Chair: Agatha Frisby
Vice Chair: Dennis Markusen
Shannon Brazil
Tracy Laaveg
M. Richard Geiger
Bergit Sobak
Sarah Johnston
Denise Bata
Gary Seboe
Tracy Laaveg, Coordinator tracy@lslawgroupnd.com
The Walsh County Commission established the Walsh County Historic Preservation Commission (WCHPC) July 25, 1989. A seven member commission was established in order to qualify as a Certified Local Government (CLG) under the National Historic Preservation Act as amended in 1980. The ordinance was amended in 2017 to allow for “seven to nine members”
The WCHPC advises the Walsh County Commission and its residents on matters of preservation and ensures that the preservation of the history of Walsh County is considered at all levels of local government. The purpose and declaration of the Walsh County ordinance establishing the WCHPC is as follows:
The purpose of this ordinance is to promote historic districts and landmarks for the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the public through the preservation, protection, and regulation of buildings, sites, monuments, structures, and areas of historic interest or importance within the County of Walsh; to safeguard the heritage of the County by preserving and regulating historic landmarks and districts which reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history; to preserve the County’s economic base by the stimulation of the tourist industry; to establish and improve property values; to foster economic development; to manage growth; to foster civic pride in the beauty and noble accomplishments of the past; and to promote the use of historic districts, landmarks, interior landmarks, and scenic landmarks for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the people of Walsh County.
It is intended that the WCHPC will cooperate with and assist various local, state, and federal entities and/or agencies in the enforcement of federal and state legislation to identify, evaluate, designate, and protect properties significant in the pre-history, history, architecture, engineering, and culture of the community, state, and nation.
It is further declared that the purposes of this article are:
To retain and enhance those properties which contribute to the character of the historic district and to encourage their adaptation for current use.
To assure that alteration of existing structures are compatible with the character of the historic district.
To assure that new construction and sub-division of lots in an historic district are compatible with the character of the historic district.
To retain and enhance historic landmarks in the County of Walsh and to encourage their adaptation for current use.
To encourage restoration of historic landmarks.
The WCHPC works to provide educational opportunities for the citizens of Walsh County to learn about the importance of preservation. The WCHPC sponsors public education programs to audiences in Walsh County about the importance of preservation.
