Oakland Cemetery Commission

Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission Minutes July 18, 2023 The Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission met for the regular meeting on Tuesday July 18, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Conference Room of City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 5:35 by Commission Chair, Mindy Hudson. Attending in Person: Director Stephanie Warwick, Commission Chair Mindy Hudson, Commission Vice-Chair Mary Schwartz, Secretary Jami Mullen, and Commissioner Walter Hudson. Attending via Google Meets: City Attorney Trey Smith. Director Warwick noted that we have a quorum. Old Business: The First Order of Business was to review and approve the minutes from the May meeting. The June meeting had been cancelled due to the large storm system that had come through and left the cemetery with a large amount of clean up to be done. After review of the minutes Commissioner Schwartz made a motion to approve the May minutes. Commissioner Walter Hudson made the second. Motion was approved. The Second Order of Business was the Financial Report presented by Commissioner Mary Schwartz as prepared by City Finance Director Robin Johnson. Reports for May and June were reviewed. As of the June report the City of Russellville Oakland Cemetery account is ahead $1800. The current statement balance is $104,266.88. The Third Order of Business was an update on the Plot Marker Project in the Campbell Addition. The request for funds went before the City Council Finance Committee and was passed on April 20th. Approval was made for the purchase of 55 etched stones at the price point of $3300 from McGee Monument. As of June 9th the City has placed the survey pins and flags over the area. Director Warwick has requested to be present at the installation of the markers. Once markers are placed the sale of plots in this area can begin. The Fourth Order of Business was review of the May 27th Mini-workshop that was held at Oakland Cemetery. Director Warwick shared that five commissioners participated in the workshop. There were 25 visitors to the cemetery during the mini-workshop. Three of those visitors participated in the headstone cleaning portion. Seven headstones / gravestones were cleaned. Two bags of debris trash were collected.  Russellville Oakland Cemetery Commission Minutes July 18, 2023 Two families received private cleaning demonstrations. Two additional families have scheduled private cleaning demonstrations for later this year. Feedback on the mini-workshop has been very positive in nature. Several requests have been made for a mini-workshop in the fall. Discussion centered on the positive aspects of the mini-workshop experience vs the large scale workshop. It was expressed that more mini-workshops would be of greater impact for the community going forward. The Fifth Order of Business: The Floor was then open to concerns / suggestions from the public. No one from the public was in attendance. New Business: The First Order of New Business: Director Warwick gave a briefing on the damage to the cemetery from the storm on June 18/19. Three trees were damaged and had to be removed. Seven headstones had to be reset. Commissioner Mindy Hudson expressed her desire to replace the trees that were removed, especially the tree at the columbarium. Commissioner Walter Hudson opened discussion on the types of trees to plant. It was decided that the Bradford pear is an undesirable tree for the cemetery landscape. Commissioner Hudson made a motion to ban the Bradford Pear from Oakland Cemetery going forward as new trees are added. Commissioner Schwartz made the second. The motion passed unanimously. The Second Order of New Business: There was no new business from the floor. Meeting Adjourned by Commission Chair Mindy Hudson at 6:11 p.m. Submitted; Jami Mullen, Oakland Cemetery Commission Secretary