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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 5/22/2024 MEMORIAL HALL COMMISSION May 22, 2024 5:00 p.m. Veterans Memorial Hall Members present: Craig White in the Chair, Randy Miller, David Grimm, Mel Wittwer, Frank McCaw and Jim Lentfer. Absent: Mike Mrzlak, John Mrzlak and Richard Berry (A) Also in Attendance: Nancy Higby, Deputy City Clerk, City of Waterloo. Moved by Grimm, seconded by Miller,that the agenda be approved. Ayes: Five. Nays: Zero. Motion carried. Moved by Miller, seconded by Grimm,that the Minutes of April 24, 2024, be approved. Ayes: Five. Nays: Zero. Motion carried. Citizen's Oral Comments Frank McCaw shared information about an upcoming program that the Cedar Valley Civil War Roundtable is holding on June 20, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. The event will take place at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa in Cedar Falls. Guest Speaker Brian Matthew Jordan is a Researcher and Civil War Historian, and his presentation is based on a book he wrote entitled,Marching Home Union Veterans and Their Unending Civil War. He wants to get the word out that all veterans are welcome and encouraged to attend. Treasurer's Report—Vacant Nancy Higby read the finance report for the period 4/18/2024 through 5/15/2024. • Brick Fund - $7,394.51 • Courbat Memorial Fund- $1,000.12 • Special Projects Fund - $600.00 • Artifacts Projects Fund - $165.95 Moved by Wittwer, seconded by Grimm, to receive the treasurer's report and place on file. Ayes: Five. Nays: Zero. Motion carried. Mel Wittwer presented an invoice from Black Hawk Memorial in the amount of$210, for the engraving of six bricks. Moved by McCaw, seconded by Grimm, to approve payment of an invoice from Black Hawk Memorial in the amount of$210, for the engraving of six bricks. Ayes: Five. Nays: Zero. Motion carried. Chairperson's Report Craig White reviewed upcoming events. May 22, 2024 Page 2 Committee Reports Building, Grounds & Operations—Chairperson Mel Wittwer Mel Wittwer shared that JB Bolger has removed the bad looking bushes and will be laying mulch and raising the border to prevent water from washing out the mulch. He would also power wash the bricks and spray weed killer. He further shared that Chris Youngblut was able to set up all ninety-nine pages of the brick registry on the website (cityofwaterlooiowa.com/bricks). An updated list will be uploaded twice a year. He stated that unfortunately Main Street Waterloo did not approve the format of the sign and said he will follow-up and report back. Operations—Chairperson David Grimm David Grimm reminded the board we will have the second reading of the amended Operating Procedure. He commented that he is unsure if UAW will be here in July or August and noted that he will need some help with setting up for the parade. He plans to open the building at 7:00 a.m. and begin setting up chairs, decorating, etc. He further shared that he is moving the Mayor up from the last car in the parade to the number six spot and explained his reasons for doing so. He said it is time for us to recognize him as the head of the city and for what his administration is doing for us. A discussion was held on the amendments to the Operating Procedure. Moved by Miller, seconded by Grimm, to receive, approve and place on file,the second reading of the proposed amendments to the Operating Procedure. Ayes: Five.Nays: Zero. Motion carried. The board discussed the upcoming Memorial Day parade events. Jim Lentfer proposed purchasing a wreath for the unknown soldier and flowers for the river. Moved by Miller, seconded by Wittwer, to approve the purchase and reimbursement to Jim Lentfer, for up to $150 for a wreath for the unknown soldier and flowers for the river. Ayes: Five.Nays: Zero. Motion carried. Educational/HistoricaUArtifacts Preservation— Chairperson Frank McCaw Frank McCaw spoke briefly on the continuing work on the memorial for the Brousseau brothers and provided an update on the status of various other projects. Finance/Fundraising—James Lentfer Jim Lentfer passed out an updated print out of the monthly donations to the Waterloo Community Foundation, which includes $2,500 that Randy Miller donated for the mural. Jim commented on the awarding of the large donation check by the UAW and said that their initial thought was to hold the event here with as many commissioners in attendance as possible. He May 22, 2024 Page 3 asked if the board members had a preference as to when to schedule this. David Grimm stated that it should be at the convenience of the UAW and that it might be best to hold the event there rather than at the Memorial Hall. The board discussed ways to increase awareness of the opportunity to serve on the commission since a few members have chosen not to renew their appointments. The current number of active members is five, however Jim Lentfer will be reappointed at the June 3, 2024, council meeting. John and Mike Mrzlak have not yet turned in their re-appointment application. Jim invited Erin Tink, Waterloo Community Foundation,to speak to the board on ways we might attain greater donation funding. The board discussed various projects to improve and restore the building and grounds with Erin Tink. Those mentioned were the fountain, a mural and the trimming of trees to make the building more visible. She spoke of the possibility of bundling the projects together as a way of renovating the outside of Veterans Memorial Hall to create a more inviting atmosphere. It will be important to create a story to show our vision of how a renovation of this magnitude would benefit our city, current citizens and future generations, which could potentially attract larger funders in our community. Mel Wittwer shared that in addition to outside improvements, there has been some discussion of turning the Veterans Memorial Hall into a destination for visitors. Frank McCaw said that we would like to make Veterans Memorial Hall available to the public. He mentioned that recently visitors shared how impressed they were with our collection, and they said there are many museums across the country that would love to have some of the artifacts we house here. David Grimm commented that most people don't even know this place exists. Craig White left the meeting at 5:40 p.m. Eric Tink said that if board can put together a rough draft of a grant proposal,the Foundation would be more than happy to help with the editing process of making sure this really projects a good vision for a larger project we want to do, and then work on how we will have that conversation with our big funders. She shared that once this step is done, she would likely begin with the gaming association and said that they have two grant cycles for the year. They just finished one up and the next cycle will be this fall. Mel Wittwer left the meeting at 6:02 p.m. Unfinished Business None. New Business With no further business before the commission, it was moved by McCaw, seconded by Miller, that the meeting be adjourned at 6:05 p.m. Ayes: Three.Nays: Zero. Motion carried. May 22, 2024 Page 4 Nancy Higby Deputy City Clerk