeah. It

would have to be kind of rearranged, obviously, if it's a separate plaque or even if it's a single plaque because it's there isn't a real place to put it at this moment unless it was, like, above where it says this building has been placed on the National Reg Register, then you say Mhmm. On 03/26/2026, whatever the date was, and then and then by The United States. Don't know. Just

Well, we'd have to change the tense of that a little, but the building was placed.

Yeah.

I think this wording, I took off the Internet because there's no standard for No. For National Register. I asked them, and they said, yeah. We don't we don't do that. But I do like that suggestion.

What do the students think?

Well, if it was just, like, if you weren't designating the national and like the local, I think that the one looks better. But I agree with you guys' points that like if you want to separate them that the two looks better because they're two different things and the two dates would look weird on the one, if any of that made sense.

It it doesn't. I think that's probably why the wording is the way it is because they are this they were designated the same year, But that's not immediately obvious. So Yeah.

I do like the two separate to, like, to show that, like, they're two separate awards. Like, it's not just one combined. They

could add three inches to the bottom one to kind of mirror the top one to get the date on it so that it looks the same, but the wording is obviously making it two separate designations.

I was gonna say the one thing that was, like, throwing me off

about the two was that they were not symmetrical. Think it would just look better if it was symmetrical.

Well, that's a good point unless they don't hang in the same place, and then it doesn't matter as much. I drove by there the other day, and I looked out front, and I thought, uh-oh.

Where were they?

There's no room for these. You're right. If they're in proximity to one another, they should be symmetrical.

And even if they aren't next to in the same proximity, maybe they're on either side of the main door. And then it makes sense to make them more symmetrical.

Would make more sense to make them equal, yes.

Remember, you asked for comments. Yes.

I did.

But I think it looks good, asymmetrical, personally, just because I'm used to seeing the National Register of Historic Places plaque that is more of a rectangle than more of a square. And so that that follows more of, like, what you see in all national register locations. So it's more identifiable that way. And that's just, again, my opinion. Very few people are that aware of what those look like in other places.

Yeah. But but but to your point, if it if it is, like, on either side of a door, it might wanna look more balanced than if it's stacked like that. Again, it's just our opinion, and we don't have any

Well, you do. I mean, you can make a recommendation. I don't think you'd wanna I mean, we do need to take into consideration the property owner, because he'll he'll be the and we have spoken, and he has these as well. Think the the one thing that he is very concerned about, he'd like to attach them himself, which I understand. So I'm sure he would I'm sure you would be happy to hear any of your recommendations. So you can make a a motion or or you cannot. It's totally up to you. But I appreciate the feedback. That's what I was looking for.

I guess I would make a motion that we recommend the two separate plaques with the date updated to the date of the recognition.

Would that be inclusive of both plaques, the date? Because currently the one the National doesn't have a date.

I guess I'm thinking at least the one. If somebody would like to make an amended proposal, we could discuss it. I guess I kind of go back to what Sarah said, the language of the National Register plaque, it's not exactly standard. And if it's the same date, I mean, I guess, do we have any other National Register plaques in the city already? No. So we're sort of going to set the standard, I mean, least for us.

I really think that the date should go on there just because I think that's a significant part of this is Yeah. When it was designated. Could have been 1890, or it was 2020. You know? It doesn't so that's just, again, my my humble opinion.

I

guess I would amend my proposal to include the updated date on each,

especially since it could possibly be that they're not next to each other.

And again, it's just a recommendation.

I appreciate it. I mean, I'm just keeping my mouth shut because there's all kinds of things I don't like about any of them. So I think 1890.

It's a lot of a lot of space for

I I feel like East Liberty School should be front and center. I don't know. But this is how we've this is kind of a standard. It's not just us. But no. I really do appreciate your your feedback. So let me just recap. You're recommending the two separate plaques, each with the designation date, which is not 2026.

That is my proposal.

Alright.

And I would also, if if you accept, amending it to say that the tenths of the of the yeah. Whatever you've done to make that. Of the language to be, not has been, but was or something to that effect.

Got it.

Is there a second to that motion?

I

guess we can say all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? There's your recommendation.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. I think it's it's overdue. Yeah. Definitely. Okay.

Planning liaison report.

This is it. What you see up here, this is our final concept plan for the walkway at the schoolhouse. We were not successful in getting Ohio history funds for this. We have submitted or or about to submit, a grant to for CDBG funds that this is eligible for. Also, we have submitted, both state capital funding request and, federal, capital funding request to the offices of, representative Daniels, Weinstein, there it is, and, representative Emilia Sykes.

So the miss Sykes' office, a representative from her office, actually visited the site last week. So we're hopeful that we will get some funding, and can construct this in 2026. I will keep you posted. That's all I have.

You don't need any, feedback from us on that at all?

Desire We have some. Absolutely.

I think it's long overdue as well. It really will enhance the museum portion because currently, it's it's not a very, I would call it safe slope on there right now. And so this this will give you more ability to get navigate from one level to the other without wiping out. So I appreciate that. Any other comments? No? Thank you. Anybody from the historical society?

Our traditional historical society liaison is currently out of the country. And I don't have an official report other than I would pass along that I know as we're turning the seasons, they're about to go back to their regular hours and we'll have the schoolhouse open during the regular visitor times, expecting as people come back into the park and activities pick up to be more active as we sort of all come out of our winter cocoon. We'll see more of them come summer.

And I

do know that there's talk about historic education days continuing this year also.

Great. Well, thank you for the impromptu report. Is there any other business, anything on anybody's mind that they want to bring up before we adjourn? Anybody? Present. Well, then, I will call this meeting adjourned.