Cemetery Board

City of Roswell Cemetery Board Tuesday, August 19, 2014 South Park Cemetery Conference Room Committee Members Present: Jake Trujillo, President Jack Ferguson, Vice President Rita Kane-Doerhoefer- Secretary Committee Members Absent: Bob Wooley, Member Tommy Weathers, Member Other Elected Officials Present: Juan Oropesa, City Councilor, Ward I Jason Perry, City Councilor Liaison Staff Present: Mike Kirk, Cemetery Sexton Dena Flores, Cemetery Bookkeeper Others Present: Randal Seyler, Roswell Daily Record Jared Tucker, Plains Valley Online News The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by President Jake Trujillo. Committee members Trujillo, Ferguson and Kane-Doerhoefer were present representing a quorum. Committee members Weathers, and Wooley were absent. Mr. Ferguson moved to approve the agenda as presented. Ms. Kane-Doerhoefer was the second. A voice vote was unanimous, and the motion carried. Mr. Ferguson moved to approve the July 15, 2014 minutes. Ms. Kane-Doerhoefer was the second. A voice vote was unanimous, and the motion carried. Public Participation on Agenda Items: Councilor Oropesa stated he was interested in hearing discussion regarding the roadways, and concerns about the weeds in the South Park Cemetery, and the General McBride Veteran’s Cemetery. Sextons Report: Sexton Kirk reported twenty internments as of August 19, 2014, with five more scheduled for the week. Mr. Kirk presented the committee members with two proposals. The first proposal was regarding the Rules and Regulations for the General McBride Veteran’s Cemetery, and the second proposal was for the paving, and the repair of the streets at the South Park Cemetery. Mr. Kirk asked for the committee to review each proposal so that both could be discussed at the September 16, 2014 Cemetery Board meeting. Mr. Kirk stated his concerns regarding not charging for the opening and closing at the General McBride Veteran’s Cemetery Columbarium. Councilor Perry assured Mr. Kirk that changes would be made so that the City would not be in violation of the Anti-donation Law. Bookkeepers Report: Ms. Flores reported that she was still in the process of updating all the leases to contracts. Out of sixty- six, there were twenty- five newly signed contracts. And that forty-five statements had been mailed out, along with thirteen collection letters. Regular Items: Mr. Trujillo asked Ms. Kane-Doerhoefer to update everyone on the most recent changes to the board’s By-laws. Ms. Kane-Doerhoefer stated everything had been approved and her understanding was that no changes were to be made. Ms. Kane-Doerhoefer mentioned some differences with State Statute and South Park Cemetery’s By-laws. Mr. Perry stated that the By-laws could remain unchanged for now, but that the By-laws would eventually need to coincide with the state. Mr. Perry stated he would work with Ms. Kane-Doerhoefer on getting the By-laws updated. Old Business: a) Update on roadways with Mr. Ferguson Mr. Ferguson stated he had contacted Councilor Perry regarding South Park Cemetery roadways and that they were confident that $250,000 would be set aside for the repairs. Councilor Perry also stated he had worked diligently on getting the roadway repairs put in the number four spot for the I.C.I.P., and had requested a little under $500,000 funding for the improvements. Ms. Kane-Doerhoefer asked if Chaves County would be able to help with the millings left over from the repairs done on the county roads. Councilor Perry stated he would speak with the Chairman of the Commissioners regarding the millings, and would inform the Cemetery Board with the outcome of his discussion. New Business: a) Review VA Cemetery Rules and Regulations As previously stated, the committee will review the changes to the General McBride Veteran’s Cemetery, and discuss them at the September 16, 2014 Cemetery Board Meeting. Public Participation on Non-Agenda Items Councilor Oropesa addressed the issue of weeds at both the South Park Cemetery and the General McBride Veteran’s Cemetery. A discussion was held regarding the possibility of Department of Corrections inmates coming to the cemetery to help with the maintaining of the grounds. Some concerns were raised, but it was stated that it was something that should be considered. Next Meeting Date: The next meeting will be held September 16, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.