Minutes of the Centerville City Whitaker Museum Board meeting held Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitaker Museum, 168 North Main Street, Centerville, Utah.

MEMBERS PRESENT:
 Rebekah Barton
 Richard E. Henrichsen
 Frank Hirschi
 Melissa Hogan, Museum Director
 Paul T. Smith
 Priscilla A. Todd

STAFF PRESENT:
 Connie Larson, Recording Secretary

VISITORS:
 Rod Mortensen, Preservation Architect
 Lisa Thompson, Interior Designer

MINUTES REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Minutes of the April 5, 2007 Whitaker Museum Board meeting minutes were reviewed.  Frank Hirschi made a motion to approve the April 5, 2007 meeting minutes as amended. Richard Henrichsen seconded the motion, which was approved by unanimous vote (5-0).

PRESENTATION BY ROD MORTENSEN

Mr. Mortensen, Preservation Architect, said he gave this same presentation to the Historic Sites Committee on January 26, 2007.  Mr. Mortensen said that he attended Woodbury University in California, and he began doing historic preservation as a private architect in 1988 until September 11, 2001.  He said at that time he joined the State Historic Preservation office for a little over three years, and then he went back into private practice. Mr. Mortensen displayed architectural drawings of the Whitaker Museum.  He said the report that is included is of what he saw, and then he made recommendations of possibilities to the Historic Sites Committee.

Mr. Mortensen explained the biggest concern for the museum is the roof, as it is a mesh of roofs and additions that have been added over the years.  He said the first roof (1862) and the second roof (1880) were very simple roofs.  Mr. Mortensen said the third addition was the kitchen and garage that was added in circa 1910, and is the worst because the roof that was added overlays on top of the first addition which creates a sharp pitch and allows water to leak onto the porch.  He said the 1950 addition was covered with wood siding and is acceptable.

Mr. Mortensen said consideration must be given on how easy the building will be to maintain, and how it can be maintained for another 100 years.
He explained there is a basement under the 1880 addition, and a seven-foot basement under the 1862 addition.  He said overall, the museum is well built and strong, and should last a long time.  Mr. Mortensen said the outdoor porch was enclosed, which was done poorly and is not strong.  He recommended the roof over the patio be removed, as it has no history to it and is of poor construction. 

Mr. Mortensen explained the original stone building went through a major change in the 1920s to keep current with the times. He said the upper floor has vinyl windows, which take away from the historical aspect of the museum, and he recommended wood windows.  He said the doorway and the cover over the porch and gable is from the 1950s.  Mr. Mortensen said the chimney and brick are the only items that can be seen from the 1880s addition, and if the porch roof is removed, more of the original structure can be exposed.  Melissa Hogan said the original clapboard on the north side was removed, but there is still clapboard on the east side.  Mr. Mortensen suggested that if clapboard were needed, that it would be easy to duplicate or could be used from excess in the back addition that may be removed.

Rebekah Barton suggested the upstairs bathroom be restored to the original historical period, and two handicap accessible bathrooms be built where the porch is.  Melissa Hogan explained the Whitaker Museum does not have to have bathrooms because there are public restrooms at City Hall.  Melissa expressed concern about storing artifacts in the museum and the possibility of water damage.  Mr. Mortensen said there are areas in the garage where water could enter if there is a heavy rain.  He suggested a pitched slope of three feet around the outside of the museum to help storm water drain away from the house.  Mr. Mortensen stated the basement could be a wonderful place to store relics.  He stated that the basement of the train station in Salt Lake City currently houses very valuable pieces.  He suggested the window could be blackened, shelves added, and that this could be a very efficient storage place.  He also indicated that water pipes in the building were not an insurmountable concern as far as safety to artifacts.  Mr. Mortensen said many museums have restrooms, drinking fountains, etc.  He stated the restroom in the carriage house is not easily accessible.

Mr. Mortensen said it must be decided how the Whitaker Museum will reflect the history of Centerville; what will take place in the museum, and how it will be used.  Priscilla Todd said when she was Mayor, the City was able to purchase the Whitaker home, and it was the desire to have not only a museum, but a cultural center as well.  She said one of the rooms was intended to be a handicap restroom, and Mr. Mortensen agreed there could be a handicap restroom built.

Mr. Mortensen provided rough cost estimates as follows:

Option A:  $42,000 - $70,000, the difference in cost is keeping or removing the l960s addition and the restrooms. Option A also includes minor electrical work, plumbing, and the south wall removed and the rock restored.  Mr. Mortensen said the areas at the back of the building are hurting the building the most. 

