Oakland Cemetery Commission

Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission Minutes November 15, 2016 The Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission met for the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at 5:30 p.m. in the second floor Conference Room. Attending: Director Stephanie Warwick, City Attorney Trey Smith, Mayor Randy Horton, Chairman Garland Steuber, Vice Chairman/Commissioner David Lee, Commissioner/Secretary Mindy Hudson, Commissioner Cindy Hlass, Commissioner Donna Eubanks, Commissioner Patricia Petray, City Council Liaison Eric Westcott, visitor Rebecca Hendrix from ATU, and candidate for commissioner, Cecelia Slone. Absent: Finance Director Jerry McKaughan and Commissioner Rebecca Howell. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Garland Steuber at 5:30 p.m. Old Business: The First Order of Business was to review and approve the minutes from the October 18, 2016, Cemetery Commission Regular Meeting. Secretary Hudson found several editing errors that needed to be corrected. Liaison Westcott made the motion to approve the minutes with the editing. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Eubanks and was unanimously approved. The Second Order of Business was the Financial Report status update. In the absence of Finance Director McKaughan, Director Warwick pointed out the highlights of the report. The Total Liabilities Fund has $47, 2283.91. The currently pledged expenditures for the road, the garden and tree work, and the water will come from this fund, although these costs are not yet reflected. Two more months of lawn care will also come from this fund. Last month, the cemetery also received a donation of $300.80. Commissioner Petray asked if donations such as this from an individual would be tax deductible. If so, those donating should be made aware. After giving the ending value for the Schwab account, which stands at $128,561.18, Director Warwick concluded the report. The Third Order of Business was the monthly Operations Report given by Director Warwick. 1. Overall operations have been normal the past month. 2. The Grave Talks Interpretative Walking Tour was successful. Director Warwick and Commissioners Rebecca Howell and Cindy Hlass represented the Cemetery Commission. Jeannie Stone of the Traveling Arts Fiesta Group led the tour and reported that about 40 people attended. Director Warwick gave a tour to a group of Girl Scouts and Daisies. One attendee was Rita Goodman, who remembers the funeral of the Mayes family dog, Molly. Ormond Peters of Shinn Funeral Home also attended. There is interest in more events of this type. Director Warwick is looking for stories about the approximately 280 veterans buried in the cemetery to share in a Veterans Tour in May of 2017, an overall tour of 30 minutes is planned. The Art students at ATU expressed an interest in a tour about the symbolism of the stones, as well. 3. Bowden Specialties has begun the road work in the new addition. The first portion of the road was black-topped the day of the meeting. 4. Groundwork has begun around the Columbarium in the Memorial Garden. According to Director Warwick, a City crew brought in dirt to level the area and removed debris left from the construction phase. Taylor Nursery was approved to do the landscaping at an estimated cost of $1200 to $1400. The final cost will be reported next month. Various hardy plants will surround a Japanese Maple flanked by two large boulders in the center. Two cast concrete benches are placed along the straight lines of the garden, and along the outside of the west curve, there will be plantings similar to Pampas Grass, but smaller and more manageable. Water is available across the creek at the pumping station for these plantings. A meter was installed there, and Chairman Steuber plans to pipe the water across to the cemetery side. 5. Another niche was sold and there was the first burial in the Columbarium last week. There will be another internment before Christmas. New Business: The First Order of New Business was to meet and approve of nominee to the Commission, Cecelia Slone. Mrs, Slone is a registered nurse who works in the emergency room. She is married to the Russellville Fire Chief and mother of two young sons. She also has in interest in history and cemeteries. Commissioner Petray made a motion to recommend Mrs. Slone to the City Council as a new Cemetery Commissioner. Commissioner Eubanks seconded the motion. This passed unanimously. The Second Order of New Business was a discussion of the next month's meeting time. No changes were made. The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Steuber at about 6:17 PM.