2017 04-13
Meridian Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – April 13, 2017 Page 1 of 2
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and / or hearings,
please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Mayor’s Conference
Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 5:30 PM
City Council Chambers, City Hall
33 E. Broadway, Meridian, Idaho
1. Roll-call Attendance:
Blaine Johnston, President Jacy Jones
Dawn Cronk Ella Kramer
Josh Evarts, Vice President Edward Landis
Councilman Ty Palmer, Ex-Officio
2. Adoption of the Agenda
3. Approval of the March 9, 2017 Meeting Minutes
4. Approval of the Monthly Financial Statement
5. Historical Society and History Center Update by Lila Hill
6. New Business
a. Tour Buddy Training
b. Community Development Block Grant Property Assessments
7. Old Business
a. Walking Tour Brochure Updates
b. Historic Preservation Month May 2017 Planning
i. Tour Buddy Launch and Art Exhibition at The Vault, 140 E.
Idaho Avenue on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 6:30 PM
1. Outreach Efforts
2. Art Exhibition
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMISSION MEETING
Meridian Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – April 13, 2017 Page 2 of 2
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and / or hearings,
please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
3. Tour Buddy App Launch and Commissioner Led
Adventures
ii. Scavenger Hunt Updated Handout for Review
iii. If This Property Could Talk
1. Design Review and Final Approval
2. Building Owner Permissions
c. Potential Nominations to National Registry
8. Reports
a. Meridian High School Lunch & Learn Program
b. Meridian High School Student Essay Competition
i. Deadline: April 28, 2017
c. 2017 Meridian History Course
d. Children’s Museum Update
e. Walking Tour Footprints
9. Next Meeting: May 11, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
a. Discussion of Possible Meeting Topics
10. Adjourn
Meridian Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – April 13, 2017 Page 1 of 3
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and / or hearings,
please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Mayor’s Conference
Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 5:30 PM
City Council Chambers, City Hall
33 E. Broadway, Meridian, Idaho
1. Roll-call Attendance: 5:32 PM
x Blaine Johnston, President o Jacy Jones
o Dawn Cronk x Ella Kramer
x Josh Evarts, Vice President x Edward Landis
o Councilman Ty Palmer, Ex-Officio
Others in attendance: Hillary Bodnar, Commissions & Committees Specialist; Bill Nary,
City Attorney
2. Adoption of the Agenda
Motion by J. Evarts to adopt the agenda; seconded by E. Landis – all ayes –
motion carried.
3. Approval of the March 9, 2017 Meeting Minutes
Motion by J. Evarts to approve the minutes; seconded by E. Landis – all ayes –
motion carried.
4. Approval of the Monthly Financial Statement
Motion by J. Evarts to approve the monthly financial statement; seconded by E.
Landis – all ayes – motion carried.
5. Historical Society and History Center Update by Lila Hill
B. Johnston read Lila Hill’s report, included in the meeting packet.
6. New Business
a. Tour Buddy Training
J. Evarts has prepared a PPT for the Tour Buddy launch. He will make this
into a format that reads better for email and send to Hillary to forward to the
commission members and School District staff. J. Evarts also reported that
TourBuddy provides analytics for HPC to use.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMISSION MEETING
Meridian Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – April 13, 2017 Page 2 of 3
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and / or hearings,
please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
b. Community Development Block Grant Property Assessments
E. Landis and J. Evarts volunteered to go do some assessments. HB will
contact and coordinate a time to go out.
7. Old Business
a. Walking Tour Brochure Updates
Motion by J. Evarts to approve not-to-exceed $900 for the photography
work associate with our CLG grant for the walking tour brochure updates;
seconded by E. Landis – all ayes – motion carried.
b. Historic Preservation Month May 2017 Planning
i. Tour Buddy Launch and Art Exhibition at The Vault, 140 E.
Idaho Avenue on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 6:30 PM
1. Outreach Efforts
J. Evarts will reach out to Holly Beach at the Meridian Press.
H. Bodnar will make a Facebook event and include info on
Pine Street School.
2. Art Exhibition
E. Landis would like to move this to next year. B. Nary
suggested this could work with Meridian Art Week, too.
