Historic Preservation Commission - Regular Meeting

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Thank you. I'm Rob. I'm Rob Rambo. I'm the fifth generation on the same patch of land that my great greatgrandfather um bought in 18 in the 1860s. And um uh I built my house about a quarter mile from the house where I was born. and uh that kind of backed me into interest in Wildwood history and so forth. Um I uh I'd love participation in this committee. I wasn't sure whether I would or not when I first got appointed, but um it's been great fun. And um my uh I'm a a physicist and engineer and I've spent my career at the intersection, but I bailed out as quickly as I could and now I'm a tree farmer on that same, you know, 50 acres or so. So I'm happy to be here and welcome to everybody. Diane Shfeld. So I am new and um well I just a combination of things. I've uh lived in the area myself over 44 years. Uh my husband has lived here over 75 years and uh we have been in the same house in that in that amount of time. So, uh, we lived, uh, we lived fairly close to Bethl Church, which also has is a very historic church. And, uh, when Wildwood Incorporated, um, we at the church started the Wildwood Heritage Festival and I don't know if anybody was around at that time, but, um, that was one of the first festivals kind of celebrating the Wildwood area. So, um just um have had a lot of interest in the history of the area and have continued with that. And I had most recently talked with Robin about a sign that we have on our

property uh called the Wild Horse Creek Valley and it was put up in the 1960s and it's still up and it's a wooden sign carved out of wood and it's right on Heart Road. So, just talked to Robin about it a couple months ago and said, you know, do you have any interest in this? It's been around for quite a while. So, anyway, um I have a big big binder that I need to get up to date on everything, but um I'm very interested in in the history of the Wildwood area and preserving it. So, thank you. Welcome. I'm Debbie Quarterick. Um my family's been in the area in before Wildwood and uh since the 1950s and with that just have a lot of interest in the history of the area. So you know uh used to uh speak with ex- Mayor Bolan and and he thought this would be a good fit for me with my interest in the history of the area to to be on the commission. So he nominated me for this and now I've been advanced to vice chair. So, way to go. Here we go. Right. Here we go. Anyway, I appreciate the diversity of ages and whatnot on this uh commission and I think that brings a lot to to the community. You know, I like the things that we're doing as far as reaching out to the community and getting them involved and having their opinions on on what they think is important with the history of the area and how we can let people know about it. So, but yeah, I've been enjoying it so far. Thanks, D. I'm Alan Bockard. Um, I have been on the commission uh for almost uh my entire term. I only have about five months left where you will see me sitting here and then Debbie will take over for the remainder of this year as my term will expire. I uh reside with

my wife on uh just off of Fox Creek Road uh on Cadam Lane. We've been there for 11 years. Formerly uh I was pastor at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Chesterfield where I served for 11 years as a senior pastor and moved to Florida and uh thought we'd retire there but we decided we would retire back here. So we came back again and that's why we've been here for the 11 years. My wife was the principal at Pathfinder School. I used was St. John's school when uh she was principal there and we have three children and they all reside in the area and they all have children. So it's a great pleasure for me to serve for these five months. So Kurt Hunick and uh I've been on here I'm in my second term my first year of my second term on this commission. Um, Mayor Bolan called me and asked me to serve on it. I thought, well, that's kind of in my field. So, I'm an architect and and so I'm doing it. I'm doing it. And I was previously I spent I think seven years on the architectural review board. So, and um when they first asked me, it's like, well, how hard can this be? The city's only 25 years old. How much history can there be? There's quite a bit actually. Anyway, it's been a pleasure to work on it. I'm all done. Hi, my name is Elizabeth Broyals and I am so excited to be back in this commission. Um, I spent four years here. some of you were here and um and I I love this commission and I love it most of all because we we do something with the prosperity of the past

and my my richest things that I've done I I'm I'm a retired educator and if any of you need counseling don't call me even though I'm still a counselor in many ways place. But I found a place in north central Missouri. I say Missouri, that's what we say in out west and up north. And I found my great great great grandmother. not her tombstone, but enough stories that I found her and we put my cousins and I put a headstone in this in this place. And so it means a lot to me that I know where she is and it meant a lot to my cousins. And you can do anything if you just keep talking to people in a vicinity and find your relatives. And it was lucky for me too that I put um my great greatgrandfather's uh his tombstone was kind of skinny and tall and you couldn't read it. You had to mark it with chalk. you know how you do that. And he was in the Civil War in Missouri. He didn't leave Missouri, but he got shot in the arm and they released him because he couldn't hold a musket up. So, there's all kinds of things that just push you forward to find out more and more about your own relatives, and that's what I like about this commission. Thank you. Thank you. I'm Steve Larson. Um, I'm new to the

commission. My background is that I was born in California. Um, only lived there a couple years. My family moved to Delaware. I lived there for about 10 years. I like to tell my family and friends that I'm by coastal California Delaware. Um, but lived there for about 10 years. Moved here in 76. So, I've been in Missouri for five 50 years. Um, been in Wildwood. No historical ties here, but lived out here since 1999. So about 20 25 26 years. Um I've spent the last 35 years as a practicing lawyer. I worked for Traveler's Insurance for the last 34 years and actually just retired 3 weeks ago. So I'm looking forward to spend a lot of time with my three grandchildren soon to be four in the pool of the backyard. Um we had them over this weekend. It's a lot of fun and enjoying that. My wife is still working, but I get to enjoy some early retirement. So, um, looking forward to getting more involved with the commission now. I I started as a alternate back in the fall and just recently promoted to a full commissioner status. So, I'm excited and and love history, love the Wildwood history, and just looking forward to getting more involved. Thank you. Thank you. Hello, I'm Aishi Boret and I'm going to be a senior in high school this upcoming school year. I was born in New Mexico, but I moved to Wildwood about like 10 years ago. and I joined this commission just because I love history and I wanted to learn more about the history of where I live. Thank you. Thank all of you and and uh I think that's helpful to all of us as we move together and learn more about each other as such. We do have one individual online our liaison from Oh, I'm sorry Jill. Tell us about yourself. Joe, we know all about you, but we all just like to hear it. Good evening, everyone. Uh, I moved to

Wildwood about 48 years ago when my husband and I moved from our first house in Fenton to here. His family's been here for 190 years. So, that is my interest in that's what fed my interest in local history is the history of Day's family. And as all 1800 family 1800s families were is that they had lots of children who married lots of other people and the family trees get very complicated and fun to untangle. So uh that is the basis of my expertise so to speak and my interest. That's it. Thank you Jill and my apologies again for skipping you. Not a problem. We're we're going to rise and Elizabeth is going to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. I know from memory from grade school, right? The United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice. And I hope all of you have had an opportunity to peruse at least the minutes of our most recent meeting. If there are any corrections, we'd like to hear them now. If not, they'll stand approved as they've been printed for you. Any additions or corrections to the minutes? There being none, that they stand approved. And we do have some visitors this evening.

We normally do not vote on the minutes un unless you request that we do. Well, I believe that there is a provision in Robert's rules for the minutes to be approved by unanimous or consent. Yes, that's what we've been doing. And so, unless someone requests a a change, that's what we'll continue to do. And for public comment, do you have any cards? Do you have anyone that wants to speak? U Mr. chair. I have I those in the audience are uh presenting for various items that are on the agenda. Yes. And we especially welcome our former chairman who's taken a seat in the back row as far as away as she can be but be with us and we're grateful. Thank you for being with us, Jen. Oh, if if I may, I don't know if this is a public comment or not, but I was just talking with Bob before the meeting. Several years ago, the city attorney gave us a lesson in our legal responsibilities and dangers of communication between members on the commission of what you know our ethical legal requirements and I wonder because of so many new people on the commission whether that would be a good thing to schedule again. So, I don't know if this is the time to bring it up or at least if we could ask Robin if you could could look into that maybe scheduling that sometime in the future. If there's no opposition, we'll ask Robin to do that. Yes, the department will be happy to look into the schedule.

We'll look forward to that happening. And there's no other public comment. Jill, I believe you're on this time. uh as we hear what's going on with the Wildwood Historical Society. All right. Um as you know since May's uh your last meeting our president Linda Hart Camp uh passed away the day prior to her being awarded the champion of cons and conservancy. Uh the historical society is still reeling uh from this situation. Um, I'm announcing before each of our society's presentations that we're in desperate need of volunteers and I list typical areas of uh types of needs. Uh, over the past month, it's become really apparent to me as archavist, which means the protector. Uh, one of our biggest help would be somebody to become a facilities manager. that person wouldn't have to do anything except to check the status of things maybe once a month like furnace filters and things like that and just to let somebody know that those things need to happen. Um and uh Lind Link has previously stated that she didn't know all that Linda did until she tried to do some of it. And that is so true. Operationally right now it's Lynn and myself basically handing handling a lot of the tasks and uh usually my husband David steps in for some of this but he's not able to do that right now. Uh this is not a forever sustainable working model. So I will keep chatting with folks and announcing our wish list for tasks and volunteers and hope that a few people step up to help. Additionally and simultaneously,