Option B:  $69,000 - $128,000, the difference in cost is removing or keeping the garage and restoring the carriage house.  This option also includes restoring the brick and square bay window, and removing the basement on the 1960 addition.  Mr. Mortensen said volunteers could help remove the walls if they are careful.
 Mr. Mortensen recommended removing everything that was added onto the carriage house and add 1910 period doors that would be handicap access.  Paul Smith suggested a driveway from Main Street to connect to the garage.  Mr. Mortensen explained the upstairs bathroom has a toilet, tub, and a sink.  He said a person must bend down to go into the carriage house, and he proposed turning these areas back to the original period, which would give back the headroom. 

Melissa Hogan said a feasibility study was done on the Whitaker Museum, with the purpose of storing historical records and computers for genealogy research.  She said there was opposition in the community with using City funds for these projects.

Rebekah Barton asked about the concerns of removing the wall on the 1960s addition.  Mr. Mortensen said if the 1960s addition is kept, he would create a square window box that could be folded-up and stored, and then displayed when tour groups come.  He said the structure is strong under the 1960s addition, and the basement can be filled and compacted, but when the opening was torn out, the entire corner of the original brick was removed and cinder block was put in its place.  Mr. Mortensen said it can be expensive to replace the cinderblock with matching brick.

Mr. Mortensen explained that the large gathering room was well built, had historical significance and he suggested it be painted in colors that would accent the structural diversity of the room.  He further stated that he held great reservations about removing the room because of concerns of what would happen with compaction, and that we did not have any idea what was really behind the west wall.  This he further pointed out to the Board while touring the basement room.

The Museum Board toured the garage and back porch. Mr. Mortensen said he would like to see the porch be open or screened.  He said the roof over the porch will need to be replaced and the back porch removed, and he suggested restoring the gable and having a plaza or open patio.  Mr. Mortensen suggested removing layers of roofing one at a time to see what the condition is of each layer.  He said today’s building codes require air vents be built into the attic, and if these vents are not there, people living or being in a building will create moisture and this moisture will work its way up into the attic.  He said if this moisture is not allowed to release, it will cause rotting of the roof.

DISCUSS OFFICE OF MUSEUM SERVICES GRANT 2007-08

Melissa Hogan reported the Office of Museum Services for Utah provides a project grant or a development grant each year.  She said the project grant is for $6,000 and is given to museums that are open at least 1,000 hours annually. Melissa said the development grant is for $1,000 and it is for museums that are open for less than 1,000 hours per year.  She said the Museum Board needs to decide which grant should be pursued. Melissa explained the grant includes the $6,000 State grant and local contributions would be $3,000, and $3,600 would be City grants. 

Melissa read a letter from Don Burke, Office of Museum Services, that states there may be an increase in grant money to be given to museums.  The Whitaker Museum Board agreed to pursue the $6,000 grant.

Priscilla Todd made a motion to the City Council to recommend approval that the Whitaker Museum Board seek the $6,000 State Project Grant based on the following findings:

1. The grant is something that is necessary for the museum.
2. The grant would not bring any further obligation or impact to the Whitaker Museum or Board.
3. The Whitaker Museum qualifies for the grant without any further changes being done.
4. It is necessary for the museum to procure grants as feasible.
5. The grant is necessary to complete a project in process. 

Frank Hirschi seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (5-0).

SELECT REGULAR MEETING DATE AND TIME

Paul Smith made a motion for the Whitaker Museum Board to meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.  Richard Henrichsen seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (5-0).

SELECTION OF WHITAKER MUSEUM CHAIRPERSON

Richard Henrichsen made a motion to nominate Rebekah Barton as the Chairperson of the Whitaker Museum Board.  Frank Hirschi seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous roll-call vote (5-0).

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
 
 Melissa Hogan reported the elementary school tours will be taking place at the Whitaker Museum during the month of May.

Melissa reported the Thurston Cabin is at risk of being torn down.  Paul Smith said it is possibly the oldest inhabited cabin in Utah, along with Wilford Woodruff’s cabin in Salt Lake City that was built in 1857.

Priscilla Todd said security at the museum needs to be addressed such as:  cameras, outdoor lighting, and security buzzers.  She said she will prepare a cost estimate to be presented to the City Council.  Priscilla said she will give a presentation at the next meeting on the history and ordinances of the Whitaker Museum.

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

At 9:25 p.m., Melissa Hogan made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Richard Henrichsen seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (5-0).

Marilyn Holje, City Recorder                Date Approved

Connie Larson Recording Secretary