3. Tour Buddy App Launch and Commissioner Led
Adventures
ii. Scavenger Hunt Updated Handout for Review
H. Bodnar presented a few updates to the scaveng er hunt handout.
J. Evarts asked if we could add check boxes instead of carrots.
iii. If This Property Could Talk
1. Design Review and Final Approval
J. Evarts will work with H. Bodnar to finish the sign designs.
2. Building Owner Permissions
J. Evarts will get permissions, H. Bodnar will print list.
c. Potential Nominations to National Registry
B. Johnston and J. Evarts will get together next week.
8. Reports
Meridian Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – April 13, 2017 Page 3 of 3
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and / or hearings,
please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
a. Meridian High School Lunch & Learn Program
E. Kramer told the commission that Mrs. Hogan found a CD that Dr. Mike
Conroy had made for Meridian High School’s centennial. B. Johnston and
J. Evarts recommended that a copy be given to the History Center.
b. Meridian High School Student Essay Competition
E. Kramer said that a lot of people seemed interested in writing essays. H.
Bodnar can send the essays to the commissioners to read and score. H.
Bodnar will print more copies of the application and get to E. Kramer .
i. Deadline: April 28, 2017
c. 2017 Meridian History Course
B. Nary has been coordinating field trips to farms. Drew Eggars will be out
of town, but has given B. Nary another person’s contact information.
d. Children’s Museum Update
Tabled
e. Walking Tour Footprints
The Parks Department still has some extra footprints from the initial order.
When it comes time to replace any footings, we will only need to order
sealant.
9. Next Meeting: May 11, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
a. Discussion of Possible Meeting Topics
10. Adjourn
Motion by J. Evarts; second by E. Landis to adjourn – all ayes –motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 6:32 PM
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
APPROVED
__________________________________________ _____|_____|_____
BLAINE JOHNSTON – PRESIDENT DATE APPROVED
ATTEST:_____________________________________
C. JAY COLES, CITY CLERK
CITY of MERIDIAN
FY2017 (10/1/2016 thru 9/30/2017)
Budget for Historic Preservation & Historical Society As of: 3/31/2017
Acct#AGENCY / VENDOR
Effective
Date DESCRIPTION
FY2017
BUDGET
EXPENDITUR
ES
Available
Budget
BUDGET 10/1/2016 Budget for misc 300.00
53801 MasterCard 10/28/2016 Recd: Business Card Paper & Photo Printer Paper -
qty 3 OFFICEMAX AP17-0109 Photo Paper to HPC not
MAC -55181to53801
38.26
Historical Society budget for misc expenses 300.00 38.26 261.74
BUDGET 10/1/2016 Budget for Consulting 5,000.00
BUDGET 10/1/2016 Budget for Training 2,500.00
BUDGET 10/1/2016 Budget for Supplies 400.04
BUDGET 10/1/2016 Budget for Memberships 325.00
BUDGET 10/1/2016 Budget for Printing/Promotional 1,500.00
BUDGET 10/1/2016 Budget for Continuing Education Program 1,000.00
BUDGET 10/1/2016 Budget for Historical District Branding 5,000.00
53801 MasterCard 11/28/2016 MC City #2, #6898, 11/28/16 Statement - National
Trust for Historic Preservation, 11/1/16, Historic
Preservation Group Membership
250.00
53801 JOHNSTON, BLAINE- CO 12/9/2016 Expense Report, B. Johnston, NTHP Past Forward
Conference, Houston TX, 11/14/16-11/19/16
2749.70
53801 TOUR BUDDY 1/26/2017 17-0178, Tour Buddy App - License for Walking Tour
App
3500.00
53801 MasterCard 10/1/2016 Rcls MASTERCARD MC City #4 09/16 Statement - TMANIA,
9/17/16, Preservation Idaho Heritage Homes Tour
Ticket For D. Cronk (HPC Commissioner) -15400to53801
28.90
53801 A-1 STAMP & MABEL'S
LABELS
3/1/2017 Name Badges for HPC Commissioners - Ella Kramer;Ed
Landis
20.00
Historic Preservation 15,725.04 6,548.60 9,176.44
TOTALS 16,025.04 6,586.86 9,438.18
4/10/2017 1 of 1 Historic Preservation reports (2)
1
HPC – April 2017
Activities this last month have included providing information for a coming Blue Valley common
school anniversary event.