one of our one of the casualties of the recent major Wildwood storms is that uh the society lost our internet service through bay due to a non-fixable equipment issue on bay's end. Uh working with uh Spectrum, which will be our probable solution for this is taking much longer than anticipated. So as of right now, we don't have any internet capabilities. Um, but we're chugging along and figuring out how to do things. All of this is solvable one way or the other. In the long term, just short term things are difficult. Uh, but I appreciate everyone's patience uh in in helping us through this and um we look forward to what the future brings. Thank you. Any comments or questions for Jill? There being none, thank you Jill. You're welcome. We will move on to uh old business and society to share a few comments with us. Lyn link, she is a trustee and uh she shared some really nice comments uh that I think is important for this commission to hear as well at the last city council meeting. Wonderful. Well, we welcome her. Thank you. That's fine. Please identify yourself too so we get your name. Imagine

a forest. businesses historic such as Hanken House and Bible Church which are visible monuments. Okay, microphone change. um which are visible monuments to the history of those who built, resided, and gathered within them. Dedication to historic preservation was enshrined by the city's founders through the establishment of the historic preservation commission. Thank you to all of the dedicated citizens who have and continue to serve on it. However, a majority of the research, preservation, and dissemination of the history of the people and towns that encompass present- day Wildwood and even adjacent areas like Sherman and Jedberg outside of the city's borders has and will continue to be done by a group of devoted volunteers not part of our city's government. The Wildwood Historical Society is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation staffed solely by volunteers and funded by memberships as well as continued private donations from a diverse group of people. I wanted to thank the city for acknowledging the efforts and members of our trustees uh Jill von Grubin and the late Linda Camp. As a member and trustee, I've witnessed Jill's extraordinary talent and dedication in her endless time spent with research, preservation, dissemination of our history, including authoring many books. Like Jill said, even though I saw Linda on a regular

basis at the historical society, I never fully realized how much work she did on a continuous basis until recently trying to do just a fraction of it. Linda's family asked that donations be sent in lie of flowers to Wildwood Historical Society. Jill once told me that the first time she met her Dave, her husband Dave's family, who like she said, their family's been here for over 190 years, she found out that most of the people who lived here were all somehow related to each other. Linda's own ancestry is evidence of this as well. She was first cousin to our trustees Richard Hart and Marilyn Etherton Weber is also a distant relative of our trustee Sandra Becker Gernau and also a descendant of both the Porters and the Bouquet families and Linda once instructed me that it is pronounced partner and bucket. Um and so I you know and I really and I found out that you are a a descendant of the partners. Yes, her endless dedication and time spent at Wildwood Historical Society helps ensure the stories of these amazing people who came before us are not forgotten. While Linda's family ancestry is a multi-lineage, multi-generational part of our history, her countless hours spent volunteering along with all the efforts of the other Wildwood Historical Society members, past and present, helped to ensure that this treasured history is not lost. It really says a lot about our community that so many people whose ancestors came to our area more than a century ago still call Wildwood home. and we are part of preserving its history. To anyone who may be watching later in on a YouTube

video who is not familiar with the WHS, you can contact us at wildwoodhistorical society.org to schedule a visit of our historic property located at 18750 Highway 100, where the original linement of historic Route 66 once passed through the Hollow neighborhood. There you can see the history of our area and the amount of dedication of our volunteers in our library, museum, our circa 1852 farmhouse, and our meeting hall where we host monthly events free to the public with authors and speakers. Generally on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. In order to continue this vital work, we need more volunteers to do everything from general maintenance to archiving donated items. and we need continuing private donations in any amount. Like me, many of our donors, volunteers, and members have no ancestral history in our area, but we feel a calling to tangibly help preserve history. Member Joyce Mercer is also a member of the St. Genealogical Society and has devoted countless hours over the past decades researching our local history and is now researching and mapping our historic family cemeteries, many of which have been lost over time. members Ellen Riker and Doris Keven Frankie while doing historical research for projects for the city rely on our library of local information which was researched and archived by our members. Doris and Ellen know that our library houses specific local history some of which may not be available anywhere else. I want to invite everyone to become a member of the Wildwood Historical Society. Whether you live in Wildwood or just want to be a tangible part of preserving history, by making a

taxdeductible donation, becoming a member or volunteering at the Wildwood Historical Society, you become a part of our amazing history, too. Again, you can contact us at wildwoodhistorical society.org. Thank you. Thank you very much. Is there any other comments that we want to include? Now, we'll go on to old business and we'll hear what's happening with the Essen Log Cabin. For those of you that don't know, Joe is on vacation. So, we we welcome Joe's replacement. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of this commission. Uh we've got a little bit of a malfunction going on with our regular microphone, so hopefully everyone can hear me offline. Okay. Uh but I'm going to stand in uh for Joe tonight on some of his items. Um and that includes uh the most recent update we have um in regards to the SN1 cabin. Uh now as you may remember at our last meeting uh we had selected a contractor and we're prepared to uh move forward with them. Um however it has come to the department's attention uh by it city attorney. It has been advised um that uh given uh some discrepancies in in the procedure in selecting these betters um it would be best if we went back and rejig the project. So unfortunately uh we are back to uh rebidding the project. We're going to go forward uh very quickly with that over the next week. Um and uh we hope that it will not uh delay it any more than it would have been given lines with the village green and celebrate while

um however this is in the our best interest. the fair process and uh that that the best bid does get selected. So what what happened with the original guy original contract in the document? Yeah. Yeah. You have a memorandum regarding uh what happened. Um uh but yes uh as we were um proceeding forward uh with the contract for this letter, it was advised by the city attorney that um given some of his agent posively that that's question. Pardon me. Yes. A question of Miss Keith. I didn't know the the protocol. Sure. Thank you, Miss Keef. um asking in public, is it appropriate to request a copy of the bid package? Um but all types of consu uh considerations for u confidentiality and u um non-disclosure all that stuff aside. I would not dare unless it was appropriate. Um, I've got a career in in contracting and I' I'm not going to ask who developed and assembled the bid package or who developed and assembled the last bid package. Um but I'd just like to know that um if I don't find out who what consultant or what internal um

departmental uh talent and skill put that together just pour over it and uh uh and just uh get one more set of eyes on it. I've got lots of decades of experience at it in this type of civil work. the new one. Yeah. The bid will be available for the general contracting community on Monday, June 30th. So that would be this coming Monday. uh if you were able to spend the the weekend um potentially putting together some comments uh we could stick with that timeline otherwise I think we would have to move that timeline back. So that's my please and I love to pour over it over coffee and after I become bored watching those grandkids play in the pool can take eight or 10 hours of that a day then they make you get in and play with them. I'm happy to forward the bid package to you tomorrow if you just Thank you. Thank you chair. Um, additionally, I I should note that when we do revid the project, the department in the interest of potentially saving the city money um is asking for three ad alternates as well. Um, including the use of manufactured stone to screen the new pore in foundation walls for the cabin. uh the substitution of a manufactured type feeder shape uh tapered shingle versus a natural wood type and the replacement of the natural stone for use to access the cabin with pavers that now form the exterior area

of the civic oval. So all these would be at alternates. Um and we're also uh receiving some feedback pattern regarding Yes. I I would encourage all of the members to be sure and read the document. It's just a one-page document dated June 26 that you find in in your folder which clearly explains why this is happening in a in a very articulate way I believe so that we are aware because I'm sure other people may ask us some questions about this and uh this is just basic information but it's very good information. Thank you. Uh if you have any other questions of the department at this time here if if I may. Um this will be also advertised for anybody to bid on it. Uh that's correct. Any other questions there? There being none, we will move on. I believe you're still at the podium. Yes, but if you will, uh, I have put together some presentation slides, so it'll take me just a minute to get on the screen. And uh I brought some banana read. You

all help yourselves to that. I did not put napkins out there, though. There you go. All right, Mr. Chair, uh members of this commission, uh as you are aware, uh we are kneede now in our to our historic preservation plan process and things are getting real. Uh so this week uh I have been working uh very hard uh with Marsha Bole our project manager from MIG uh to put together an openhouse and a series of focus groups for our planning efforts. Uh this will take place on Thursday July 24th and Friday July 25th. uh I would like to uh go over that itinerary with you and included in your memorandum um are also a list of uh in of um people to invite to these focus groups. So if you'd like to take a look, I would certainly love your feedback regarding that list. Uh so on July uh 24th uh we're going to start with a tour a historic tour of Wildwood with MIG. Uh this is going to be carried out mostly by department staff. However, if any of you um would like to participate in some of that narrative uh history component. Um not looking at you too hard, Mr. Scott. Um, you are certainly welcome to ride along in our airond conditioned vehicles uh for this historic tour and help share the history of the area. Um, again uh that that tour will happen from 9 to noon. If you're interested in participating, please let me know. Uh our first focus group of the day or

of the two days uh will be our regional stakeholders group and this will take place that afternoon and it will take place virtually. And so this is where we reach out to all of our our regional friends. Um so the Missouri Humanities Council, um the uh Missouri History Museum, uh Great Rivers Greenway, those types of stakeholders. Um, and since they are all over the place and potentially statewide, uh, we decided a virtual focus group with those stakeholders would be best. Uh, so that's who we're meeting with then. Now, particularly relevant to you uh because this is where you begin to get uh to be uh very encouraged to participate is our uh historic preservation plan openhouse which is planned for that evening 5:30 to 7. A presentation of the historic preservation plan effort will be given by MP. Uh they're working on a series of interactive boards collecting input. Uh we're hoping to have a lot of commissioners there to have conversations uh with the people and we're going to send out quite a few postcards uh for this open house. It's going to be advertised in the e newslet e newswsletter um in our spotlights social media. We're going to send postcards to the 1,300 property owners, business owners, uh residents, etc. along Route 66. Uh we're going to send it out to all of our historic property owners, uh to all of our Wildwood business donors. Uh there's a few all of our churches and our schools and our organizations. Um so that's my list for for postcards. Um if you have any other ideas, please let me know. Um but we are hoping to u

