Historic Preservation Organizations

The city of Adel has two closely coordinated volunteer advisory organizations that focus on preserving and sharing its history - The Adel Historic Preservation Commission (AHPC) and the Adel Historical Museum Board of Directors. Scroll down to read about each organization.

Overview of Adel Historic Preservation Commission

Adel’s Historic Preservation Commission (AHPC) consists of seven members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council.  The Commission members are appointed for staggered terms of three years and members may serve for more than one term. 

Members are residents of the City and shall demonstrate a positive interest in historic preservation. They should also possess an interest or expertise in architecture, architectural history, historic preservation, and/or city planning as it relates to rehabilitation and conservation.   

Maintaining an active historic preservation commission also helps Adel maintain its designation as a Certified Local Government (CLG).  Certified Local Governments (CLG) are municipalities that have demonstrated, through a certification process, a commitment to local preservation and saving the past for future generations. As a CLG, Adel has access to funding and technical assistance for its historic preservation efforts.

AHPC Purpose

  1. Promote the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public through the recognition, enhancement and perpetuation of sites and districts of historical and cultural significance.

  2. Safeguard the City’s historic, aesthetic, and cultural heritage by preserving sites and districts of historic and cultural significance.

  3. Stabilize and improve property values.

  4. Foster pride in the legacy of beauty and achievements of the past.

  5. Protect and enhance the City’s attractions to tourists and visitors and the support and stimulus to business thereby provided.

  6. Strengthen the economy of the City.

  7. Promote the use of sites and districts of historic and cultural significance as places for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the people of the City.

AHPC Members

Rich Hughes – Chair

Anna Phelps – Assistant Chair

Benjamin Bobier

Micole Chapman

Deb Christensen

Robert Hall

Vonadale “Vonz” Odem

Friends of AHPC

Friends of AHPC occasionally attend meetings and help us complete the projects on our annual work plan.

Michael Flinn

Lane Pralle

AHPC Meetings

The commission typically meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in either the City Hall or the Adel Public Library. Meetings are open to the public and agendas and minutes can be accessed on the City of Adel website by going to ‘government’ on the top header and then clicking on ‘forms and minutes’.

Adel Historical Museum Board of Directors

The Adel museum is owned by the city of Adel and coordinated by a volunteer advisory board. The mission of the board of directors is to maintain and manage the Adel Historical Museum and its collections in order to preserve the history of Adel and its citizens past and present.

Advisory Board Powers and Duties

  • Provide public access to the museum (either during regular business hours or special tours).

  • Care for the collections and artifacts in the museum and outbuildings.

  • Research and document incoming collections, artifacts, and donations.

  • Acquire relevant inventory.

  • Lead fundraising for ongoing needs of the museum.

  • Increase awareness of the museum.

  • Approve expenditures including cost of acquisitions and improvements of displays.

  • Approve changes to displays.

  • Assign committees and management of any events or alteration to the museum’s displays.

  • Update the City Council and the Adel Historical Preservation Commission on a regular basis. This includes advising the City of Adel of any maintenance of the structure.

Advisory Board Members

Benjamin Bobier

Cindy Baldon

Connie Cooper

Aubrey Dunbar

Shirley McAdon (city council liason)

Meetings

Museum volunteers typically meet every two weeks to discuss museum maintenance, enhancement projects, and events.