We have received an alphabetical list of the books in the History Center from Nathaniel, a
Meridian Library employee who worked on our inventory. He will also make another list with the
books in alphabetical order by author. Obviously, this will make it much easier to determine if we
have a book for patrons.
I received a query from Barbara Perry Bauer – one of the TAG researchers that has done work
for the Meridian HPC in the past. She knew that we had Jim Witherill’s collection of Interurban
photos & she wondered if we had the photos from his “Log Trains of Idaho” – We do not have
those photos – but, I contacted Jim’s widow, Ann & she said she knew right where they were.
We made arrangements to meet with Barbara at Ann’s place of employment and last Friday
morning Ann Witherill, Barbara & I met – When Ann realized that Barbara’s sister, Liz Jacox,
was in charge at the Idaho State Historical Library during the years that Jim was doing his
research it was like “old home week.” Jim was one of our first members and a very competent
researcher. He also was the author of “History along the Greenbelt.”
Ann is downsizing & after the Liz connection was made she gladly turned the box of photos over
to Barbara. Barbara could hardly contain herself, she is working on a Barber book & had been
able to locate all of the photos in “Log Trains” except those of Barber, which were in Jim’s
private collection. The box was letter sized, but about 4” deep and full of Idaho Railroad photos
– Barbara will have them scanned and a scanned copy on disc & the actual photos will be
returned to us for their permanent archival storage. Ann also mentioned that she still had the
box of all the submitted materials from the “Log Trains book” – so we may get those as well.
The photos are all identified on the back – I do not know as of now whether it will be necessary
to order some photo archival boxes & photo sleeves – we’ll let you know.
The early electors & tax visitors to the city hall has upped our visitor count. Linda and Barbara
Cox Sells (daughter of long time city clerk Herald Cox) hosted the local retired teachers group
last week when they visited the History Center. Several said they did not know we were at city
hall. Former teacher Maurine McFadden made the arrangements.
Robbie is still on his anniversary cruise - Linda has covered some of his days, but we are still
short handed.
Last week some attended the award ceremony at Boise city hall where I received the Making
History annual award from the Ada County Historic Preservation Commission. The award was
given before the regular Ada County Commissioners meeting. It was well done – And the award
sits on my father’s desk in my office at home – (This is the first contact that I remember from
that group in many years – we hear from the Idaho State Preservation group fairly often –
Maybe we should invite them to visit the History Center & a meeting!) I haven’t done any
research at the county level for a few years and I was surprised that we had a metal detector
check when we entered the building. (I set the alarm off with artificial knee & hip joints!)
o
IF THIS PROPERTY COU LD TALK SIGN INVENTO RY
Building Address Owner Permission
1. MWA/Heritage Building 77 E. Idaho St.
2. Gano Plumbing
3. Harness/Saddle Shop 126 E. Idaho Ave.
4. Old Town Library 18 E. Idaho Ave.
5. Elite Cleaners 140 E. Idaho Ave.
6. Busted Shovel 704 N. Main St.
7. Occident Club 18 E. Idaho Ave.
8. Zamzows 611 N. Main St.
9. Next door (W.) of Murri’s 133 E. Idaho Ave.
10. United Methodist Church 240 E. Idaho Ave.
11. News/Computer Office 815 N. Main St.
12. Murri’s 139 E. Idaho Ave.
13. Smoke Shop 132 E. Idaho Ave.
14. City Hall 33 E. Broadway Ave.
The Meridian Historic Preservation Commission has teamed up with the Meridian Historical
Society for Historic Preservation Month events and offerings throughout the month of May.
We would like to place sandwich board signs outside of some of the old town business
properties. The signs have short descriptions about the history of fourteen individual
properties and are meant to serve as teasers to get people engaged with the history of our
downtown and encourage them to learn more.
If you would like a sign outside of your property, we ask that you monitor it throughout the
month. You may bring it inside at the end of the day if you wish, but we look forward to
seeing these outside on the sidewalks as much as possible.
These signs will be distributed on May 1 and will be picked up by May 31.
You are also invited to take part in our Historic Preservation Month Tour Buddy Walking Tour
App Launch: Thursday, May 11th at 6:30 PM at the Vault.