make this discourse preservation plan open house attendance. Uh following the open house, we're going to have our regular uh regular meeting of this commission. So that will start at 7:15. And this is a very important meeting for you to attend because you're essentially going to be our sixth focus group. Um so this is your opportunity to really have some intensive input um into the the plan uh visioning and process. So please do show up for that regular uh so that's Thursday. Does anyone have any questions for me for Thursday? Friday's itinerary is as follows. And this isn't super relevant to you because we aren't inviting you to all these focus groups. And the reason we're not inviting you is because we actually want to keep the group as small as possible while getting the most diverse viewpoint. So while we do want your input, um, and while we're happy to share all the notes from those focus groups, um, adding another 10 people into the mix is probably not not our best bet for getting that that worthwhile input. But I did want you to know what's happening. Uh so we are partnering with the Wildwood Historical Society on this and we're going to host these uh f focus groups and meeting hall. I felt it best to get out of city hall groups um and meet people where they're at. Uh the first one of the day will be with our historic property owners. local will send notice to a collection particularly our wildly historic landmarks um both registered and non-registered um because obviously we have a lot of normal landmarks that maybe don't have that recognition um but

I've assembled a list for you to look through our second uh group will focus on African-American heritage and indigenous heritage um and that's actually a pretty lengthy list of folks Well, uh uh following that will be our route 66 group that will bring in large number of stakeholders and then ending the day will be a wildwood historical society uh focused group on their me with their membership and we'll also make sure that our MI gets a tour of the Wildwood society museum. Uh so that's our plan for Friday. If you have any questions regarding the focus group and what that's going to look like um then uh we do plan to obviously share hopefully extensive notes regarding with you so you will have an opportunity to comment and discuss um but I just wanted you aware that that's going on and I'd certainly welcome your input on our focus group through uh lists um that are in this. Thank you. Any questions? All right. Then I'm going to return to a previous discussion. Uh we had this last month, but I'm going to ask the same question again because we have some new faces. And um also I told you that this this question would haunt the agenda until at least our July um meeting uh when hopefully all of this will start culminating into um some feedback for the plans. What is your vision for the historic preservation program for the next 10 to 15 years? What does that look like to you?

Like when you think about preserving wild with history, are you thinking buildings? Are you thinking youthinking? Are you thinking interpretive signage? Uh what especially floats to the top of your mind about what is historic preservation? What is worthing here in this city? And you're asking for discussion from our group at this moment in time. Yeah. Well, like I said last month, I've been getting the community more involved in knowing about the history, like having our presence at our events over the summer where they can actually, oh wow, look, there's a historic preservation commission. You know, some people might not even know we existed. And then just, you know, Mr. Scott telling him a bunch of history about things that, you know, he's familiar with and then us doing different things. I think that's all brought brought more attention to it and I think that will continue to bring more attention to it. Anyone else? Bob. Bob. Um, I see my notes from last month where I mention the historic markers. I stop at every new one I find and there's I think there's only seven of them up in there. I may have found them all. 11. Nine. I'll be out looking. Uh, the one specially for Orville. Um, I live a spit from there, but then the one for Westland Acres and several others. I'd like to see 50 more of them. And it sounds like there's at least half that we already know could be uh devised and plunked out there on the road different places.

The more of them they see, the more people will be aware that there's 25 of these things. Um I saw one or two that I drive here. Um that just communication, just visibility, uh says a lot. getting people in the habit of looking at our city's website. That's quite a that's quite a a a poll. Um I've seen evidence of quite a bit of improvement in the organization, the flow and the and the compartmentalization of of information that makes a little more sense than what I've seen in the past. Um, I've heard some pretty pointed remarks when I bring up the website and in in the years that I've lived here, especially since I've become more involved in the city. So, seeing that improvement that and that uh attempts uh at better organization really pay off. People still don't look at the website for the value it brings there. Just today I was replying in a email uh and this has nothing to do with historic preservation but the more people get in the habit of doing anything for any reason they'll keep in that habit for new reasons. I sent the u questionnaire um that had been sent out that I responded to. I sent that I was there was a deadline of midnight Saturday night for anybody who wanted to reply to it. So, I sent that out under separate cover to all 18 residents in subdivision that I'm trustee for. I got responses back from four of those 18. Nothing back from the other 14. One of the 14 is another trustee or was just recently. Um, I don't even know how to answer any of these questions. Um, I was raised in North County

as though that means anything about anything for any reason. I was raised in North County. Um, but I sure took that survey and I dealt with it with a accord that I think it deserved. Another responded back, I wouldn't even know where to start. I haven't been to any of these places that are being described. So they go to work and they come home and they spend their entire life somewhere besides Wildwood apparently. Uh third one uh said that was really pretty interesting. Uh both my wife and I took it separately and then compared notes with it later. And that's an old retired couple from Leoo that bought a nice place. And then the fourth one, I'm trying to remember the fourth one. Oh, they ended up taking it. Uh, but it came in quite a bit after the deadline, so it might have even been received because you might have fibbed about the deadline. I don't know. Um, but that's four out of 14. Pretty pretty poor um showing to begin with. And then only one of those four with a a proactive or a productive reply. Um, that really struck me as great examples of what you're fighting. Um, everybody's got a life. They're not only too busy with that other life, but they're focused on being too busy with that other life to get involved in anything. You gota you got to entice them. You gota you can try to shame them. You can you can bribe them with something or you can cajul them. Um or you can just get their curiosity up so that they put down the Facebook for five minutes to go look at something else for that five minutes. Um so that's just my rambling. Maybe we could do a Facebook page.

Steve, you may Okay. As an architect, obviously my vision is on buildings and uh preserving the buildings we have, the historic buildings we have, which we are losing. and in a meet you know as we speak we are in the middle of losing buildings. So I I want to I hope that this preservation program can save these buildings. Where I think it's most effective is the route Route 66 corridor along there. It is pretty much unique as a image of a country high as it was Route 66 back in the 30s, a country highway with stands around it, little houses uh and that. And I think we're not you're not going to get residential development along there. It's going to be commercial. And I think we've got to make this we've got to show the possibilities of this to different businesses or people commercial type of clients who would want to open a shop, a gift shop, a restaurant, any something like that. So um and I I think that's that's what we need to to look at and emphasize. I think that'd be the most effective way to approach it. We can try to we can keep people interested in preserving their homes and if they have an historic residence and I think when we visited people, they're interested in preserving their homes when want to make modifications.

But I think we're we could very well lose so many of the little uh cottages along Route 66. uh if we don't do something about it and that's that sets the image up of the whole uh of the whole road. So that's where I that's what I see as uh my vision for the next 10 15 years. Yes. Are you going to buy them out? Um, are we going to subsidize um all of their expenses um to get a legal first crack at purchasing it when they when they either uh depart this earth or uh or go to a nursing home? What what is our what is our attack plan on saving these uh little houses that we see left? And I have to imagine there were hundreds times more of them in decades past. Um yeah, I I think when they people go to sell that I think if we can bring to them possible buyers and that would be our um economic development of director of the city that could bring these economic opportunities to these people and bring a a shop owner together with somebody who wants to sell their little cottage. I'm not saying the city should buy anything or do anything like that. I think we just need to bring these people together and promote it. So, somebody who wants to open a

restaurant would see yes, there's a there's a market here for this and here this is a house or this is a building that I could use. And I think that that's happening. at just the uh new uh uh uh brewery that just opened up. Uh they saw the possibility and they invested in it. And I think there's there's other things, but somebody's got to get out there and find find the businesses and promote this so people see this as a place they want to be. And I think there is a There's there's a great interest in people who will want to drive Route 66 through this area. Yeah, I agree with a lot of what Steve said. I think um uh we need to get a handle on what we have. Uh there are two stretches of to me the original um route six uh routing of Route 66 because that was the road when I was a kid. Um there's the stretch that con that um includes shots what was shots garage and so on and so forth. But there's nothing but old evocative if not truly historic places all along that little section of road. Then the other part is at Fox Creek Vet when you turn onto Old Manchester that goes that's the way it always was. That's the original road and there's a there wasn't like a a boy's home up in there and the house is still there. It's you know restored and it's a house now and so on and so forth. We need we should get a handle on that. But I agree with Steve. Those are two very cool like it used to be parts of Route 66. And I don't know that we have it all that well

marked other than the highway department having marked it historic Route 66. But if we could play up that with our historical markers or something, I don't know what we would do, but here's a big this is the original Route 66. Folks, go this way if you want to see a half mile of what it used to be like. I I think we can do a lot with that. So maybe that's my thought. Yes. Some Oh, excuse me. um as someone new um and not having all the experience that you've you've you've all had here. Um I'm going to come in with a different a slightly different angle and um this is really in reference to marketing marketing what we have. We are so fortunate to have such a rich history here in this city and and I know you all know that. Um but but to be able to promote that and also to keep it ongoing and finding ways to keep that history alive to the citizens. And I know how busy they are because I used to be one extremely busy and uh I know it's hard to to get their attention. But I think if we do a little bit of uh like um just talking and and really uh coming up with ideas that we think uh in the long term maybe in the short term to try out but also in the long term to keep going. Uh, I think it's a real possibility to um, uh, at least engage with the people in the city of Wildwood that have an interest in the history. I mean, not everybody's going to have that level of interest, but um, I think we can find ways and to to do that. So, from a just from a marketing standpoint, I think that it's a possibility. Um, it takes a little bit of uh time to really work that out, but I think I think we

