HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-29-13 Cemetery Advisory Board Minutes, Approved Sunset Hills Cemetery Advisory Board
August 29, 2013
Lindley Center
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Russ Tuckerman
Katherine Ball
Donald Derby
Lynn Flansaas
Lowell Springer
Absent:
Cyndy Andrus, Commission Liaison
Doreen Olean, Cemetery Board secretary
CITY STAFF PRESENT:
Thom White, Park and Cemetery Superintendent
Shane Surber, Cemetery Foreman
GUEST PRESENTERS:
None
Item #1- Call the meeting to order:
-Russ Tuckerman called the meeting to order at 1:07
Item #2 - Public Comment:
-none
-Don Derby is having trouble downloading cemetery minutes...wrong format.
-We need a current list of cemetery members with phone numbers, email addresses,
addresses and term expiration dates.
-Karlina Popwell has resigned for health reasons.
-David Cook has resigned as Park and Recreation Board Liaison
- Minutes of February 14, 2013 approval with the following changes.
-Item 8 Remove Russ Tuckerman. Lynn Flansass will work on the website.
-Item #10 Russ Tuckerman did call Anna Rossenberry and Ryan Stover to attend the
June meeting.
-Item #14 Russ Tuckerman comment about open space refers to the Farmers Field
and all of its uses, including the "farmers use agreement"
Item #3 - Memorial Garden
- The granite and paths have been installed.
- It was recommended that a standardized plaque 2" x 4"with the name, DOB
and DOD be used.An info sheet would be filled out by the purchaser and once
Shane has received 15 they would be installed.
The cost one year ago for a plaque 2"x4"was $121.00
- Lowell Springer disclosed he is a majority owner of Bozeman Trophy and
Engraving.
- Fees at the cemetery have been increased 5 times in the past 5 years. The
Memorial Garden was created to follow burial trends and to create a new
source of revenue, but at a lower cost than burials and cremations. This is a
different option for patrons wishing to honor loved ones.
- Price should reflect all costs including the granite, plaque,water, etc, plus
profit.
- It was agreed by everyone that all fees collected for the Memorial Garden
should go to the Perpetual Care Fund.
- Following a discussion the Board arrived at the following costs:
o $125.00 cost of plaque
o $80.00 maintenance
o $9.00 redevelopment...$10,000.00 divided by 1100 plaques
o $1.00 gravel paths ...$1200.00 divided by 1100 plaques
o Total cost$215.00
- Russ Tuckerman made the motion to recommend the plaques cost$300 for a
2"x4" bronze plaque engraved with the name, DOB, DOD only...no deviations
allowed. To be presented to the City Commission as a recommendation as a
consent item. Lowell Springer seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
- Benches still need to be purchased.
- Lowell thanked Shane and Thom for the nice job on the Memorial Park.
Item #4- Forestry update
For the past two meeting forestry staff has been invited to attend...staff has
never confirmed attendance.
15 -21 trees have been removed for disease or age.
Forestry has purchased a tree spade capable of removing trees of a 2"-3"
diameter.
- The question was asked "Why haven't trees been moved?" It was commented
that it should be put in the CIP budget to accomplish in the next two years.
Goes back to the Master Plan of 2004 item #3 and the Master Plan of 2009.
Water has always been the big issue. We need water first. Thom White
mentioned the use of bubblers and ooze tubes that can be used today for
water.
- We need to move trees now before they get too big.
Doreen, please copy notes to Forestry.
Item #5- Discuss Board Survey results
-Lowell didn't finish the survey because he felt we needed a full board discussion.
He felt it would be more beneficial to the City Commission if we provided
information as a group instead of individuals.
-The Board agreed with what was said in the survey except for the comment about
prohibiting raising fees in the next 5 years. The Board also commented on the
feeling of the Cemetery Board being marginalized. It was felt that the Board had
been very responsive to requests made by the city.
Item #6 -Veterans Wall
-The kiosk for the computer is complete. There was a lot of donated labor... Brian
Todd (roof and tin), Scott Kelzer (block), and Curtis Electric did the electrical work.
-Working on a second fundraiser to raise funds for computer plus labor ($10,000),
5' sidewalk around second veterans wall ($5,000), and granite ($8,000).
-Current bank account$8493.00.
-It was mentioned in Mitch Overton's first meeting with us that if the vets put up the
kiosk with the computer the city would put up the second computer kiosk and
coordinate cemetery info and vet info.
Item #7- Deviations
- There was one 4" deviation in Block 144 and there were no problems
associated with it.
Item #8- Superintendant/ Foreman update
Pre Memorial Day cleanup went well with 45 loads of pinecones.
- Scott Urban with Greenspace was the contract for weed eating. He was a new
vendor. Great success.
- Forestry cleaned up new nursery.
- Youth groups helped with raking.
- There were a couple of minor water breaks in the old system on 2" laterals.
Great cooperation with the Water Department.
- Good crew this summer. There is only one out of the five employees
left...makes it hard to get phones answered and work done.
- Thom White is working on the user agreement with Cyclocross.They will be
providing a map. They will pay a $500 user fee that will go back to the
General Fund. The Board questioned why the fee was not going back into
cemetery funds?
- Thom White is dealing with 5 or 6 user groups.
Item #9 - Recreation and Park Board Update - David Cook
-David Cook resigned because he is busy working on the pool bond issue.Aimee
Brunkhorst will ask for a replacement.
Item #10 - Next meeting date
-November 14th
-Don Derby cannot make the Nov. 14th meeting.
Item #11- Other Business
- Commission report- Cyndy Andrus was absent because the date was
changed. The date was changed in an effort to have a quorum. Russ had
asked her earlier if she could provide us with an update by email when she is
unable to make the meeting.
- Farm Agreement
-The Farm Agreement was signed by Aimee Brunkhorst, Chris Kukulski, and
the farmer on Jan. 15, 2013. No notice was given to the Cemetery Board.
Thom White said it is not under his jurisdiction. Russ Tuckerman said this
agreement is very much apart of what we have been charged with beginning
with the 1986 Charter,the Community Plan of May 2009,and the Master
Plan 2004 item #8 approved by the City commission. There was Board
frustration that the Farm Agreement did not come before the Board for
discussion.
-In 1987 the original farm agreement was about weed control and was under
Public Works because it benefited the city. Thom White has no problem with
it going back to or through Public Works.
- It was mentioned that none of the original specifics, such as weed control,
are in the current farm agreement.
-Recent decisions about cemetery lands, such as the farm agreement and
Cyclocross have left the Board feeling worthless and unnecessary. The Board
does care. Have our duties changed? What is the definition of cemetery open
lands?
- It was suggested that these types of outcomes and parameters be discussed
on the Nov. agenda.
- Russ Tuckerman provided background history on the size and duties of the
cemetery. Refer to document dated Feb. 25, 2011.
Item #12 -Adjournment- 3:05
Minutes taken by Katherine Ball.
- )NW
Russ Tuckerman, Chairperson
ATTEST:
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Doreen Olean, Recording Secretary
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