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Home My WebLink About05-06-10 Cemetery Advisory Board MinutesMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SUNSET HILLS CEMETERY ADVISORY BOARD MAY 6, 2010 J883 1:00 PM Ar co. ,' '-" 2, THE LINDLEY CENTER -1102 EAST CURTISS I *.Tell 1 .1 P11 LTA 1 -11TIP.M.W a . 1 1* 1 14 ill I ip Russ Tuckerman, Chairperson Katherine Ball Gene Brooks Carl Craft Don Derby Betsy Fordyce Carson Taylor, Commission Liaison David Cook, Park & Recreation Board Liaison Absent: Lowell Springer CITY STAFF PRESENT: Thom White, Park & Cemetery Superintendent Shane Surber, Cemetery Foreman Michelle Dipzinski, Cemetery Board Secretary GUEST PRESENTERS: None item #1— Call the meeting to order: Chairperson Tuckerman called the meeting to order at 12:58pm. Item #2 — Approve February 11, 2010 meeting minutes —Action Item: ® No changes were requested. Motion: Boardmember Craft motioned to approve the December 3, 2009 minutes as presented. Boardmember Fordyce seconded the motion. Minutes «f the Sunset Hills Cemetery Advisory Board Meeting, May 4aV10 The motion passed unanimously. Item #3 — Public comment period, limit 3 minutes per speaker. Tom Men — Bozeman Granite Works: public comment should he allowed ot each item there is a lack of forthcoming on the deviations on the Mitchell Davis monument, he would like a better description nf deviation requirements because there are at least eight deviations onthe Mitchell Davis monument. Item #4 — Superintendent/Foreman Update — Thom White & Shane Surber: • recently went through another round of possible budget reductions, including CIP and operational funds; will continue with the mower replacement program; gives recognition to Director Dingman for the work be has done on the budgets • working on updating the Cemetery guide; will have templates for what can and what cannot be put around monuments • the Master Plan Subcommittee met months ago to formulate the direction they want to8o with the plan • pictures were provided showing how the frost coming out of the ground can affect burials; a backhoe got stuck inanarea that stays wet; there are times that crews cannot help but get close to headstones when doing burials • pictures were also provided of a large tree that came down in the wind landing on several headstones; the Forestry Division removed the tree and no damages were found on the stones • seasonal workers have been hired 0 sending out bid requests for weed eating • crews are preparing for Memorial Day • if possible will utilize the Detention Center low risk inmates tn work |n the cemetery, they bring their own tools uo nothing has tobeprovided • there is a Spruce tree on the far west side of the Cemetery that has been attacked by the Spruce Beetle. This beetle has the same characteristics of the Pine Beetle but only infects Spruce Trees. • Have not heard or been contacted by the Human Demographics Class from MSU and are unsure m A new columbarium will not be put into the CIP for a few years, there are 15 niches left in the currentcn|unmbahum. Operations need to continue and with the budget cuts that have been coming [n there |sno money for a new cm|unnbmrlunn • Commissioner Taylor said that if the current columbarium fills before another can be purchased he would let the Commission know another is needed because that is a service we need to provide to the public • Columbarium burials are just as important as proper burials, when the columbarium gets to 4 or 5 niches left another should bepurchased, Superintendent White will work on getting e time frame set forgetting aco|umbariurnordered Minutes of the Sunset Hills Cemetery Advisory Board Meeting, May 6, 2010 Item #5 — Commission Rep2rt, Commissioner Taylor spoke about the following: • More money needs to be put into the Perpetual Care Fund so there will always be money available, may need to increase fees. • Is working to understand what the issues are so he can support staff when asking for needed items • Will beat the August 26 m rnee1img Item #6 — Veterans Wall Update. • Currently there is $I7,778.5Oin the fund with $3^25O.OQ owed for work completed • Weather has hampered the panel repair, plans are to have the work done after Memorial Day • There are plans tO build another Memorial Wall • Bridger Tree Service is going to plant trees on both ends of the Memorial Wall • Put in for m $500 grant request from the Elks Club • There are approximately 30 granite plaques ready to be installed, all have to be trimmed to fit but should have them inby Memorial Day Item #7 — Master Plan renort: • Subcommittee consists of Superintendent White, Foreman Surber, Boardrnernbe[s Ball and Springer • The connnnN±ee is looking at the Deeds in comparison to growth projections and how to get what is needed. Areas being looked at are: o Planting trees o Water issue • Burial trends —Colurobariumn versus full burials • Having a rnernor|a| place similar tothe [hildreno Memorial on Tamarack St. • Looking into getting a deviation from the DNRCtodrill a bigger well • Talking about having more native plants, they will need less water • Joyce Schmidt showed aD interest ln the tree discussion sOB08rdrnennber Ball asked her to look into a Tree Donation Program Item #8 —Tree Donation Progam: 0 Buardnnenlber BaO asked Joyce Schmidt to research information on how to start and nUO J Tree Donation Program: o What types oftrees o Where they should go o Focus on a live Tree Donation Program Minutes of the Sunset HH15 Cemetery Advisory Board Meeting, May 6,2010 Joyce Schmidt offered the follow items for thought: • Consider more than just trees, possibly shrubs and boulders • Wants to provide m viable product and service that businesses Can market and not burden the tax payers • Wants tree groupings to be a visual variety that will maintain the peaceful look • Consider Memorial benches with peoples' names omthem • The old nursery could be turned into a ash scattering garden Item #9 — Reguests for deviations update: No deviations requested There has been discussion regarding a memorial that may need deviations but it has not come to the point of filling out the form yet, the burial would happen before the stone was set. Item #10 — Board & Ethics Document update: 0 The following changes were requested: • Show the date the document was adopted • Reflect the current loc@tion of where the Board meets • Add the Pro'Tem Chairperson clause • Include the ethics training requirements • Add the word venue to the last line of Item #9 0 An updated form will be provided for approval at the next meeting Item #11 — Confirm next meeting date ap,proved at FebruarV 11, 2010 Board Meeting — ,August 26, � m The next rmeetimgis set for August �u 1h at the Lindley Center, 1IO2E. Curtiss, from 1:0Oto Other Business: • Add Rec& Park Board update to the agenda • The RSC& Park Board has been working on the land east of Highland Blvd, There are mo plans to develop that land at this time. BSFnnay8oinand groom 8 miles 0ft[ai|snext winter; then the following summer GVLT will come in and put in trails; This is a temporary gift from the hospital that will be revert back tn the hospital once they start toconstruct Motion: Boamdrnemben Derby motioned to adjourn at2:13. Boardmember Craft seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Minutes of the Sunset Hills Cemetery Advisory Board Meeting, May E, 2010 The meeting adjourned at 2:14pm. Michelle Dipzinski, the recording secretary, will contact Chairperson lUckerman, Superintendent White, and Foreman Surber approximately three weeks prior to the next meeting to set up the agenda. 1 1 11 1 1 Russ Tuckerman, Chairperson ATTEST: Michelle Dipzinski, B ar e retary PREPARED BY: -'-" Y -A Michelle Dipzinski, a 4e ffetary "I --- I\ Approved on