could definitely do that and and try it out. Anyone else? Well, we've allotted some time to this. Is this sufficient for you? Oh, I'm sorry. I I'm just going to add a little bit what I've already heard. I think people are on the same page that I think the key is the the education of the community and and the involvement or the engagement and and I'm hearing that from Debbie and and and Bob and and it's it's that's the key and and how do you do that? That's I I don't know. Um I think it's only going to get harder because as younger and younger families move into this area that don't know the history or maybe have no reason to care. Um, and and you know, it just gets harder and harder and the history will get lost. And I know the commission here and the city will continue to promote it. Um, I'd like to see maybe a separate email newsletter on on Wildwood history or from the commission itself um or the historic uh society. Uh that's a great way to highlight and showcase what we have here in the city. Um maybe more people will get involved and and be interested in that and and get them engaged. Um, I like the idea of a separate maybe Facebook page. Um, you know, anything to showcase what we have here, um, I think is the key to sort of trying to continue to promote this as we move along. Thank you. Now, anyone else? If not, we've allotted some time this for you this evening. Thank you. I appreciate your comments this evening. We'll add them to the record. Um, I'm sure MIG will be appreciative as they uh move forward into their discussion with you in July because they'll still already have some some of that training. Uh, so just lastly, I wanted to touch upon the survey results. I did share those with you in a link. Uh, so hopefully you've had an opportunity to look at at how people responded to our

our historic preservation plan survey in depth. Um, I've already covered most of those highlights with you at a previous meeting, so I'm not going to go into it here. Uh, secondly, the final draft of the existing conditions report is uh, in your packets this evening. It's not, you know, it's still editable editable if you Yeah, that's a hard thing to say, especially with braces. Anyway, um if you do see something that you think needs to change um or that should be revised or something that needs to beed, you still have time. Uh this is still, you know, an ongoing process. Um however, they did take into our comments last time and they folded it into um so please take a look at that. Um, I just can't stress enough, please attend the historic preservation plan openhouse event and the following meeting. Uh, that if if you do nothing else in July, please do those things for me. And that concludes my presentation on this item. Any final questions? Thank you. To the Underground Railroad, Mr. chair. Uh members of this commission, uh as you are aware, the city is um presently working towards two uh National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom nominations. Uh one pertaining to the Mount Pleasant Church um and Cemetery site. Uh that's with our United States Colored Troops uh freedom seekers uh who um who of their own agency went to enlist to earn their freedom uh during the Civil War. And then the second site um I'm going to turn over to uh the city's consultant or Steven Frankie has to do

with uh a Missouri River escape involving Archer Alexander. Um so I'm going to turn it over to her this evening. Uh we're getting ready. We're very close uh to submitting a nomination for that one. Thank you. Welcome and thank you for being with us tonight. So I I'm not really a loud talker, but I'll try. My name is Doris Keven Frankie, and I I want to thank you um for this tonight. I I've been a um member of several uh historic preservation commissions in other cities and I met Robin about a year ago when uh she asked me to consult on some German heritage and I've been attending your meetings and I think they are some of the greatest you guys are great. You guys are doing really really good. Um I um I've first knew about Wildwood as Wildwood when my grandparents moved um um on old Wild Horse, an old lost creeper set out in 1971. And no, I wasn't even a baby then. So, and um I had to address cards to my grandma and it had to say holo on it. And I'm like, holo? Why am I putting holo on your card? Um anyhow, um as I said to Robin back then when I was talking about the Germans because that's what I first started writing about, I um I said a lot of people don't think of Wildwood as very old or historic, but you guys are the the history goes back and that's the incredible thing. So um having fought many preservation meeting um programs and battles and been part of the state historic preservation office and have

written national register nominations. You guys have some great ideas in marketing and writing and education. I bought a battle for a courthouse back in the 1990s and lost that battle. And I learned one thing though and that is you can't expect people to save something if they don't know why and if they don't know what they're saving and why it's historic. And um with that said um I believe in the packets is the full scope of a um network to freedom nomination a submission. Um, I have done several successful National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom uh submissions already and have listed several other spots. And I I also do a program that is listed on the National Underground Railroad on Archer Alexander. And if I wasn't so busy doing all that, I'd get the book finished that I'm working on, which is my ninth book. So, with that said, I I wanted to um bring this to you tonight because the deadline that Robin will have to input it into her computer is July 15th and she's going to be gone on next week and it's 4th of July. So, you've got some hot time hot summertime reading. And if you haven't read it, um please do because you're all very very very familiar with this area's history. And um there I we want to make sure that you know we get it right. We we've done a lot of preliminary. You'll see that it's a good 15 pages and the bibliography could be 15 pages, too. So, I didn't even give her that yet. So, um please take a look at it and if you have

any questions or comments or suggestions um there is a format and this has already been um reviewed a couple of times that's why it's called draft three um but um I I wanted all of you because you're also very knowledgeable I wanted all of you to um have an opportunity that's why I asked Robin to be um tonight. So, um has anybody already taken the time to read it or review it in your packets and have any questions? Just parts of it. I have parts of it. Yeah. Okay. The book is much bigger. This is wonderful reading. A small portion of the story. I'm going to give you my cards and on the back of the card is my email address. So over the next week, if you'll take the time, if you have any comments, please feel free to reach out via email. That's the best way. And uh let me know your questions. And um let me know if you have a comment or something that you may know that I don't know yet. And I'd like to know or I need to know. And I have a question of all of you tonight. Does anyone know of a map that exists that Lynn and I have been talking about this and I I know Ann too. Um a map that exists that actually shows Bell Fontaine. It would be approximately where Thornhill is uh along in Chesterfield Road um in that kind of area. And um we

have some suspicions of some connection with this story in that area. So, does anybody know of a map that actually shows it era? Um, I'm talking about 1820, right? About that time of statehood. 18 um anything from 1814 to maybe by time of the Civil War, but probably I don't know. It's referred to, but nobody seems to other than say where it is, I haven't seen it delineated on a map yet. And so, and even on the 1857 flat map that I have, it's it doesn't exist on there either. It would have been along Olive Street Road, you know, the plank road, Old Olive Street, Bel Fontaine. that there was a bell fontine um uh shed or hearse shoeing operation or something of a shop nature on the uh corner of Olive and what got became Chesterfield outer road where it's it's where the restaurant is now that that flooded from a broken sprinkler and then was vacant for a decade and now got changed into a second restaurant. And it's across from a gas station. It's across from another gas station and it's across the street from Monsanto or Fizer or one of those big giant companies that just built a office complex. Um, but that had that on there and I

could swear it was affiliated with Dearberg as well. like Dearberg market or Dearberg um harsh shoeing shed or something. But um that's something I recall from even before we moved out here just driving around the areas my u my wife and I in the '7s. But you've not seen a map? Not a map. Just I know that that shed had Belf Fontaine written on it. you know, as you say with markers, you know, and I hope that eventually when this is finished, there'll be a marker at the site and um, you know, and and preserving these sites is that markers can actually share with the public exactly what you just said. And sometimes there's there's not a map in existence, but with the National Underground Railroad, um, with this going on that listing, you will be part of a a national map of the National Park Service with over 800 little dots. And um, that's that gets the awareness out even a a little bit further. Now, I know where you mean. My grandparents last house was right across from where Chesterfield Mall was and it's you would not recognize it anymore whatsoever. I understand what you're you're talking about and that is about the correct kind of area and a lot of times like Westland Westland the Westland acres these are these kind of places only have a word referring to them and have come down through history and families and places in such a way that they no longer exist on a map. But just

like you say somebody called it that. So, any other questions or comments or additions? You you were looking for a map and I I don't know if she can help but uh last uh the last meeting of the historical society had I can't her name Gwyn the historian. Gwyn. Yeah. And I think and she she knows a lot about that and the foul park and all that but uh Okay. So that would be Oh, okay. Sorry. I'm going to give you all my cards. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. The park group update on the Portner Park. Oh, Joe's replacement. I don't think Joe's exactly replaceable, but I'll try to live up to it. And we're very grateful that you're here tonight. Thank you, Mr. Chair of the Commission. I would like to thank you for letting me make a guest appearance here tonight. Um, and just wanted to give you a bit of background on Partner Park and and where we're at in the process. Now, I will provide a little more information than I originally anticipated because we have few people here that may or may not be as familiar with the park. Um, so in regards to Partner Park, um, it took us a little while to get the ad hoc group put together, but they sure have made up for it since. Um uh it it basically there was a piece of property donated to

