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CLG update: Thornton Tomasetti report pending; Presbyterian Church structural assessment urged
Summary
Staff reported a delayed second Thornton Tomasetti report for the Beach House and encouraged the Presbyterian Church to fund a structural engineering assessment so it can apply for CLG grant funds; staff invited commissioners to a December meeting and urged local advocacy for SHPO funding.
At the meeting the commission received an update on Certified Local Government (CLG) work: staff said the Beach House is awaiting a second report from engineering consultant Thornton Tomasetti and that the Presbyterian Church faces substantial structural issues that may require a funded assessment before a successful grant application.
Aaron (staff) said the second Thornton Tomasetti report is taking longer than expected because the consultant was asked to address specific porch issues; he told commissioners he expects the report by November and intended to report the findings at the commission’s December meeting or circulate the information by email beforehand. "I expect to have something probably by the November, and I was gonna say that I would report at your December meeting," Aaron said.
Aaron also said the CLG grant cycle has reopened and encouraged the Presbyterian Church to consider applying. He described the church’s condition as involving both brick-tower mortar problems and rot in wooden elements caused by moisture, noting prior repairs used cement rather than appropriate mortar. "We don't know the extent of it until it's tested," Aaron said, describing the need for a structural engineering assessment to establish scope and demonstrate good faith to grant reviewers.
Aaron proposed that the church might pay for the structural assessment itself and then pursue grant funds for the physical work. He invited Commissioner Stroud to join a December meeting with church leadership and asked other commissioners to indicate if they wanted to attend. Aaron also described participating in a statewide workshop hosted by SHPO and MHPN and relayed a call-to-action for local advocates to contact lawmakers to preserve SHPO resources for small rural communities.
Commissioners agreed the project will require rallying community support; Aaron and commissioners planned follow-up outreach based on the December meeting with the church.
Next steps: staff will share the Thornton Tomasetti report when available and follow up on the December meeting to determine the church’s capacity to fund an assessment and pursue a subsequent grant for physical repairs.
