HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-08 Minutes, Cemetery Board'•Y
SUNSET HILLS CEMETERY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
FEBRUARY 7, 2008
1:00 PM
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Russ Tuckerman, Chairperson
Katherine Ball
Betsy Fordyce
Don Derby, Veterans Representative
Lowell Springer
CITY STAFF PRESENT:
Ron Dingman, Director of Parks Recreation & Cemetery
Thom White, Park & Cemetery Superintendent
Tim Murphy, Cemetery Foreman
Michelle Dipzinski, Cemetery Board Secretary
GUESTS PRESENT:
Tom & Tammy Olsen -Granite Works
Scott Crowder -Granite Works
Joyce Schmidt
Chairperson Tuckerman called the meeting to order at 1:04
Item #1 -Approve November 8, 2008 meeting minutes:
Introductions were made to Board Member Springer.
Tom Olsen requested the Board Member Fordyce's comments that no one had the
authority to go outside the rules and regulations without the approval of the commission
be added to the minutes.
Board Member Ball motioned to approve the November 8, 2008 minutes to include Mr.
Olsen's request, the motion was seconded by Board member Fordyce. The motion
passed unanimously.
Item #2 -Public comment period, limit 3 minutes per speaker:
None
Item #3 -Superintendent Report:
Shed Update:
Plans for the new Shed have gone through commission approval and
contractors are being considered for a spring construction date. There has been some
concern as to the location of the new building but as the public learns more they are more
accepting. The building will be located just east of the current building with a work area
in the back of the shop.
Signs have been installed on Buttonwood, Cypress and Highland giving
direction to the Veterans Memorial. Park Department personnel are building the signs to
be similar to what is there now.
Review 20 year plan:
Chairperson Tuckerman asked for clarification as to what should go into
the updated 20 year plan. Superintendent White suggested that each board member take
the document, dissect it and bring it back to the next meeting with any suggestions for
change.
Following is the discussion of what areas of the Proposal & Recommendation section of
the plan are complete and what needs to be worked on.
The second to last sentence should be changed to read "Golf Way is plowed up
to the second gate south of the old nursery by block 57 and 58 to
accommodate for winter funeral entrance.
The opening of a second gate was dropped after two public comment meetings
where the public stated they did not want a second gate and Bridger Ski
Foundation stating they wanted to have continuity for their ski loops". BSF is
still working on moving their operation to hospital land. There are currently two
entrances into the cemetery one on Golf Way and one on Buttonwood. The
expansion plan would have called for the Buttonwood entrance to close and that is
what the public didn't like. There would have been three entrances if the plan had
gone through.
2 Corner markers have been installed
Foreman Murphy has started working with Director Dingman and Superintendent
White on a Master Plan for the Cemetery, this plan is scheduled to be completed
by July 1, 2012. This project is just in the beginning stages so there not a timeline
set yet. They are discussing layered plans through GIS for landscaping, plot
locations and other options. Master plans have been difficult in the past and there
is no easy way to get one done quickly and without problems. One of the sticking
points is not knowing what BSF is planning on doing in the future. Board
member Springer has offered to assist in developing the Master Plan. It was
suggested that they work with BSF and other volunteers to implement the Sunset
Hills Cemetery Master Plan which would overlay into the City of Bowman's
2020 plan revisions.
Director Dingman stated that Superintendent White will provide the information
regarding getting the needed money for the perimeter, lilacs-smooth wire-
Evergreen trees, through the CIP budget. A specific project has to be identified
when requesting money. Trees need to be planted to keep the dust and debris
from the hospital land construction from entering the cemetery.
4 Some roads have been paved.
5 Superintendent White and Foreman Murphy have discussed funding another
Columbarium in FY08 or FY09.
6 Planning for a separate office west of the current shop is being considered.
7 The water line was installed two years ago, the money not used for the new
entrance funded the project.
