Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCemetary Commission Minutes 04.16.2009MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT: CEMETERY COMMISSION MINUTES April 16, 2009 5:30 P.M. CITY HALL Norm Stamper-Chairman (6:00 p.m.) Chuck Rodgers Dick Fritzler Wallace Hall LuAnne Engh Lee Barndt Kurt Markegard Bill Enright Max Long Bob Saxbury Jim Davenport Cathy Gabrian Anthony Pratt Howard Guenthner Dick Metzger Chuck Rodgers called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. 1. Public Input: No comments at this time. 2. Regulations regarding flower vases, etc. in the Veterans' Section of the Laurel Cemetery. This issue is being brought forward because of a request by family, of a deceased veteran, to allow flower vases on the grave. The American Legion sets the military stones in our cemetery every spring, prior to Memorial Day and need to know if this is allowed with the headstones. Representatives of the American Legion were invited to the meeting to address their thoughts and concerns about the Veteran sections. Max Long stated that the military section has been abused. People are wiring flowers to the headstones and the untreated wire is rusting on the stones. Some are tightened to the point that the wire is cutting into the stone. The American flag is also being abused. The Legion puts flags out on Memorial Day and they pick them up. Other graves throughout the cemetery have tattered flags on them which are not lit and are left until they blow away or someone finally throws them out. He does not want to see shepherd hooks, windsocks and twirlers on the graves. Bob Saxbury said he would like to see us go along with the regulations in place for the Yellowstone County Veterans' Cemetery. He inquired about removal of the tree by the flagpole, on the north side of Section C, so they can clean the flagpole. He suggested posting the regulations by the military section. Kurt said the tree by the flagpole is scheduled to be removed this spring. He was unaware that the veterans wanted two other trees removed. He does not have funds to remove additional trees in this fiscal year. Discussion followed regarding the following items. 1. Installing PVC flower pots in the foundation of all future veteran stones 2. What to do about existing veteran stones that do not have vases 3. Cost involved to hire a contractor to drill holes in existing veteran foundations 4. Maintenance/drainage of these flower holes 5. Our liability if we start doing things with the headstones; straightening, etc. 6. With limited funds and maintenance personnel, our ability to enforce/maintain rules 7. Adopt rules similar to the Yellowstone County Veterans' Cemetery 8. Use this as an opportunity to revise the regulation for the entire cemetery, to clean it up Chuck Rodgers contacted two cement cutters to get a ballpark figure for cutting a three inch hole in the foundation of the existing veterans' graves. There are 87 graves in Section C and 78 in Section J. Based Cemetery Commission Meeting April 16, 2009 Page 2. on doing approximately 165 holes, the price was approximately $16 - $35 per hole. After discussion, it was the consensus of the group that we may only need to do Section J. Section C is an older section with few decorations on them. It would be a bigger maintenance issue by having unused vases in this section. LuAnne said it would be an ideal time, around Memorial Day, to start enforcing new regulations. She wondered how many people would be upset, but feels we need to educate the public through articles in the Outlook and posting the information where the public has access to it. Signage was discussed and Kurt said there is a kiosk in Thomson Park that is not being used and it may be possible to have this moved to the cemetery. We could post our regulations along with maps of the cemetery and contact phone numbers, if people have questions. It was the consensus of the committee to go forward with having one PVC flower vase installed in the concrete foundation of each upright veteran stone, from this point forward. Kurt stated that since our current regulations allow for flower vases in the cemetery and nothing specific is noted for the Veterans sections, the American Legion can go ahead with setting the PVC vases. They will be set to the same standard as in the county cemetery. 3. Review the Master Plan far the Laurel Cemetery with Interstate Engineering, Inc. Anthony Pratt and Bill Enright were here to review the Laurel Cemetery Expansion Master Plan. Anthony directed us to the phase map and briefly explained each phase and the cost associated with each. He said the phasing is flexible, based upon the needs of the cemetery. The phases are ordered to not cause disconnect from the existing cemetery. Bill said the question is how to fund a project like this and unfortunately, there is not much grant money for cemeteries. This plan will take us forward for the next 50-100 years. Phase I is designed to get it started, then you can build on that. He said the pump that was installed for the county cemetery will also handle our cemetery for the time being and the line will handle 500 gallons a minute. As they both expand in the future, the pump would need to be upgraded. Bill asked if anything has been done about the water shares. He had sent a letter to Bill Sheridan about the "use it or lose it" policy. Kurt said nothing has been done. Norm Stamper stated it has been a pleasure to work with Bill, Anthony and Jolene Reich with both Peaks to Plains Design and Interstate Engineering. It was clarified that this will go to council and when they accept it by resolution, that ends the contract and payment will be made. Motion by Dick Fritzler to adopt the Laurel Cemetery Expansion Master Plan and take it to Council for approval, seconded by Chuck Rodgers. Motion carried. The Cemetery Commission will meet in a work session on Wednesday, April 291h at 5:30 p.m. to review the regulations for the cemetery. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Cathy Ga rian