Oakland Cemetery Commission

Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission Minutes June 16, 2015 The Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission met on Tuesday, June 16, 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, Mayor Randy Horton, City Attorney Trey Smith, Vice-Chairman/Commissioner David Lee, Commissioner/Secretary Mindy Hudson, Commissioner Patricia Petray, Commissioner Anna Fields, Commissioner Donna Eubanks, Commissioner Rebecca Howell, Finance Director Jerry McKaughan, City Council Liaison Robert Wiley and visitor Sean Ingram from the Courier. 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 May 19, 2015 Cemetery Regular Meeting. Liaison Robert Wiley made a motion to accept the minutes. Commissioner Petray seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The Second Order of Business was a financial report given by Finance Director McKaughan. Grave openings in the last month brought in $870.20. The Schwaab account lost $159.30 in value this month. There was some discussion about the Genworth account base of $80,000 which cannot be touched since it is required for the perpetual care status. The interest on this amount can be used once a year. The report was concluded. The Third Order of Business was the Overall Operations Report given by Director Warwick. The first item concerned a tree downed in a May 10, 2015 storm. R and R Tree Service removed the fallen tree, which was on the west side of the cemetery near the creek. The stump was allowed to fall back toward the creek to maintain bank stability. The company was in and out in four hours, doing a thorough job for $400.00. The second item was to give an update on the security cameras for vandalism prevention. We purchased and received 4 cameras for $218 to add to the 2 cameras, base unit, and monitor donated by ICM. The third item was a report by Director Warwick that McGee Monument Company has begun the Monument Repair Project. Of the monuments on the list, the “Molly Bollinger” monument located under the magnolia tree on 8th Street may not be repairable. The base of this monument is sturdy, but the top has deteriorated. The company will assess this once more. The next monuments for this ongoing project will be in the suggested grid system, starting at 8th and Detroit, continuing the length of the cemetery along Detroit, and then returning to 8th to begin again. Groups of up to thirty monuments at a time can be placed on the list. The fourth item was to note the nice job of placing flags in the cemetery done for Memorial Day by the VFW and the American Legion. Director Warwick sent thank you notes in appreciation of all those involved in this generous project. The Fourth Order of Business was the continued discussion of a columbarium for the cemetery. The commissioners were told that there were two plans for the new extension, one with a columbarium and one without. There was a thorough discussion of the details. Benches can be placed around the unit, and these can also have niches. Director Warwick suggests that we keep markers located around the unit flat to accommodate landscaping. There will be no limitations on markers in the rest of the new cemetery addition. The need for columbariums seems to be indicated by the fact that 68% of United States burials are currently cremations. Two estimates for a 72 unit columbarium were obtained, with one from McGee's Monuments at a cost of $32,000 for the unit, installation, and foundation. The second estimate came from Everlasting Granite. The price of the base unit, delivered but not installed by Everlasting Granite comes to $14,800. The added costs of a concrete foundation, according to Kurt Jones, will be around $450, and the cost of a crane to set the structure will be around $450 as well. This brings the known cost to $15,700, plus added costs of taxes and the labor for the installation. (cost between $17,000 and $20,000) Liaison Robert Wiley made a motion to purchase one 72 unit columbarium from Everlasting Granite. Commissioner David Lee seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Fifth Order of Business was a request to approve the plat for the new cemetery addition so that it could be presented to the city council. There was some discussion, including a question about the est imated cost to have the road built. No details about total development costs were yet available, but the mayor stated that the city would do the work on the road to save costs. The commissioners were given handouts to look at the plat for the cemetery addition with the layout of 480 new traditional plots, the road, and the memorial area with one 72 unit columbarium and 46 2X2 cremation plots, as well as room for a possible second unit in the future. Liaison Wiley made the motion to accept the plat and was seconded by Commissioner Lee. The motion passed unanimously. New Business: The First Order of New Business was a discussion of the need to remove a fallen tree as well as two still upright sections attached to it. Liaison Wiley made a motion that we accept the bid from Lynn's Tree Service to remove and grind the stumps for $550.00. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lee and passed unanimously. Chairman Steuber adjourned the meeting at 6:30 PM.