HomeMy WebLinkAboutCemetary Commission Minutes 01.16.2014 CEMETERY COMMISSION MINUTES
Thursday, January 16, 2014
5:30 P.M. at City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom Nelson, Chairman Dick Fritzler
Chuck Rodgers Lee Barndt
OTHERS PRESENT: Cathy Gabrian Kurt Markegard
Tom opened the meeting and there was no public in attendance.
Tom asked for staff recommendations on needed improvement to the cemetery. Kurt put together a
handout on the improvements and distributed it to members. Kurt said once the committee prioritizes the
items, he will work on cost estimates for the highest ranking projects. The handout covered the following
items.
• List of needed improvements — Items identified are the irrigation system, paupers grave
markers, selling burial plots, drain pipe installation, landscaping, and roads, which includes new
construction and rehabilitation of existing roads.
• Irrigation system — The pipe bursting has started but frost conditions prevented it from being
completed until spring. The existing pipe is very shallow at the cemetery and ended up being
buried 11' deep at the south point. We would need to request additional funds, possibly
$100,000, in FY 2014 -15 to complete the sprinkler system.
It will cost $6,500 to have the pump rewound to get it ready for VFD. We received two
bids to install the VFD and Colstrip Electric was low bidder at $8,000, It will cost an additional
$8,000 for the remote shut -off and it can be installed anytime, if needed. Dwight Fischer said an
open delta VFD does not need 3 -phase power. We will have approximately $52,000 Left in the
CIP after paying for pipe bursting, VFD and the remote shut -off. Kurt said we can save money
on the sprinkler design buy doing direct burial and eliminate the gravel base.
• Pauper's Graves — Chuck has made about 44 stones and with help, they have been set. The city
crew will pour the remaining stones. The baby area needs to be marked by placing curbing
around the area with a marker for all babies. Kurt checked on having an aluminum plaque made
for the baby section that would be set in concrete.
• Burial plots — Kurt suggested splitting sections H and A in half from east to west and start selling
lots on the south side where there is access to the road. The north side of these sections need fill
material to get the correct grade. He recommends moving the temporary road on the north side
30 -40' further north, in accordance with our Master Plan. This would put the road next to the
drain pipe and make more lots available on the north side of sections H and A. He also
recommends putting the road in between sections H & I. When opening section H, we need to
either match existing Section G rows or set up the area according to the original map.
• Drain Pipe from Yellowstone County Veteran's Cemetery — When the Yellowstone County
Veteran's Cemetery was designed, the drain water from Buffalo Trail and their cemetery were
drained into our undeveloped cemetery without our knowledge, thus making it a wetland. During
discussion with the federal government, this issue came up and Yellowstone County came to an
agreement with the city to split the $16,000 cost of extending the drain pipe further east on our
property. Once the pipe is extended, it can be covered and filled to allow for the road installation.
A drain field needs to be developed in order to dissipate the storm water.
• Landscaping — We need to know where the pipe will daylight out and develop a memorial tree
area around it. Other issues are we need to determine exact elevations going north in order to
Cemetery Commission
Page 2, January 16, 2014
build roads, do we need to install curb and gutter in the Catholic area, level section H and A for
more gradual slopes, beautify cemetery entrances, make section markers and name the roads for
easier directions. Kurt said the cemetery currently has about 4,400 feet of road and will be close
to a mile with the additional roads that we have discussed.
Lee Barndt left the meeting at this time.
Tom asked the members to take this information home and think about what they would like to see
happen. We will meet on February 20 at 5:30 and bring our recommendations forward.
Chuck said his daughter -in -law's grave is in section B and the roots of a large pine tree are lifting the
headstone. He is requesting that this tree be removed. There is no longer a quorum so this item will be
on the agenda for the next meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cathy Gabrian