June 23 2026 Historic District Commission Meeting

The City of Russellville Historic District Commission held a meeting on June 23, 2026, focusing primarily on historic preservation guidelines, certificate of appropriateness (COA) applications, and related ordinance amendments. Key procurement-related discussions included the approval of updated downtown historic district design guidelines developed with Post Oak Preservation Solutions, funded by a certified local government grant. The commission recommended forwarding these guidelines to the city council for adoption. They also approved amendments to ordinance 2460 to introduce a $100 COA application fee to cover administrative and public notification costs, shifting responsibility from applicants to the city. Several COA applications were reviewed and approved, including the installation of a bronze statue of Jerry the Bulldog at the historic train depot, a vinyl wrap on a traffic signal box, and a water fountain near the depot. A significant discussion involved a COA application for structural repairs to a deteriorating historic building, which was tabled pending further engineering assessments and plans. Additionally, the commission approved a letter of support for a $750,000 Paul Braun historic preservation grant application intended to subgrant funds for federally or city-owned historic properties. Other topics included property maintenance and community concerns about downtown parking and public art integration. Overall, the meeting emphasized preservation efforts, funding mechanisms, and community engagement in maintaining Russellville's historic district.