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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260114_Historical Preservation Commttee Minutes (208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org Historical Preservation Commission Minutes January 14, 2026 Board Members: Rick Robinson Lisa Jones David Jones Cheryl Empey Krickett Mounts Jamie Patten City Council member: Alisha Tietjen City Liaisons: Jed Platt 1. Roll Call of Commission Members: Chair Empey, Vice Chair L. Jones, Historian/Secretary Patten, and Communications Officer K. Mounts City representatives: Council member Tietjen and City Liaison Platt Not in attendance: R. Robinson and D. Jones Commission Chair Empey welcomed commission and guest Doug Ladle, Madison-Rexburg Historical Society President. Introductions by all before starting Items of Business 1. Chair Empey shared minutes were not written up due to holidays. Minutes will be approved at next meeting. 2. City Liaison Platt reports Urban Renewal has full agenda this month but commission can be added to agenda next month’s meeting to discuss history and preservation of Seminary building, Feb 18, 12:30 front conference room. JC Weber new president. Offer of $1 to move the building stands. 3. Chair Empey took photos of the Seminary building property for upcoming Urban Renewal presentation. City Liasion Platt will use space for Flood50 art show. Both expressed desire for Urban Renewal to see possibility instead of liability, to embrace and enrich instead of stepping over history. Vice Chair L. Jones says her aunt Cybil made the park and she believes Don Ricks painted the mural in the 1990s. Historian Patten will do further research on the Don Ricks mural date and reports the deeds for the lots were discovered this week in the BYU-Idaho Archives, showing first owners of Rexburg Original townsite of Block 32, lots 2, 3,4 as Brigham P. Young, and Sarah L. Holmes and Thomas E. Ricks, Sr. respectively. Thomas E Ricks is a founding father of Rexburg and it was a surprise to see his connection to the property. Further research is needed for what the properties were used for in the 1880s. 4. The school district built on an existing foundation the armory started but abandoned due to the Korean War. BYU-Idaho Archives are compiling timeline for Urban Renewal presentation and will continue to research. 5. City Liaison Tietjen reports no RPF yet for the corner. 6. Doug Ladle voices that citizens already own that land as it was bonded. He attended school there and there needs to be incentives for developer, historical advantage or school district, could also be visitors center. With the temple at both ends of town what will draw people to downtown? We have already lost several historical landmarks including Washington School, Spori, house, Flamm Store, Porter homestead, (current credit union), Jacob Brenner house, Arnolds. More value needs to be provided to downtown. 7. Communication Officer K. Mounts suggests an event center with lots of weddings in Rexburg. 8. City Liasion Platt suggests with history, vision to further the life-span of the Seminary building and table the decision for the Seminary building until or if the corner property is available. 9. City Liasion Tietjen will ask if parsing out that piece is even possible. 10. Vice Chair L. Jones and Communications Officer K. Mounts will attend Urban Renwal meeting in February. 11. Doug Ladle asks if we have a historic timeline of buildings in the area? No yet, but the Commission agrees this is an important task. City Council member Tietjen reports East side of South main street has building research. 12. City Liasion Platt shows decal designs and reports more contrast is needed. Sizing and cost discussed. Jones’ street will use decals. House at 1st East 1st North was Thomas E Ricks daughter’s home. 13. City Council member Tietjen reports DD Wilding went right after the flood and took pictures of the historic homes in Rexburg. The museum has the slides but they are packed and may be inaccessible. Tietjen reminds commission the black plaque north of Tabernacle has a walking tour with 2o keay points in the town. 14. Someone asks if at Founders Day, there can be Seminary tours also? Idea floated of decals for founding properties in town. 15. Vice Chair L. Jones makes a motion to accept the CLG appointment, seconded by Communications Officer K. Mounts. 16. Historian Patten shares Pump House property deed located in the BYU-Idaho Archives from Dec 1900, where Rexburg 1st Ward sells property to Thomas E. Ricks, Jr., Bishop of 1st ward. City Liasion Platt shared the pump house photo from Lowell Parkinson’s book on Rexburg, Historian Patten tracked down date but not source of Jul 3, 1908 article called “Picturesque Rexburg and vicinity.” An additional picture of the pump house was found in the BYU-Idaho Archives with military band in front of pumo house, date unknown. 1900 Deed given to City Council member Tietjen to share with city Attorney. 17. Doug Ladle suggests speaking point is vacuum for historical understanding of the area. When pump house to museum/visitor’s center proposal was made at City Council in October, several members were not opposed to it. 18. Doug Ladle gave updates on Founders Day. Someone remarks is almost a Founders Farewell of the school and seminary building. It will be a walk down memory lane, focusing on 30 families. Games, treats, build your own cabin, coloring, essays and creatives. 19. City council member Platt reports the city will also be hosting state of the city, with city council departments available to public and a contributing citizen award presented. 20. Communications Officer K. Mounts suggests that kids be a focus as they are next generation to lead the city. A fake ballot with, “I will vote” stickers may be created. Other avenues or groups may be better suited. 21. With CLG, grant process is open until Jan 31, 2026. City Council member Tietjen reminds commission of first item to add the Romance to the registry before date passes. Paperwork mostly completed and if City Council approval needed, City Council member Tietjen will get approval at next meeting. Historical survey will be on grant proposal, if not this year, then it will slated for next year. Chair Empey will create and email out proposal. (208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org 2. Adjournment: Next meeting Feb 11 @ 12:45PM THE ABOVE SCHEDULED TIMES REPRESENT A BEST EFFORT AT SCHEDULING. IT MAY BE NECESSARY FROM TIME TO TIME TO ADJUST THESE TIMES TO ACCOMMODATE UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES Notice: Please contact City Hall prior to any city meeting if there is any special assistance needed for disabled people planning to attend the meeting. Se le puede proveer esta notificación en un formato accesible para las personas discapacidades y/o personas con conocimientos limitados del inglés a pedido.