the city um back in 2019, accepted by the city in 2020 um by Joanna Yoast uh that had a number of restrictions on it that included it had to be free of charge uh maintained and as an undeveloped wildlife refuge and preserved uh for the purposes of things like picnicking, bird watching, hiking, and fishing. it couldn't be used for hunting, shooting, things of those nature. Um that it that it remained in its natural state and that its name was Hurtner Park. Partner, not Portner. Um so that being said, uh the group came together. Uh the first meeting was in December and uh the department provided a bunch of background information that included um descriptions of the site and and it has some interesting terrain and it's got two ponds uh which is pretty unique for this site and we don't have ponds at our other parks. So, um it's it's a really pretty property. And after that, um provided them this these restrictions as well and took a field trip out to the property in January on a nice brisk morning. And even in January, um the property is beautiful, starless, so it wasn't all bad. Um the site is currently not developed. It was the site of a single family home. Um but that home has since been demolished. It wasn't in a condition that we could keep it. There are a few outlying structures there. one known as the bank barn. Um, and then a couple others, a chicken coupe and some sheds. At any rate, uh, the bank barn we were hoping that we would be able to salvage, but it turns out that it's not structurally sound. So, that will have to come down as well. Um, but we are going to do what we can to salvage those materials and either reuse them in this park or reuse them in uh, other uh, facilities uh, in Wildwood. Uh but we are a big fan of keeping and repurposing. So that will be done and

the commission I'm sure will be a part that part of the process. Um so from January until now uh the group met once a month and already had a draft master plan in May. Yeah. In May. Um uh I think the property spoke for itself a lot. I think everybody went out and visited the property and it turns out that everybody that went to the property had the same vision that Miss Yoast did. Um it it's beautiful and wanted to keep it relatively untouched but wanted to make it um a bit throw in a few amenities to make it comfortable. Um so you'll see in uh the master plan the draft of the master plan um it most of the property is trails and most of those trails are just hikable um unpaved surfaces. However, there is a parking area that you'll see located in the center um that only has I think seven maybe nine parking spaces on it. Um, and that attaches to a couple of ADA um accessible paths so that uh that go around the actual um fields uh and so the intent is to restore those fields to some sort of natural state um except with non-invasive plants and and such. Um, and then use this property as uh as an educational tool, you know, like maybe have information on signage or something like that that uh, you know, educates people about native plants and invasive plants as well as the wildlife that's located on the property. Um, and the structures that will be put there are very limited. One is a um pavilion that's kind of in the general vicinity of the bank uh the bank barn, but it's only large enough for two picnic tables. Um and then also there will be a dock down on the larger pond that could

potentially be utilized for fishing and such. Uh the details as to the uses that will be allowed versus not allowed are still being worked out and and will be. Um so at any rate uh the plan that you see before you is um just over the budgeted amount for the park at uh 1.045 uh million and the budget the budgeted amount was 1 million um and that includes the restroom pavilion uh the ADA accessible parking and um paths. So I think that they did a pretty good job of keeping within a budget. Um, so that being said, uh, we, uh, Ed Hack Group had hosted a, uh, open house on May 28th and there were only about 10ish or so people that showed up, but all the all the feedback that was received was incredibly positive and it seemed that, you know, this this seems like an appropriate use to um, all the people that we met with. There were a few questions regarding whether you'd be able to rent the pavilion um and you know what would be allowed on the site. As far as the pavilion rental, it didn't seem like people felt strongly one way or the other. One of the biggest concerns was traffic, but given the limited parking and the limited size of the pavilion, it I I don't think that it's intended to be a rentable facility. that decision hasn't been made officially, but um it it doesn't seem like a great place for it. Even if you have a small family, you know that you need more parking spaces and that because everybody drives separately. So, postcards are sent out to the W six residents because this is in W six. And um again, uh there was a QR code on the

postcard that took them to a story map for uh partner park. There's a link for it um in your um report. Uh that was kind of a you know trial. We were trying something new for that one and it was very wellreceived. Um there were over 300 visits. Uh well there were just under 300 at the time of the open house but there have been over 50 since then. So I think the information has gotten out there and I think that was part of the reason that the turnout at the open house wasn't larger. Um, but just to uh take extra precaution, the group agreed to send out a separate letter to the individuals on properties that were either abudding or across the street just to make sure none of them were actually at the open house and just wanted to take an extra, you know, precautionary measure to make sure that they were aware and see if they had any feedback, any comments. And to my knowledge, we have not received any um as of yet. So, I feel like no news is good news. Um, and uh we brought this before the planning and parks uh committee uh last week maybe. Um and they uh reviewed the plan and uh approved moving it on to city council uh provided that we don't get any feedback in between now and then. Um we still have one more meeting with the group. Um but given the lack of feedback and you know the entire reason for extending it was to receive feedback um it looks like this will likely move on in um the current format that it is in and uh hopefully uh we'll move forward with that. That that completes the department's presentation. It's just an update so we don't need any action but if uh commission has any questions um the department would be happy to answer them. and

so how many miles of trails they say there's you know trails all over and there like is it all walkable or bikable and and also are they going to remain na you said they're natural and with this being over a million dollar project are they going to asphalt these trails are they going to remain natural or so you can kind of see the difference and I think they're labeled on the plan that was included in your packet and the one that's um form Um many of the trails are natural. Uh there are trails that you can see that go around the fields. Those will be paved and ADA accessible because we wanted the park to be um ADA accessible. Uh we were trying to figure out a way to get an 80 ADA accessible ramp down to the pond, but it turns out that would um require a lot of of um tearing up of the park in order to do so. And so, um, it might still be investigated, but the rest of the darker lines that you see throughout there are, um, are the hiking trails. So, those would be the natural trails. Uh, I don't think that they're intended for cycling. I think that they're intended just for hiking. Um, but again, those are questions to be answered at a later date. Um, but yes. So, I What about equestrian since they're not going to be paved? Pardon? Would there be a way for these to be equestrian trails as well? Um I I think that those the regulations as to the uses uh will be determined at a later date, but I think that the group is leaning more towards having them just for hiking as opposed to for equestrian or cycling, right? Uh this park is about 27 acres, which I think is comparable to community park. But it's uh the terrain is is really hilly in a lot of it. Uh so it was it

was hard to make it any more ADA accessible than it or it already is without walks such I guess. Thank you. A quick question. Um is the boundary of the park going to have any is going to be marked? Um some of those trails come pretty close to looks like the boundary of the property itself. Um, just curious if there's going to be marked or any kind of lowmaintenance fence line just to keep people from hopefully not wandering off onto other private property. There will I think it is there um was left forial connection to green because it's so close to greener park and there's only one property in between those and I don't think it's developed um and so get accessed in some meaningful way uh I think that would be excellent. But yeah, I I assume that we will mark the property. Thank you. Thank you. So, you mentioned that I'm I'm an equestrian, so I'm always leaning towards this. You mentioned that there's a connection potential connection to Greensfelder Park, and that is an equestrian park. So, what would happen if people are riding in Greensfelder, you know, can that again, can they ride into this area? Are they going to be, you know, lord, you know, have some kind of signage that says no horses allowed or? I I think that it would have to if if it is not going to be in a western facility, then yes, it would have to be marked as such. Right. Yeah. Because if it is connecting, then there should be some absolutely absolute marking so people know not to ride in there. Absolutely. If I may, uh, yeah, I think these these trails are going to be quite narrow,

very modest. So, I think obviously they are not for horses, they're not for bicycles. So, and right now there is really no there will be no connection to Greensville. there was I think that is the intent that we'd like to have that someday but uh right now what's important I think is we get an the cost of this is a problem but we get we get something there that we can open and let people in there let them get down to the lake let them get drive and park off of Hanken and use the park So just a modest trails. I mean the other things the structures would be nice. I probably a portable toilet is essential but uh as little as we can but to get the park open so people can see it. I think there from what we've seen is there's there's interest from hikers in that park. So, and is this going to be another bid job? Because, you know, one one over a million dollars seems pretty extreme to me for a small structure. And I don't know, it's just I don't know. Money nowadays just flows like water. But it really does. The cost, it's just I look at this and I go, a million dollars. Yeah. The cost of construction is it's just been ridiculous. Um, but that also includes a restroom facility. Yes. Um, and there's there's more paving there than you realize. There's also some um grading that will have to take place. And so, yes, this we're going to have the engineer drawings created and then send that out to bid. Good. Yeah.

