HomeMy WebLinkAboutCemetary Commission Minutes 06.13.2013 CEMETERY COMMISSION MINUTES
Thursday, June 13, 2013
5:30 P.M. at City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom Nelson, Chairman Dick Fritzler
Wally Hall Chuck Rodgers
Ken Olson
OTHERS PRESENT: Cathy Gabrian Kurt Markegard
Tom opened the meeting and there was no public in attendance. A motion was made by Chuck, seconded
by Wally to approve the Cemetery Commission Minutes of March 21, 2013. Motion carried.
Update from staff on Pauper's Qravesite:
Kurt said he has a transit to mark the north side of Section A. He priced aluminum rods and they are too
expensive so he will be using rebar and top it with an aluminum cap. He will stamp the section letter and
row number on the caps.
Chuck said he and Cathy went to the cemetery and measured all the existing grave stones and transferred
this information to the map. He has gotten the imaging layout to match the map. Matt Wheeler and his
son Casey used a metal detector and located seven baby grave markers that had been buried. The city
crew dug these up and reset the stones. In conjunction with city records, we have identified 38 unknown
graves.
Chuck built an 8 "x 24" box and made a stamp that says, "Unknown" for it. Schessler Ready Mix is
pouring these molds when they have left over concrete and they have eight poured. Chuck will get help
and set a few at a time. Brookstone Monument in Billings makes a small stone for about $165.00 that the
county uses in their cemetery. He inquired whether we could use this type of stone to mark the baby
graves.
Chuck would like to reach out to the public to see if families have information regarding burials in the
pauper section. He spoke to two individuals that gave him information on the Reiter and Michael
families. Wally suggested speaking to Amelia Michael who is a longtime Laurel resident and very
knowledgeable on Laurel history.
Tom suggested taking this before the council and hopefully, the Laurel Outlook would get on board and
do an article about it. Chuck will give a presentation at the Council Workshop on June 25`
Kurt contacted Steve Sheriff at the University of Montana, asking if he would be interested in imaging the
baby section in Section A that did not get done with our previous imaging. He will report back at the next
meeting.
Update from staff on access work needed to open Section H of the cemetery:
At the last meeting, a motion was made to open Section H, the west side of Section B and two rows in
Section Q and to address the roadways to allow access.
Kurt spoke in regard to the overall cemetery plan and the need to get surface elevations. He discouraged
the city from opening the east half of Section A or any of Section I. Grading may need to be done to get
the correct elevation to tie in the current cemetery with the area to the north. Once we start burying in
these areas, we eliminate our ability to get the grade correct.
Cemetery Commission
Page 2, June 13, 2013
The Mayor said we need to look and see if we need roads and such that require capital expenditures. The
FY 13 -14 budget has been set and there is no money for road improvements in the budget. Kurt said a
rough estimate for the gravel to do the road improvements is $78,000.00 and this does not include the
fabric underlayment. The committee would need to start considering anything for the FY 14 -15 budget
around October.
Kurt said it is too premature to determine if the dirt road on the north is in the correct placement. We do
not want to put a lot of money into it and later find out it needs to be torn out to get the right grade. We
will eventually need to pay an engineer to determine the correct grade and elevation to work with the
Master Plan. In order to use Section H, Kurt said the city can fill in the gully on the north side of the dirt
road and make a temporary turn- around area.
The long term goals were discussed. Mayor Olson asked if we want to investigate our perpetual care and
consider raising it and free up some general fund money that could be used for capital items.
Kurt will notify Tom on the cost to put in roads and this will be on the agenda for the next meeting.
Sprinkler system for the cemetery:
Mayor Olson stated that the federal government does not partner with anyone, in regard to the Veterans'
Cemetery. He is relieved since it makes it easier for us to determine what we need to do. We currently
have $148,000.00 to use for the pipe replacement and sprinkler system.
Cathy said this makes it easier for us to make a decision. We have a solid plan that everyone is on board
with. It has been determined that we need the six inch pipe in order to run the sprinkler system. She feels
we need to go forward and get the pipe installed before another year passes and the costs continue to rise.
Then we can see what is left and work towards securing the funding needed to finish the project.
Kurt explained that Duffy with Castlerock Excavating has new technology called water bursting. Two
holes are opened and new PVC pipe is pulled through the old pipe, bursting it apart as they go. This
technique eliminates certain costs associated with trenching. State law raised the amount required for
going out to bid so we may be able to get quotes, if it is under $80,000.00. Kurt will get in touch with
Duffy and give a report at the next meeting.
Kurt thanked Chuck for all the work he has put in at the cemetery. His interest and diligence has resulted
in getting many improvements. The committee concurred and also thanked Chuck for all his time and
work.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cathy Gabrian