Farmer Marx has signed a two year lease to continue farming the cemetery land.
When it was unknown if he would sign Chairperson Tuckerman spoke with the
farmer that works the hospital land to see if he would be interested in working the
land, he stated he was not interested but he did have complaints about the weeds
that are going into the hospital land from that field. BSF meets with the farmer in
the spring regarding usage issues by both parties and the Cemetery board would
like to look at the user agreement document before it goes to the parties involved.
9 All plans need to stay in compliance with the UDO which continually changes.
The PROST plan needs to be taken into consideration. The trail system from
Highland Blvd to the Lindley Center is complete. Highland to Golf Way and the
Golf Way properties west still need to be done.
10 The Friends of Sunset Hills Veterans Memorial non profit group will complete the
Vietnam Veterans Wall Memorial this May They will be looking for other
volunteers to continue developing other memorials not yet recognized in sunset
hills cemetery.
11 Expansion of the cemetery will take priority over any other work that is requested,
incorporating BSF's master plan as approved through the Cemetery Advisory
Board would be considered. BSF has been slowly making improvements; they
have expanded parking on Ellis. The group was unable to start the planned fill
areas because of conflicts on their end. They were approved to start with one fill
are and completely finish that then get approval and then move onto the 2°d, etc.
The finished document will be an action item for the next meeting.
Item #4 -Veteran's Wall Update:
Board member Derby gave an update from the Friends of Sunset Hills Veteran Memorial
February meeting. Nine damaged panels are being rebuilt right now; the company doing
the work has hit a snag. On the panels there is supposed to be a dot at the tenth line in
order to find names easier but the dot is not showing up. They are working on the
problem.
Currently there is a little over $26,000.00 in the account and funds are still coming in.
Foreman Murphy is working on the center panel and the statue; he has the landscaping
scheduled for the spring. Board Member Derby is building the cap blocks, 78 cap blocks
were made, only 66 were needed. Getting the cap blocks on and the panels back is the
top priority. The highway signs are at the State Sign Committee; Chairperson Tuckerman
will let the board know of their decision as soon as he hears from them.
A computer, pedestal and kiosk are being considered to find names until then staff will
have hard copies of the books available.
The dedication ceremony is set for May 24`h at 2:OOPM. As of right now the following
are scheduled to be present for the ceremony:
three or four speakers
a National Anthem singer
Cadets for the flags
Legion Post 14 for the rifle squad
a bugler
the Chord Wrestlers to sing God Bless America
One commander
Volunteers are still needed the day_before the event to put up flags. They are working on
getting a Huey and Jolly Green Giant for the event.
Board Member Derby is on the agenda for February 25`" to give an update.
:~
Board Member Ball thanked Board Member Derby and past Board Member Craft for
their work on this project. Derby said they had excellent feedback comments regarding
the wall installation.
Item #5 -Other business:
Chairperson Tuckerman stated the City Commission did not reappoint all the board
members whose terms expired in December because the Board needed to have a majority
of City of Bozeman residents and that was not the case. Because of this Carl Craft
resigned his post so that Chairperson Tuckerman could be reappointed. Board Member
Springer was appointed to finish Board Member Crafts term.
The City Commission has asked staff to look at the ordinance that governs the board
members, possibly adding two at large members. Ordinance 12.76.030 outline a 5
member board, any changes cannot conflict with state ordinances.
Foreman Murphy state that a Muslim group wants there own section for burial, Director
Dingman and Superintendent White have been working with him on this. They will get
together with the group to bring a formal proposal to the board.
The next meeting will be held in the Library Small Conference Room, Thursday, May 8,
2008 at 1:OOpm to 3:OOpm. Michelle Dipzinski, the recording secretary, will contact
Chairperson Tuckerman, Superintendent White, and Foreman Murphy three weeks prior
to the next meeting to set up the agenda.
The meeting adjourned at 2:15.
Russ Tuckerman, Chairperson
Date