Thank you on behalf of the Meridian Historic Preservation Commission!
Personal Life
Lila Hill was born and raised in the small rural farming
community of Monte Vista, Colorado, with a brother
and two sisters. She grew up on a farm and attended
Sargent Consolidated Schools. Her parents volunteered
in their nondenominational community church and
community in many capacities. "A community is only as
good as you make it," she recalls her father saying.
With her ex-husband Kent Kehler, Hill moved to Boise
in 1-952. They first went to Moses Lake, Washington.
However, the jobs there were already filled, so they ret-
urned to Boise where she had an aunt and uncle living.
Hill moved to Meridian in 1-954, which at the time was a
small farming community of 2,000 to 3,000. It had a
small-town feel that was similar to where she grew up in
Colorado.
Hill met her current husband, Earl Hill, at church. Earl's
father migrated to Idaho in 1888 from Missouri. His
parents married in 1912, with his mother being an old -
maid schoolteacher in her 30s and his father being
almost 50. The family homesteaded, starting with sheep
and then switching to dairy and feed crops. Earl is the
sixth child in a family of seven—two girls and five boys.
His father died when he was 1-4, so he moved to
Meridian with his mother, where he graduated from
high school and attended Boise Junior College for two
years before returning to the farm.
Earl and Lila will have been married for 49 years this
year. Hill says she is fortunate to have a husband who
let her pursue her own interests while he stayed home
and milked the cows.
Photo: A rag rug weaving loom ca. 1918. Donated by Earl
and Lila Hill
She has three sons along with Earl's son and daugh-
ter as well as several grandchildren.
The church has continued to play a major role in
Hill's life. She sang in the choir, served as organist,
and gave piano lessons for 50 years, as well as serv-
ing the local church in all capacities except trustee.
In addition to the Meridian Historical Society, Hill
has belonged to many organizations, including be-
ing a member of Eastern Star for more than 6o
years, Daughters of the American Revolution for
more than 40 years, Colonial Dames of the Seven-
teenth Century, and the Idaho Huguenot Society.
Meridian History
Meridian was platted in 1893 and incorporated in
1903. It is a city founded primarily on agriculture.
It was particularly
known for its dairy
farmers in the area. At
one point, more than
3,000 farmers sent their
mills to the Meridian
Creamery, located
downtown at the site
where the Meridian City
Hall is located.
Knowing Meridian as
she did, what's been
Hill's biggest surprise
about the city now? The biggest surprise has been
the growth of Meridian, she says. She attributes its
success to good leadership and the thrifty disposi-
tion of its citizens.
Hill Documents Meridian's History
Until the Valley Times newspaper folded in early
2017, Hill volunteered her time to write a Meridian -
area history column. Her column lasted more than
26 years.
Hill is also the author of two books about Meridian -
area history: They Came to Build a Community, and
Before the Times. They Came to Build a Community,
published in 1986, was co -written by Dr. Glen Da-
vidson and intended to help Meridian United Meth-
odist observe its centennial. It was about how the
local Methodist Church influenced the development
of the Meridian community.
The book was selected by the American Association
of State and Local Historians as an example of what
could be used when early primary sources were no
longer available to researchers. It was also featured
in the Near -by History Series, Places of Worship, by
James Wind. In addition, it was recognized by the
EIi Lilly Foundation as the only church history book
that portrayed the influence of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church and the Methodist Church, South on a
developing community.
In researching the book, Hill went back to the origi-
nal 188os homestead records and newspaper articles.
Hill is one of the co-founders the Meridian Histori-
cal Society. The Society maintains and operates the
Meridian History Center inside City Hall. The Cen-
ter is staffed solely by volunteers and contains ar-
chived documents and photographs as well as exhib-
its relating to Meridian's history.
1%, '.U,.
Lila Hill Accolades
Here is a small sampling of the awards and recogni-
tion Lila has received for her work and volunteerism.
• Recognized in 2012 by the American Association of
State and Local Historians with an "Award of Merit"
for tireless dedication to documenting and preserv-
ing her community history
• Meridian Woman of the Year in 1992
• Ministry of Memory Award given by the United
Methodist Historical Society at its annual meeting
in 2013
• Preservation of Idaho Orchid Award
• Meridian City Volunteer of the Year