And now, I'm sorry again, we're talking about some of this building supplies that we're saving from other properties that I know are being stored away. And I see these pictures of the benches and stuff. Are these the hopes of maybe using some of this historic stuff from some of our buildings that we've taken down to use this stuff? Um, so the the furniture that's shown there are just kind of samples of like a natural earthy kind of um structure. If uh if if we're able to use uh wood from the bank bar, then yes, we would. Although I don't know that that's going to be a possibility um just because it's I don't know that it will weather well. Um but I believe that there are probably going to be trees that are going to have to be taken down just to create the view from the pavilion um to clear that out a bit. And if that's the case then, you know, we could potentially reuse those uh for some of like the natural furniture, right? And and now you're talking about the trees and we have this grand oaks blah. I mean, we're going to try to we will just be careful with what massive trees we take down in this project. Absolutely. Absolutely. The city uh the city's consultant has already kind of taken that into consideration with the location of the pavilion. So, that there might be a couple of large trees that need to be taken down, but we'll be clearing as little as possible just to make it a better view. Yeah. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Route 66 and you're back at the podium. Well, I'm going to share the spotlight on this one uh because uh assistant director Ripetto has been working on uh many of the uh wayfinding and banner

components of our 66 celebration. Uh but uh to update you uh at the last meeting of the Wildwood Celebration Commit uh commission uh the commission members were offered three options by the department uh for celebrating for helping us to celebrate and promote Route 56 and its anniversary. Uh, one of those options uh was to adorn a polo shirt um with uh with special recognition to Route 66 in the term uh in terms of like an el uh emblem or or badge in the sleeve um along with uh the Wildwood uh 30 uh 30-year anniversary logo. Uh, I promise that is not to scale. It's not going to look like Superman. It's going to be more typical of our usual like, you know, small over the over the heart. But I I couldn't get it to shrink anymore. I was playing with it. It was taking too much time already. But anyway, but anyway, uh, they did endorse this. Uh, so we are looking to have a special shirt done um, in celebration of the anniversary that Uh secondly, I will turn it over to Director Ripto to talk about the wayinding and banner. Okay. Um thank you um Mr. Chair, members of the commission. Um the uh what you see on the screen uh right now is is some wayfinding signage that has been

previously approved. Uh the couple of signs that you see that are the more permanent signage. Uh one would be at 109 and uh Route 66 Manchester and then the other one would be where it intersects 100. Um, and so these signs have been approved and we're working on getting them engineered and installed. Uh, same with the banner. The banner is kind of uh an effort to a placemaking effort and have Route 66 more noticeable. You drive through like Maplewood, Missouri, uh, you can see all of the just get your kicks on Route 66 banners. And so it was kind of to bring some recognition to that strip of Wildwood. Um, so that being said, since we already had this in place, um, and approved, we were looking to move forward with it. Um, I thought that in in addition to just doing, you know, 2026 anniversary banners, that we could do something that complemented the already approved banner and then order both and kind of um, stagger them um, along the way. um or hang them next to each other on the double uh banner polls. So, uh we came up with this uh that you see up here that says get your kicks in 2026 celebrating 100 years of Route 66. And so, I think that the two next to each other will be very complimentary. Um uh through discussing it with uh director Vunage, I believe that we are looking towards putting um banners around the um um roundabout. how I forgot the word roundabout in Wildwood. Um but banners around the roundabout there. Um so there would be two on each like facing each street and then um also adding some down in the historic pond area and then a couple of them right

there at Etherton and uh Manchester. And they would be some of these as well as some of the regular ones. So that way after 2026, we can still utilize the uh um regular Route 66 banners. And so I think we were talking about ordering 18 banners and all. Um and so uh but that that concludes my part of this presentation, but I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Yes. Um there was mention made earlier about the other old Manchesterers besides just the main drag. Um depending how much these banners cost or what other means there would be to um get u free promotion of those added sections that might accumulate up to a mile's worth of additional casual driving. If signs could be put at the corners of 100 and where those old Manchesterers are, make them bigger, which would entice people to to go, what what's this old Manchester doing here? We better drive up this thing and do that in the Seems to me like there's three or four of these tangents that run off some of them north. Well, maybe two or three of them running north of 100 where the majority the other ones run south. Are you referring to the banners or to the wayfinding signage? everything. Everything. Any way we can get free free mileage out of those other old Manchesterers. And they they may not have quaint businesses on them and they may not look like 150 year old subdivisions anymore, but um somebody's going to drive down there and when they drive that extra distance and go off 100 and then come back down onto 100, they'll say there's more to this Route 66 through this Wildwood City than we

than we imagined. just driving the old main drag from from where it dead ends on the west over to Town Center. They're kind of not so much that then big giant banners during the celebration. by Living Word Church. And so part of the problem was not having anywhere to hang them. And on top of that, we have banner brackets uh from Etherton to Taylor on Route 66 already because of the Hometown Hero banners. And so that's easy. Um, but when it comes to beyond Taylor, like beyond the roundabout, we don't have any brackets existing and so there'll be an additional cost and in putting the brackets up for the banners. And then same thing with uh if you go west of uh west of Etherton, we don't have any brackets along there. And so it'll be the cost of the banners and the cost of the brackets. Um, we could theoretically like we could do it from where 100 intersects Manchester to 109, but beyond that, we're lacking any kind of light posts or anything to affix them to until you get down to just just spitballing here, but um I'd be looking at rental outfits that have uh temporary extendable poles that go up in the air for just this reason. just celebratory um functions just to know if such a thing even exists because if I thought of it, someone's doing it. Um or you could get a property owner to get permission and pay them to nail it to a

tree on their property at any means at all to uh to cheat and figure out how to get the word out. You could you could rent a trailer and and put it on the back of the trailer for the two weeks of the celebration. Um that is definitely something that look into further. These were going to be starting, you know, this year and then go throughout 2026, I believe. And so, this really would be for only the area west of Gleno Post Office. The the piece of Manchester that dies there or faults back into 100 from the south and then whatever other couple of few run on down toward I guess Hollow is the last place you see in Old Manchester. And so to be easier, but that's putting I think putting Route 66 on the map is a good thing period. The entirety of it just a matter questions. Thank you. Thank you. I did uh skip over the second uh option presented to the celebration commission and that was to invite the Route 66 Association of Missouri to celebrate Wildwood uh free of charge to promote its organization in history. Uh, I also wanted to provide you an update on our Route 66 magazine initiative. Uh, city council uh did pass a resolution in support um and committing to this partnership with

Leader Publications. Uh, so we are moving forward on this project as well. Um, I have informed them that we're in. It sounds like all the other communities are in as well. That's Eureka with it. And uh we'll be moving forward, I assume, uh pretty shortly here in July. Okay. And then finally, I did want to touch base with you on our Route 66 historic marker. Uh we've discussed uh at length how those historic markers do bring history to life for people and we are in the process of developing a new one. Um and we have approved the language that's on the screen here. Um for the past few meetings we've been trying to uh choose a location for it and we finally narrowed it down to Big Chief Roadhouse and several possible locations uh in close proximity to it. Well, I'm happy to report that we did sit down with the owner and uh the owner is supportive of having the historic marker at the restaurant. So, uh we can move forward on uh in drafting an agreement with uh with the chief on this and and move forward with this location. Any questions? All right. Well, that concludes the department's presentation on D6. Moving forward. Oh, I guess I had the next step, but I've gone over these next steps. I am in the process of requesting drawings and cost estimates from both art engraving and graphics architectural signage. there's a little bit of a hiccup in terms of um who owns the design of our

historic markers u because as you know we we try to do identical markers all throughout the city. Um so I'm working that out u before I bring bring you back um a recommendation in terms of um who to go with. Um but we uh hope to move forward shortly uh so we can start promoting these drawings that are open at the event and public change and um hopefully have a marker in place by the end of this year. We're up to the conference. Mr. Chair, members of this commission, at our last meeting, I presented to you a session proposal uh having to do with why the youth are the key, an intergenerational approach to historic preservation in Wildwood, Missouri. uh we had an allstar uh team lineup and I think that ultimately led to us being chosen presented. So um so we will have quite the crew there uh come October. Again the conference dates are October 1st through the 3rd. Uh we'll have uh Commissioner Broyals with us, our former chair Stevens, um Au uh Raguyu Ramen, and Aussie for Thank you for Thank you for finally bringing that into my radar. Um also, uh Nolan Meyers has expressed interest as well. He was our previous youth leaison for this, uh commission. And we'll also have Bonnie Roy and Scott Rundy from SWT Design. So, we'll have we'll have a full uh panel and I have to get to work on

figuring out how to organize that. Um, but it should be a good session and we do encourage you to attend the conference since it's in St. Louis and uh throw us your support. You say in St. Louis, do you know where? I do not know where yet. I I didn't see that information on their website. Any questions? Thank you. Continue. Okay. I will. All right. So, next we have our work program update. And while I've certainly been given uh been giving you plenty of updates, we do have uh three more that I'd like to touch base with you on. Uh one uh we have as you're aware we are presently working on our master plan update uh with a group of uh citizens involved in its oversight. Uh presently we are working on the environmental element of the plan but we are shortly to move forward to the planning element and as part of that planning element uh we'll be folding in considerations uh for historic preservation. And so at the next master plan uh update meeting uh we've invited MIT to give a short presentation to those members um about our historic preservation plan uh so that they can have that information as they go into that discussion. Uh so I did want to just touch base on that uh that next meeting will be Tuesday July 22nd you're interested. Uh secondly uh we do have some new with our United States Colored Troop historic marker. As you may be aware, some of you may not. Uh this commission

has been working for a couple years now on developing a historic marker that both recognizes uh Madison Valley or formerly Old Slave Road um and that and the history of that location and also uh recognizes the local men uh in this area who've served as part of the United States troop. Um in fact, we've named them all uh on the historic marker. Uh this commission uh did look at several locations around Wildwood and ultimately decided the best location for this marker would be in Babler State Park um along an area uh adjacent to a future greenway uh that's being developed river. Um so uh we had those conversations which everybody was excited to tell this untold story and then uh bureaucracy took over. Uh so we've been we've been stalled for some time now. Well, I'm happy to report that this morning I was at Great Rivers Greenway um at a partner meeting uh for uh the future uh western greenway that will go through Pabler State Park. and uh Greg Combmes uh who was the regional director um for Missouri State Park um was very excited about our historic marker, which was great to hear um and really sold it as the signature uh piece along the Western Greenway. Uh so with that framing, we went into the discussion and everybody's very excited about um our history efforts. They're excited about the history of the park. Um they're also excited about our future African-American heritage trail and how

