Patterson Delivers Response To Recent Criticism Of Heritage Commission

At the start of a 90-minute Ste. Genevieve Heritage Commission work session on May 20, commission member Martha Patterson read a statement, taking issue with criticism local historian Bob Mueller had recently given the group.

“I take issue with statements made at the April meeting, insinuating that we are uninformed,” she read. “This commission has a city ordinance and guidelines to follow. We read, we study and we weigh each request as to the compliance with the guidelines, while taking into consideration the people who live in these houses. And, without people, we would not have a city. I, for one, do not want the historic district to become such a rigid place that nobody wants to live or bring a business here.”

Patterson also addressed Mueller’s assertion that the commission needed to be taking training classes. She said Dr. Steven Hoffman, director of the historic preservation program at Southeast Missouri State University and leader of the summer field school [who was present for the work session as well], had presented a workshop in December.

“In the winter of 2018, we were lucky enough to have Dr. Hoffman,” she said. “The workshop was advertised, Dr. Hoffman gave an excellent talk. Where were the naysayers? …

See complete story in the May 29 edition of the Herald.

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