The Waukesha City Landmarks Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to award a $3,000 paint-and-repair grant to the owners of the Harter House at 122 Southeast Avenue and to reallocate $932 in leftover grant funds to a siding project at 202 West College Avenue.

The commission’s staff member, Charlie, told commissioners the commission’s paint-and-repair grants are generally set at roughly 15% of project cost up to a $3,000 guideline but that the commission has discretion to vary awards. Charlie said the commission has a 2025 allocation of $25,000 from a HUD/county contract and $350 carried over from 2024. After prior approvals there was $3,582 available before tonight’s votes.

Charlie said the Harter House roof and gutter replacement was estimated at $23,000: $19,800 for CertainTeed Landmark Series shingles and $3,200 for K-style gutters. Fifteen percent of that estimate would be $3,450, which exceeds the guideline cap, so commissioners moved to approve the standard $3,000 award.

A homeowner who identified themselves while at the meeting thanked the commission and said the roofing work was nearly complete; they said the previous roof was about 25 years old and was a barrier to obtaining homeowner insurance at reasonable replacement coverage. The homeowner also described slipping gutters and said the project will restore proper drainage.

The commission then discussed $582 remaining in the 2025 allocation plus the $350 leftover from 2024. Charlie recommended reallocating the $932 rather than letting the money lapse. Commissioners identified 202 West College Avenue, a time-and-materials siding and repair project previously approved at a $10,000 estimate, as a high-visibility candidate that will likely cost more than that estimate and could benefit from the additional funds. The commission moved and unanimously approved allocating the $932 to the 202 West College Avenue project.

Both votes were taken by voice and recorded as unanimous; no individual roll-call vote counts were read into the record. Commissioners discussed meeting scheduling and agreed staff would call a special or emergency meeting only if a time-sensitive application arrived in December.