um there will be a connection to Babbler State Park in this marker and you know potentially um into the Monarchfield levy trail area as well. Um I spoke about our network of freedom nomination and I got a lot of a lot of cards, a lot of excitement. So, um, so it's all good news. It sounds like, uh, so, uh, we we put our projector to sleep, but we'll bring it back with life. I promise. Um, in fact, Miss Ruple will work on that. Uh, but but it does look like, uh, it does look like that Babler State Park continues to be the appropriate location for a marker. We just have to be patient. Um, and hopefully it will be a real highlight from the park uh once it's once it's finally. Um, so any questions regarding that? It's quite a green when it becomes Yes, it is. It is very exciting. Uh for those of you who may not be as aware of of what we're trying to accomplish, we're essentially trying to accomplish connecting, you know, northern Wildwood through Babler State Park like all the way down to our Al Foster um area. Uh so I mean that's like a that's a really huge ringway uh for people and it it would be really a highlight of this entire entire region. I would think once it if it if it finally comes to life. Now, are they supporting the financial part of that? Greenway. Yes, I Well, I believe so. I I believe so. All those

um and there are no federal funds. I can confirm because that came up in the discussion. Okay. Um, so my third Oh, thank goodness you brought that up because I would have forgotten JP Connell House. Uh, my third update that I just wanted to touch upon is the JP Connell House. Um, that is uh under contract and they're looking to close in the near future. Um and so again, the Wildwood Property Sanctuary uh ultimately decided to purchase this property and it looks like they're they're successful in that and that means we have saved the JP Connell House. That's great news. So, and Miss Keefe, yes, I don't mind um expressing my ignorance. What is the Wildwood Property Sanctuary? Cities going out and buying property. Now property center is a I would call it a nonprofit to the city. Uh it is uh it is housed under the fabricators foundation and which awards grants to different initiatives. Uh Carl Esen and John Phillips um have been spearheading. They have been showing up at all of our meetings. They've been engaging around the SM lawn cabin project. They've been very interested in saving historic properties in Wildwood. Um several months back they approached the city and its economic development manager and said, "Hey, we're interested in finding a property in Wildwood where we can have a gallery of historic artifacts and we can engage in efforts to save Wildwood's history and, you know, perhaps do more projects like the Eson cabin." And so we shared with them the JP funnel house property and they were very excited about it. And of course that was right at the time

when we saw it it was lost. And uh and so they they are looking to raise the funds to completely uh restore the house and use it um for their purposes as this amazing. Thank you. I I believe I believe so. I I I Yeah, it was just that one property, but but yes, I believe it's a whole property. Yes. Yeah. No, it's it's fantastic news. They have a lot of ideas. Yeah. So, uh, so the department is interested in in being a partner to the Wildwood, uh, sanctuary. We have been sitting in on uh fairly we fairly frequent check-ins with them um to see progress and uh ultimately uh we will assuming that they pursue historic landmark status. There is a little bit of uh in our code with the historic land use category and do some creative things there with them to help help in incentivize and ensure that it's feasible to preserve Any questions regarding any of the items on the work program tonight? Being none, you may continue. All right. Uh, we've already discussed

it a little bit. Uh, but we did have a wonderful location um not too long ago. Mr. Scott invited us to his home. Um, it was actually a beautiful day when we arrived to set up and uh, in fact, it like it just there was just this real mystical quality to uh, forest. It was between rain, very green, and then just as the clock hit 5:30 and everyone started arriving, that's when the rain came down. Oh, magical. I didn't realize I could get 50 people on my front porch out of the rain, but they they were all fit and it was great. Very nice day. Really neat to Again, we all met on the porch um and took shelter from the rain. Uh our mayor introduced the proceedings. Uh council leaison Rambo uh talked a little bit about growing up in in this area. Uh our our chair uh discussed the Wildwood Historic Landmarks program and introduced that. And then um Mr. Scott gave us a wonderful history of his house uh and had everyone enthralled. Uh Mr. Scott Sons installed the historic plaque. Uh the these are our four presenters of the moment.

Here are all of our commission members who showed up the event. Uh Nina Hayes also came and she was she was a former owner or she was the daughter of the she is daughter former owner the Bergman's uh who she gave sent me some pictures of they took of the house before they moved in. But uh she lives on Melrose but uh she said she never lived here. She had just graduated from high school. So, she went away to college, but uh her parents moved into the house, Scott and his son. Those I'm very proud of those three sons and they're all taller than me. That's my greatgrandson and my granddaughter is his that's Arthur his grandfather on the left and his mother my granddaughter Sydney on the right is guest student task force Nolan has grown since I last saw you recognize him. For those of you who missed it, Nolan actually sat through our entire last meeting and I had no idea. He he he you know came up to me after the meeting and you know started talking and I I had no idea who I was.

But but once once he said it, then it was like, "Oh, I see it." You know, I now see it. Um but but yeah, they've grown a lot. It's been a few years. He was only in seventh grade when he was serving on our our very busy active in sports in school. It's good to see and truth truth show that as well. And then I just thought it was fitting that u at least my experience of the end of the event happened around the table. So it was a very it was a very nice event. So Mr. Scott had words closing. Mr. Scott, I just handed the baton over back to you. Thank you. Well, that that concludes that presentation. Shall we move on to our memorial tribute proclamations? Uh, so we had a very nice event here at Wildwood City Council on June 9th. Uh we were able to celebrate full uh Linda Hart camp. We had sadly uh passed just the day before. Um but it was it was a really nice tribute to her I think and her daughter did attend and accept the uh proclamation on her behalf. Uh I had talked to Linda actually just a few days um before and she sounded like herself. Um, uh, honestly, I I couldn't even tell that she was that she was going through all of this. And, uh, she just said how much she appreciated,

um, being able to be involved in this work, she appreciated the commission for recognizing it. And express totally at peace. She said, "Oh, it was just it was the right time. Was okay with it." And so so I like to think that that you know she was in a really good place when her daughter uh Jill um of course was also recognized. Her daughter was in attendance. It was the first time I got to meet Kristen. Uh she and Dave were celebrating their 53rd wedding anniversary. uh which was fitting because uh Jill has told me over and over again that she felt like Dave was a part of this recognition as well uh because he put up with all of her boxes over the years a while with history books. Uh so uh so I'm glad uh I'm glad that we were able to give her that recognition as well and uh they were able to go for ice cream afterwards and um and I'm happy I I had pictures for this and I probably should have been showing you pictures all along. Um but uh your chair actually did his first official That was your first official duty as chair, right? Yes. He introduced both proclamations very nicely. In fact, uh Joe Vongen asked for his comments afterwards. So they they really touched her. Uh this is Linda's daughter, Elizabeth Bzinski. Um Mayor Here is Jill. And then Mr. Scott uh was also in attendance

witnessed these propagations. So we had a nice photo moment. That concludes my debrief. Our next step for these two uh they do as part of this recognition they receive memorial brick that will um so at a future date will arrange uh for a nice event similar to Paul um try to butcher his name but um we we can have a similar uh dedication event at old school u for both of them um and then I'll also be writing up um writing of something for them on the city as well. Thank you. All right. Our next item uh has to do with our June history 10th which was passed um at our last music on Maine concert. Uh we had a historic preservation plan engagement uh MIG prepared this uh huge map of Wildwood Blood and put all of our historic landmarks on it, including our local landmarks, our county landmarks, and our National Register uh landmarks. And uh concert goers were asked to put stickers on landmarks that they felt should be celebrated. Stickers on landmarks that they felt were at risk and stickers on landmarks that they felt or or that they knew were lost but should be recognized anyway. And they weren't limited necessarily to the landmarks that were presented to them. So, some of them um you know did writeins. And I think what was interesting um and I actually told

Babler um the folks uh representing Babler today, Babler State Park actually received the most stickers for a landmark that should be celebrated. Um so I do think it's a it's a very home for our historic marker. Um Rockwood's Reservation was right up there as well. uh Big Chief Roadhouse, Vessel Church, Noblesville's Grove, uh Bells Farmstead, uh Rock Hollow Trail, and that history and climate were all mentioned by people. Um I don't think any of those were writing except for the Rock Hollow Trail. Okay. Uh landmarks that received the most attention of being at risk included the Lasowl Institute and because the LA Lasowl Institute isn't designated that was actually an initial write in by someone and then they received uh the most stickers uh for at risk. Um people everybody seem to have that on their mind. So so publicity is certainly getting out there. Uh the Route 66 historic roadbed actually received uh some attention as well who apparently are in the know. Um Overbrook, the Tyler House, and the Wildwood Historical Society all got at risk stickers. Uh the landmarks identified as lost but should be recognized included uh the Rock Hollow Trail area and it history. Um so just just understanding that that used to be a main thoroughfare and the um industry uh that would happen in that area. Uh Mary Cliff was a ride in and that person didn't even know Mary was being demolished. Um so they actually mentioned Mary Cliff and got to share that news. So it was thus identified.

