Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION TO THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR UP TO $20,000 FROM THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM TO PREPARE A BUILDING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT FOR ENGER TOWER
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CITY PROPOSAL:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to submit an application to the Minnesota Historical Society for up to $20,000 from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage small grants program to prepare a building conditions assessment for Enger Tower.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Duluth has the legal authority to apply for, and if awarded, accept these funds and the financial, technical, and managerial capacity to ensure proper planning and maintenance of the project.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that there is no local match required for these funds and no match will be committed in the application.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Duluth City Council names the fiscal agent for this project as Nina Salinas, City of Duluth Finance Director, 411 West 1st Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes application to the Minnesota Historical Society Minnesota for up to $20,000 from the Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants Program to prepare a building conditions assessment for Enger Tower. There is no local match required and no match will be committed in the application.
Enger Tower is located within Enger Park and is a contributing resource to the Skyline Parkway Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Construction of the 70-foot tall, octagonal stone structure was completed in 1939. The Tower is open to visitors seasonally from May - October. In recent years, staff have observed corrosion of the steel components of the stairs within the Tower and on the bars that control access into the structure when it is closed in the winter months.
If awarded, the grant funding through the Minnesota Historical Society will support hiring a qualified historical architect to prepare a building conditions assessment that will inform treatment recommendations to address deteriorated conditions and ensure safety of visitors. By completing the conditions assessment with a historical architect, the City will be able to pursue future grant funding to support development of construction drawings and/or the capital maintenance of the structure. This opportunity provides alternative funding for work that would otherwise require additional City resources while ensuring recommendations are appropriate for preservation of the historic resource.