Oakland Cemetery Commission

Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission Minutes July 16, 2019 The Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission met for the regular meeting on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in the 1st Floor Conference Room. Attending: Director Stephanie Warwick, City Attorney Trey Smith, City Finance Director Robin Johnson, Chairwoman/Commissioner Mindy Hudson, Vice-Chairman/Commissioner David Lee, Commissioner/Secretary Rebecca Howell, Commissioner Cindy Hlass, City Council Liaison Justin Keller and visitor Sean Ingram from The Courier Absent: Commissioner Cecelia Slone, City Council Liaison Phyllis Carruth, and Mayor Richard Harris Chairwoman Hudson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and expressed appreciation for everyone being there. Old Business: The First Order of Business was to review and approve the minutes from the June 18, 2019, Cemetery Regular Meeting. The motion to approve the minutes was made by Vice-Chairman Lee and seconded by Commissioner Hlass. The minutes were unanimously approved. The Second Order of Business was a presentation of the June 2019 Financial Report by City Finance Director Robin Johnson. Balances at 6/30/19 were Bank OZK C.D. $147,903.64, Genworth account $109,124.97, and Bank account (Russellville Fund 24) $85,681.58. The cemetery perpetual care trust fund includes the Bank OZK C.D. and the Genworth account, and the total of the above-noted balances was $257,028.61. Interest earned on the C.D. during June was $184.69. Finance Director Johnson reported a year-to-date excess revenue over expenses of $19,477.90, as shown on the Statement of Revenues and Expenditures. The Third Order of Business was not addressed. Director Warwick and Commission members did not have any concerns from the public. The Fourth Order of Business was an update of the repair project of copings and walls near the Hlass family plot. Director Warwick reported that the wall will be removed and replaced with great care before December. She described the materials to be used, which were listed on the City invoice totaling $4,041.00. Also, she explained the work period schedule of moving footstones and two headstones and then replacing them. The next priority will be the repair project near the magnolia tree. New Business: The First Order of New Business was a discussion concerning a cancellation of the fall activities of the cemetery and the Traveling Arts Fiesta (non-profit) group. The Fiesta is in reorganization, and Director Warwick asked Commissioners to consider what we should do, if anything, for our Fall event at the cemetery. “People are visiting and looking at local history,” she said. Her thoughts were to maybe have tours of our own, a work day, or simply to skip an event this year. The idea of a work day at the cemetery was popular, as there is always a need for planting trees and shrubs. Drive 4, 8th Street, and Detroit Avenue were mentioned. Also, other light work could be done by Commission members. The Second Order of New Business was a report by Director Warwick of her continuing progress on the Grave Discover database pinning and mapping of sections of the cemetery. The large East C Addition is complete except for about 700 photographs, and is currently working the Center B Addition. The oldest section of the cemetery, the North Addition, does not have a true grid and will be difficult to pin and map. Chairwoman Hudson stated that this was a monumental task and thanked Director Warwick for her work. Chairwoman Hudson declared the meeting adjourned at about 6:00 p.m.