Kendall County Historic Preservation Commission met Aug. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
NEW BUSINESS
Tour of the Fern Dell School
Attendees and Commissioners toured the Fern Dell School starting at 6:05 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Jeff Wehrli called the meeting to order at the Fern Dell Museum at 6:29 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Eric Bernacki (Secretary), Elizabeth Flowers (Vice-Chairwoman), Marty Shanahan, and Jeff Wehrli (Chairman)
Absent: Kristine Heiman
Also Present: Matt Asselmeier (Senior Planner), Ken Itle, Jane Burke, Jeff Mathre, Chris Phillips, Paul Burd, Todd Milliron, Subash George, Jeanne Valentine, Lisa Wolancevich, Johanna Byram, Susan Kritzberg, Ken Donart, Jeff Farren, Mike Bortal, Bev Casey, Janet Blue, and Marilynn Thompson
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Member Flowers made a motion, seconded by Member Bernacki, to approve the agenda as presented. With a voice vote of four (4) ayes, the motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Member Flowers made a motion, seconded by Member Bernacki, to approve the minutes from the June 21, 2022, meeting. With a voice vote of four (4) ayes, the motion carried.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Chairman Wehrli thanked Fern Dell for hosting. He explained the purpose of the meeting and noted the County’s heritage.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Todd Milliron suggested having a local tractor show/parade.
NEW/OLD BUSINESS
Nomination of Officers for 2022-2023
Member Flowers, seconded by Member Shanahan, nominated Member Bernacki to the position of Secretary. There were no additional nominations.
Member Bernacki, seconded by Member Shanahan, nominated Member Flowers to the position of Vice-Chair. There were no additional nominations.
The votes on the nominations will occur at the September meeting.
Discussion of Historic Survey Project and Request for Volunteers-Ken Itle from WJE Ken Itle from Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. presented information on the historic structure survey. He explained the project and plans to start the project in September. He discussed the source material for the survey. He also discussed the field work aspect of the project and the use of volunteers.
Lyon Farm has histories of many families and farms.
Mr. Itle discussed the deliverable from the project.
The survey teams will be one (1) person from WJE and one (1) volunteer. Surveys usually occur during the week, but can happen on a weekend. He plans to survey fifteen (15) to twenty (20) sites per day. Interested parties should reach out to Mr. Itle or Mr. Asselmeier. There would be a training session in September.
Mr. Asselmeier will do an email blast to the email list.
Mr. Itle explained that the project is funded through a Certified Local Government Grant. He explained how the grant was funded.
Chairman Wehrli explained the plan to survey the other townships.
Mr. Itle said that he would use archival photos as available. He discussed how he determines the dates of photos.
There were about two hundred forty (240) sites to examine.
Mr. Itle said that he attempts to track where structures use to be located.
Kendall Township would be surveyed first.
Mr. Itle hopes to pick a date in September for the training.
Concerns were expressed that some families would not be available in September due to harvesting.
Discussion of Cemeteries
Chairman Wehrli provided an update on the Commission’s work, but the Commission has not put anything together at this time. The cemeteries have been identified. Lisa Wolancevich said the Elmer Dixon at Lyon Farm has that information. Johanna Byram discussed a group that identified veterans buried in Oswego.
Updates from Historic Preservation Groups
Mike Bortal, Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission, discussed having a CAMP organized hosted by the National Alliance of Preservation Commissioners. They would finance the CAMP through a Certified Local Government Grant with financial assistance from local Certified Local Governments. He discussed previous CAMPs and how CAMPs work. The grant would be applied for in 2022 and the CAMP would occur in 2023. He requested that the Kendal County Historic Preservation Commission let him know, if the Commission was interested in participating. He also provided information on the Bronk Farm. He also discussed a rehabilitation grant in Plainfield for historic properties.
Susan Kritzberg, Chapel on the Green, introduced Chapel on the Green representatives in attendance. She discussed their wedding business. They were working on a Network to Freedom grant.
Marilynn Thompson, Fern Dell, welcomed everyone to the Museum. She discussed their fundraising activities and history of the organization. She introduced several board members in attendance. She discussed activities at the Fern Dell School. She discussed the importance of getting new people involved. She discussed their plat book collection. She thanked everyone for attending the meeting.
Discussion occurred about educating children on the history of the area.
Subash George, Oswego Preservation Commission, also discussed the importance of educating children. He talked about partnering with the school district.
Jeanne Valentine, Plano Historical Society, was close to getting a location. She hoped that having a location will add new life to the organization.
Lisa Wolancevich, Kendall County Historical Society, introduced members of the Society in attendance. She discussed the repairs to roofs on several buildings at Lyon Farm. She discussed the literary events at the Society. She discussed the issues with the Illinois Department of Transportation regarding the expanding of Route 71. She noted the donation from the Elmer Dixon estate; there will be celebration of life for Elmer Dixon and his wife this fall at Lyon Farm. Their Fall Festival is September 24, 2022, and car show on September 25, 2022, with tractors. She requested attendees to submit names of families or notable citizens to celebrate at the Fall Festival.
Susan Kritzberg, Chapel on the Green, stated they also received a donation from the Elmer Dixon estate and they were planning an event for the fall of 2022 to honor Mr. Dixon.
Jane Burke, Naperville Preservation, discussed the mission of her organization. She discussed a CAMP training that she previously attended. She discussed the cataloguing for the first commercial residential subdivision in Naperville. She also discussed two (2) threatened structures in DuPage County.
Janet Blue and Bev Casey, Millington Historical Society, discussed the mission of their organization and their veterans’ wall. They discussed the importance of networking and promoting through Facebook.
As part of an effort to identify former business occupants in buildings in Yorkville, a request was made for phone books from the 1990s.
Discussion occurred about notifying the libraries and the other museums about collections at the various museums.
Jane Burke discussed the Suburban Preservation Alliance meeting, sponsored by Landmarks Illinois, which will be held on September 17, 2022, in Naperville. She will send information to Mr. Asselmeier.
Subash George said the Oswego Historic Preservation Commission was looking for members.
Discussion of Upcoming Meetings with Historic Preservation Groups
Chairman Wehrli indicated that another group meeting would occur in winter 2022-2023.
Chairman Wehrli discussed having Commission meetings at sites in Kendall County to gain a greater understanding of Kendall County. He asked attendees to send suggested meeting locations to Mr. Asselmeier.
CORRESPONDENCE
July 21, 2022 and August 7, 2022 Emails from Michael Bortel Regarding National Alliance of Preservation Commissions CAMP
Commissioners reviewed the correspondence.
August 1, 2022 Edith Farnsworth House Email Regarding New Exhibit Open August 7th Commissioners reviewed the correspondence.
August 2022 Edition of The Bell Tower
Commissioners reviewed the correspondence.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairman Wehrli encouraged attendees to volunteer.
ADJOURNMENT
Member Flowers made a motion, seconded by Member Shanahan, to adjourn. With a voice vote of four (4) ayes, the motion carried.
The Historic Preservation Commission adjourned at 7:39 p.m.
Chairman Wehrli thanked everyone for attending.
https://www.kendallcountyil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/25334
Alerts Sign-up