Um, someone brought up the Ellsworth homestead along Austin Court. Um, I wasn't aware of it, but I'll do some investigation. That's the investigation of it. Uh, someone brought up the lost creek access road. They used the creek parking lot that recent blood identified. Uh it was a really interesting activity actually. Um I felt like I was able to have conversations with people that don't come up. Um so I think it was a great activity um to do. I think we'll bring it back for the open house and that might be an opportunity to have even more engagement around it. I I will say that at those concert events it's hard to talk with people. It's hard to hear. It's, you know, it's just it's hard to do this type of this type of activity. But I I was actually pleasantly surprised with what what we were able to learn from it. Um I do think we had about 30 to 50 people participate in the activity overall for uh was helping me with the math activity. Right. Our former chair sold a few t-shirts. He almost sold a history book, but you can blame uh director for for that lost fail. That sounds like a story. Um overall, it was a great night. I'd just like to thank uh council leaison Rambo, our former chair um our youth commissioner and our new chair um for volunteering for this event. It was it

was a good crew as usual. Everybody helped out. Uh we got things set up despite the wind and some some mishaps along the way. Uh but overall, I think we got we got what we wanted from it. So, at this time, I'll I'll turn it over to our volunteers if there's any comments. Otherwise, back to you said it all. Old Pond uh school drawing contest. This time, I would invite Commissioner Bor to So, I do have a winner. It's an artwork by Olivia Wenbrink. I think that's how you say it. And so, next I'm going to start making a list of people I want to talk to, people I want to interview potentially for the video. And I'm just really excited to like start like actually filming. And I definitely want to visit the school and hopefully there's like people there that I can talk to, but I'm just like really excited to like begin the process. And hopefully I'll have a finished video to show everyone by the end of July. So yeah, those are my updates that she Thank you. I got one. It was very sad. Yeah, yeah, I know. I was expecting a lot more because like I talked to like principles at so many elementary schools and they said they'd like share it with them and have my suspicions but they didn't but I but it's okay like I really like this one and yeah no one was

I think she was in fourth grade. Yeah. Yeah. What the I think it's just supposed to be like the school and like some crazy. Thank you. Right along. Uh Mr. chair, members of the commission, uh I have shared the uh National Lions and Preservation Commission's virtual summer short course uh information with you uh repeatedly and uh that's because there's some pretty amazing uh session topics I think um that especially if you're relatively new to the commission, I think they're they're worth attending um because this is essentially the nuts and bolts to what we do. Uh so if you are interested in attending these two-day sessions and again they are available on demand. So even if you aren't available those two days exactly um you can still pay the fee, register and have access uh to the video recordings afterwards. Um the department uh this commission does have a training budget. So there's actually money allotted for this type of training opportunity. So don't be swayed by the cost, but the department can um go ahead and register everyone who wants to attend and pay that registration fee. Um and then that will give you access uh to these sessions. So if you feel like they would be beneficial to you, we do encourage that you attend. Um obviously we do have uh several other training opportunities ahead of us as well. Um I'm also happy to share the news. I'm

not sure yet Um, I'm happy to share this news. I I still don't know how firm it really is. Uh, but the city was approved um our application for the historic preservation fund uh for our training uh for the the conference uh next year to the forum uh was approved uh by the state. Uh they still haven't received their federal funds yet. So um so I still think it's kind of a wait and see uh but assuming that they are given their funds for 2025 uh then our our training is paid for including the next uh virtual summer session uh which would be in 2027 and then three officers um are paid for to go to Minneapolis next year to perform Yes. Uh this will qualify as a mandatory training. So, uh, for those of you who are new, uh, because we are a certified local government, we are required, all of our commissioners, anyone who's a voting member is required to attend at least one approved training uh, per year to keep us in good standing as a CLG. And part of being a CLG is we get special treatment when it comes to the historic preservation fund. Um so that's part of you know how we get funding for our historic preservation plan effort for how we get funding for our training and um and just other benefits u to being in this uh local state federal partnership that is that is

there a physical um uh location for this training established yet? It it's a virtual training. It's only virtual. It's a Yeah, it's called It's called the virtual course. Okay. The the 20126 forum in Minneapolis is a physical screen, but this is this is virtual. So, we just let you know if we're interested. Is that what you were saying? Yes. Send me an email and I'll register everyone all at once. Okay. Yep. Thank you. Thank you. Not ready for action. Yes, Lady Lane. Oops, I forgot to touch upon the back to school and celebrate Wildwood topic. So, I would like to that real fast. Um, as you know, uh, this year the commission agreed to do history tents at the June Music on Main concert, the August back to school party, and the September celebrate Wildwood event, which is our big event and our all hands on deck event. Um, however, first, uh, we have our back to school party, which is coming up on Friday, August 15th, um, with volunteers asked to serve from 4 to 7:30 p.m. So, it's a little bit earlier than our music, our regular music on main concerts. Um, we are respectfully requesting that

our youth members attend because this is right up your alley. Um, last year the commission had the following activities available, including the zombie bean bag toss, our Route 66 Hot Wheels track, which unfortunately is no longer available, um, and our SN log cabin building challenge, uh, we are recommending that the zombie bean bag to the Lincoln Log challenge uh, do return uh, for our August event. And then additionally uh we'd like a youth focused historic preservation plan engagement activity. And uh so I basically had this idea that we ask youth to put stickers on activities that they think would get them excited about Wildwood history. And so in your memorandum I have a huge long list of you know what some of those exciting activities might be. And of course we would accept writers. Um but but basically uh we want to get get the youth involved in you know what you know what what do they think um would would get people excited about Wildwood's history. Um so some of these ideas include taking a nighttime stroll on Rock Hollow Trail and telling spooky stories about Zombie Road. Um experience what it was like to attend Old Pond School by taking classes there for one day. maybe invite a teacher to bring her class and just do all their classes there. Um, take a trip to the Wildwood Historical Society to tour the museum, which used to be an old toy factory, and meet in the old chicken coupe. I think that could be appealing. Uh, tour reconstructed log cabin. Um, find a geocache at Wild with History Landmarks.

Um, participate in a Route 66 scavenger hunt. Uh, attend a historically themed festival. Um, solve word searches or crossword puzzles, which we do already. Uh, so so anyway, um, or watch short videos about wild with historic landmarks and stories. That's what Commissioner Flor is working on. So, so we'll get an idea of what what really appeals to kids the most uh through this activity. If you would like to volunteer or if you have ideas, uh please let me know. Um I'm asking if if you can commit to volunteer to let me know by July 15th. Uh so we have a crew together because sometimes with the back to school party, it takes a little bit of uh lead time for some of the planning and engagement. um as we saw last year. Any questions? Does anyone think they would like to help out at the back to school party which is more kid and youth oriented? I've got Commissioner Cordneck or Vice Cord. Yay. Come. All right. Uh, anyone else? If you um if you determine at a later date that you can uh attend and help out, uh we'd certainly welcome you. Uh this engagement is more interactive than our other history tents, so we do need more volunteers to get make it happen. Mr. Scott, are you available? Okay, you get to do the the Lincoln log challenge. be there. To be honest with you, I haven't even begun planning for Celebrate Wildwood because that is going to take some

coordination with MIG since they will be here on site for Celebrate Wildwood. Uh right now we're focused on open house and focus group planning, but I do want to put it on your radar because every year uh Celebrate Wildwood, it's all day long. We need as many of you as possible to sign up for shifts. Uh last year we attempted to do too much and we ended up our signature activity, our tree uh didn't get executed because we just simply did not have enough volunteers per shift to make it happen. We needed someone there um facilitating the activity. So um so please do mark this date on your calendar. Volunteers are critical for Celebrate Wildwood and uh and this will be another huge historic preservation plan engagement opportunity. Mark your calendar. Let me know. Thank you. Do you want to say anything about the Lindy Lane statement here? Be not ready for action. It's still not ready for action. Okay. I I I've reached out to a few uh individuals to collect information. Um but but the department just simply doesn't have the information to present to me this. Next item is we've we've talked about we recognize it's just a formality to issue that to all of you that to know that this is going to take place that Mary Cliff is going to be demolished and the the rights and privileges have been given to them to proceed uh despite anything we've attempted to do. So we're we are just watching it go by at at this particular time. Are there any other matters for our consideration?

Yes, I had uh sent in communication to some to some part of the department uh asking if it would be attractive uh or feasible uh to salvage say an edifice of a structure that's being destroyed as the Mary Cliff is whether whether the front entry or whether any other remarkable features, ionic pillars of something got would get stuck up in village green just like the the columns at a zoo. Anything that would remind those of a famous structure that could be preserved and reerected even if the structure itself was condemned and demolished inside. Um, did that ever gain any traction or had you been aware of my sending that in? Um, I think probably at the time that we received it, we had already had those negotiations with Mary Cliff, the Marionets, the demolition company, um, and the department and settled on, uh, items that could be preserved. So, uh, Director Bunich might have additional information. Unfortunately, he's not here tonight, so I can follow up with you. Uh, but I I will say that they were really anxious after a year of holding off um forward and we were we were trying very hard to preserve as much as possible and they were there was only so much they were they were kind of letting. I had actually thought more of the Okonnell House than than anything else. And now that's been removed from the danger plate, it sounds like. Yeah, the JP Connell House we're looking to

restore, though. We're not looking to salvage um any architectural elements from it. But you're right, with the JP Connell House, there were some columns there that were pretty um that would have been worth preserving, I think, if they had down, but thankfully it's not. Yeah, it's good news. Anything else? If not, we stand adjourned. Good job. Great. Yes. Thank you for being here with me. Oh, have a woman. [Music] That's our That's our favorite drink here.

That's my voice for sure. appreciate. Yeah, we're all tired. None of us want to wear all we'll talk to you. Hi, honey. Better again. Welcome. [Music]

Yeah. Whatever. What's that?