Oakland Cemetery Commission

Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission Minutes March 17, 2015 The Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission met on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers Conference Room on the second floor for the regular monthly meeting. Attending: Director Stephanie Warwick, Chairman Garland Steuber, City Attorney Trey Smith, Mayor Randy Horton, Vice-Chairman/Commissioner David Lee, Commissioner- Secretary Mindy Hudson, Commissioner Anna Fields, Commissioner Patricia Petray, Commissioner Rebecca Howell, Finance Director Jerry McKaughan, and visitor Laura Bean from the Courier. Absent: Commissioner Donna Eubanks and City Council Liaison Robert Wiley The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chairman Garland Steuber. Old Business: The First Order of Business was to approve the minutes from the February 17, 2015, regular meeting. Commissioner Rebecca Howell made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Commissioner David Lee seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The Second Order of Business was a financial report status update given by Finance Director McKaughan. The current balance of the cemetery fund is $62,158.30. There is an increase of $1,356.65 in the Schwab account for the year to date, and we still have the $80,000 in the Genworth account, not recorded in the lists given. Chairman Steuber asked about paying from cemetery maintenance for spraying of weeds to be done to increase grass growth and to cut out some mowings. Chairman Steuber and Mayor Horton will look into the cost of this being done in-house compared to the cost by the lawn care service. The in-house possibility would be through the Parks and Recreation Department, where employees are being trained for this job. They will report back next month. The financial report was concluded. The Third Order of Business was an Overall Operations Report given by Director Warwick. The first item reported was of two more plots sold in the cemetery at the end of February for a total of $1500. The second item reported was that an agreement had been drawn with McGee Monument to repair the first list of headstones. The project is to be done between March 20 to August 31, 2015. After completion of this project, the commissioners will inspect the work for approval and start a new list of repairs, beginning from 8th Street and Detroit, a section at a time. This will allow the commission to receive the best rate for the work. Although the work has not yet begun because of the weather, it should start soon. The third item Director Warwick brought up was that her assistant Joy Smolinski will be her backup when she is unavailable. Ms. Smolinski is at present learning her duties in preparation.  The fourth item in the report was an update on the completion of replacement of posts and panels on the cemetery fence damaged by an impaired driver. McGee Monuments has also repaired damaged headstones from the incident on the 11th Street end of the cemetery. The fifth item reported was that the signs have been put up outlining Ordinance No. 2164 about flowers placed on graves, as opposed to those placed in vases or hooked on top of headstones. Commissioners Petray and Fields questioned the ordinance, saying that it might be a problem to enforce and not be pleasing to everyone. Chairman Steuber asked the commission to keep in mind what will keep the cemetery looking presentable, and what might happen if we change the ordinance. Director Warwick suggested that to get rid of the ordinance would cause our maintenance costs to go up. Commissioner Hudson suggested a possible modification to the time someone can leave flowers on the grave. This ordinance came through the city council in November of 2013. It was a consolidation of an earlier ordinance. Chairman Steuber asked that all be given a copy of this ordinance, and we will look at the issue again next month. The last item reported was of a $1000 donation to the cemetery received from the Alice Bowden Trust. The Fourth Order of Business was the continued discussion of a marker for the first mayor of Russellville, as requested by Commissioner Fields. She suggested a small stone behind his existing headstone to mark this. After a short discussion, Commissioner Fields made a motion to purchase and install this historical marker. Commissioner Petray seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Fifth Order of Business was the continued discussion of a columbarium by City Attorney Trey Smith. If a base were made in-house to hold a 72 space granite hexagonal unit that weighs about 13,000 pounds, the cost would be about $450. The cost of the columbarium would be $13,400 plus the delivery fee of about $3500, and the cost of a crane at $350. There was discussion of an overlay of granite being added to the base to make this last longer. The matter would have to go through the City Council to appropriate the money. McGee wanted to make a bid to do all of the steps for a total price of $25,000. The Chairman asked for a motion. The Commissioners asked for time to consider the matter, so this was tabled until next month. The Sixth Order of Business was a continued discussion of security cameras for the cemetery as a deterrent to vandalism. The Director is waiting for John Montgomery of IMC Studios to give a bid. City Attorney Smith asked to have IMC make a list of several packages with prices. Chairman Steuber asked how much the damage by vandalism has amounted to and was told over $500 since August of 2014. It was suggested that Mr. Montgomery be asked to next month's meeting to make a presentation. New Business: There were no new items of business. Chairman Steuber adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.