The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

OTTUMWA, IOWA -- At the Ottumwa City Council meeting on Tuesday night, the vote was unanimous in favor of preserving three historical areas around Ottumwa.

Included in this group: the Harvester, or Hoffman Building, along with six homes in the northside residential area of Ottumwa that were constructed in the immediate post-World War II days.

KTVO spoke with Councilman Bob Meyers, and the Ottumwa Planning and Zoning Director Dave Shafer regarding how this process began.

"The Ottumwa Historic Preservation Commission held a public meeting and recommended to the Ottumwa City Council to nominate those three different locations and projects," Director Shafer said.

"Being identified by the National Registry as a historical preservation site or areas, it's a win-win because it gets us the national recognition as well as opens up possibilities for grants and other monies to continue to maintain and develop those areas," Councilman Meyers added.

The cost of this project for the taxpayers? Nothing.

"All these projects have been funded through grant projects that the Ottumwa Historic Preservation Commission, as well as the Ottumwa City Council, have applied for to receive the technical services to assist with these nomination projects," Director Shafer said.

"I'd asked Planning and Zoning Director Shafer: how many years you had to be in existence to qualify. And he mentioned, 'at least 50,'" Councilman Meyers said.

Both men agree that this project will help with tourism in Ottumwa.

"There are areas where people like to come to the city; to explore different historic parts of the neighborhoods in the City of Ottumwa. So that actually does facilitate and draw some tourism and some interest, let alone help establish the community pride within the City of Ottumwa," Director Shafer said.

"And I think it also is a bridge to history, to the past and yet to the future," Councilman Meyers added. 

For more information on the National Register of Historic Places, just visit their website.