OFFICIAL MINUTES
MUSCATINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
JANUARY 18, 2012
The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) met in regular session on
Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at 5:15 p.m. in the lower level conference room at Muscatine City
Hall. Members present included Devin Pettit, Jane Reischauer, Gina Chesling and Jim Schmidt.
Others present included Michael Maharry and Jim Rudisill.
Following the roll, the commission reviewed the consent agenda, including the
distributed agenda and the minutes of the regular December 21, 2011 meeting. Pettit requested
an additional agenda item to discuss the Mississippi Corridor project. Following the review,
Pettit moved to approve the consent agenda with agenda change; Schmidt seconded; motion
passed, all ayes.
The first agenda item was Certified Local Government (CLG) activities; and the first of
those activities was a discussion on the status of the MHPC’s planned reconnaissance surveys of
four potential historic districts. At last month’s meeting, the MHPC agreed to delay
implementing the surveys until after it submits an additional funding request to the State
Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) in May.
Rudisill said he had notified the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine and the
Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust (and the Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation), which have
all approved pledges/grants of support for the project, of the delay. He said none of the funders
had responded. Commission members agreed the lack of any response likely indicated the
funders did not object to the delay and would not withdraw their original support.
There was a brief discussion on whether or not to conduct additional funding solicitation
between now and May, since any SHSI grant could be less than the amount needed to complete
all four reconnaissance surveys. Rudisill asked if property owner contacts might be helpful. Pettit
said he was inclined to keep that funding option open for future historic district nominations.
In a related discussion, Maharry questioned why the four areas identified for
reconnaissance surveys had been selected; and how consultant Rebecca McCarley had settled on
her priorities. He suggested Iowa Avenue, or a portion of that street, should be considered a
prime candidate. Commission members agreed Iowa Avenue was a strong survey candidate and
indicated they were unsure why McCarley had not identified it as a higher priority. There was
some speculation involving unified development or some combination of significance and
feasibility (low-lying fruit), but there was no clear answer.
The next CLG discussion item was the status of the comprehensive plan update.
Rudisill said he had not been advised that city planner Andrew Fangman was ready to
develop the historic preservation component of the plan. Pettit suggested if MHPC members had
any recommendations for the plan to contact Fangman directly. He also reported the Muscatine
Planning and Zoning Commission intended to begin tackling rezoning once the comp plan
update was completed.
The commission next discussed the property tax abatement program draft distributed in
November. At the discussion of the draft in December, Maharry had suggested a two-tier
abatement be developed. One tier would provide owners who follow the Secretary of Interior’s
Standards break; while the second would apply to those owners who only want to rehabilitate
their property without worrying about the standards. Maharry termed it a fork in the road.
MHPC Minutes
January 18, 2012
Page 2
Tier 1 work would restore, rehabilitate or replace historic features in the most historically
sensitive manner. Tier 2 would not be as sensitive, but even under Tier 2, the program would still
require no demolition of historic features in order to be eligible for the abatement. Maharry said
such activities as roof and foundation repairs would like fit into Tier 1 status regardless of any
standards because those elements are hidden from view or have other issues that have already
affected their historic integrity. He said the key goals for the program should be to enhance the
historic nature of the property and rehabilitate deteriorated historic properties.
Schmidt said the commission would need to develop guidelines to follow when
approving the abatements, especially if they did not follow the Secretary’s standards.
Maharry also suggested an example showing the benefits of an abatement be developed
to provide a better understanding of how the program would operate. Rudisill said he would
develop a generic example of a possible savings for a property owner using the abatement
program and a Tier 2 abatement percentage table.
A discussion on joint activities involving the Muscatine (City) and Muscatine (County)
Historic Preservation Commissions were then discussed. Reischauer reported the county
commission was working on establishing the county as a CLG. She said the plan is to have the
designation by the spring of 2013.
Rudisill next reported on the 2011 Annual Report. He said much of the report was
completed, but he continued to need the assistance of the commission to identify work completed
in 2011 on historic properties either within a recognized national historic district or individually
listed on the National Register. Commissioners indicated they would review the building permits
list and list work they knew to have been completed on target properties. Rudisill said the
deadline for submitting the report is in February.
The next agenda items were discussions involving historic properties and districts. The
first of these items was an update on the revised nomination of the Alexander Clark House to the
National Register of Historic Places. Rudisill said Kent Sissel had reported he is back in touch
with the National Park Service (NPS) after losing contact with several of the NPS staff for the
past several months.
Sissel had also reported Paul Finkelman would be in Japan for the next several weeks, but
would be continuing to work on the Network to Freedom and the National Register nominations.
The remaining district discussion involved signage.
Reischauer reported no recent new activity on that issue. She will get updated designs
and costs to Gary Carlson of HON. Carlson had earlier agreed to cover the costs of the signs.
Reischauer will also develop a proposal on sign size and other details and bring it back to
the MHPC for review before going to the city traffic committee for approval to post the signs.
Several miscellaneous reports were then given to the board.
Pettit reported the Downtown Action Alliance (DAA) is scheduled to meet next month to
discuss future activities. He said Friends are the technical member of the DAA, but he did want
the commission to be aware of the meeting and objectives.
MHPC Minutes
January 18, 2012
Page 3
Rudisill also asked if anyone had received the email from Paula Mohr describing two
meetings on historic preservation efforts and local economic activity. None of the members
recalled receiving the email and Rudisill said he would forward it to everyone.
Maharry then presented a report from the Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation. He
said a sheriff’s sale was scheduled for the Sawyer-Rehwaldt House at 609 W. Second on January
31, 2012.
Maharry also reported the Friends are seeking tax help to file a 2011 tax return. The
organization must file a tax return to receive the $30,400 historic tax credit donated to Friends by
Tom and Cindy Kautz. Maharry said the organization had not been able to locate anyone yet.
Reischauer suggested Maharry contact local tax attorney Jim Nepple, a former member of the
Muscatine (city) Historic Preservation Commission and a current member of the county HPC.
Discussions and planning also need to begin for May Preservation Month activities,
Maharry said. He also reported a local realtor had told him house showings were up, so that
could point to increase market activity. He said his own property at 417 W. Third had recently
been approved for a variance by the Muscatine Planning & Zoning Commission. With the
variance, a prospective owner would be able to operate a bed and breakfast business on the
property. Maharry said the prospective buyer must still sell a house in Colorado before
purchasing the Muscatine property.
Maharry also reported he had recently been asked to serve on a state committee that is
researching the development of a comprehensive plan for historic preservation.
In a final discussion item, Pettit notified the commission of an upcoming city council
agenda item concerning the Mississippi Corridor Study. Pettit said the study must be amended to
include development of a 4(f) statement. The statement is necessary for the former Puritan
Ice/Testrake property on Green/Grandview. Proposed development at the Hershey Avenue/Green
Street Intersection (Carver Corners) is expected to impact the buildings, which have been
determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. A 4(f) statement is required to
examine potential alternatives to the development to determine if there is any feasible option to
removing the buildings.
The meeting then adjourned at approximately 6:50 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the commission is scheduled for Wednesday, February 15,
2012 at 5:15 p.m. in the Muscatine City Hall lower level conference room.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________
Chair