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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-21-25CITY OF APPLE VALLEY LEBANON CEMETERY ADVISORY COMMITTEE October 21, 2025 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Lebanon Cemetery Advisory Committee of Apple Valley, Dakota County, Minnesota, held October 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Apple Valley Municipal Center. PRESENT: Nancy Anderson, Dave Brueshoff, Tanya Grawe, John Kabat, Alan Kohls, Dave Kurtz ABSENT: Jan Monro City staff members present were: Public Works Director Matt Saam, Streets Superintendent Jeff Lathrop, and Cemetery/Public Works Coordinator Wendy Davis 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Chair Kohls. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: of T. Grawe, seconded by D. Brueshoff approving the agenda for today’s meeting as written. Ayes - 6, Nays - 0 3. AUDIENCE – 10 MINUTES TOTAL TIME LIMIT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THIS AGENDA There was no one present to speak. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – July 15, 2025 MOTION: of D. Brueshoff, seconded by N. Anderson approving the minutes of the July 15, 2025, meeting. Ayes - 6, Nays - 0 5. NEW/CONTINUED BUSINESS A. Cemetery Improvements Additional Columbarium Mr. Lathrop informed the committee that the second of four columbaria for the south shelter has been added to the area. Several of the niches have already been sold. Columbaria Area Water Feature – Mr. Saam updated the committee on the status of the water feature near the new columbaria area. There are funds allocated in the budget to begin the process of designing and installing the water feature. Previously, a private donor has expressed interest in assisting with the water feature as well. Mr. Saam has reached out to the private donor but has not been in contact yet. Further updates will be provided at a future meeting. Maintenance Shed - The maintenance shed will be on the west side of the cemetery and will be an approximately 30 x 40 building that stores cemetery equipment such as lowering devices and vaults. Mr. Lathrop informed the committee that he has met with the Planning Department regarding the required setback for the maintenance shed from the property line. The maintenance shed location will need to be moved from what was initially planned. The install date for the maintenance shed is expected to be Spring of 2026. B. 3rd Quarter Activity Report 2025 MOTION: of N. Anderson seconded by T. Grawe, accepting the Activity Report for Third Quarter. Ayes - 6, Nays - 0 C. Maintenance and Grounds Update Mr. Lathrop reported that burial restorations have occurred, along with seeding of burial areas. The irrigation is turned off and winterized. STS is completing fall cutbacks and removing weeds as well as dead flowers. A cleanup of non-regulation items will also be completed in the coming weeks. A sandwich board will be placed at the cemetery with a deadline for removal of non- regulation items. Mr. Lathrop asked the committee for feedback on continuing to label and store items. Currently, cemetery staff hold onto items collected from the cemetery for pick up by families. Labelling these items and storing them is both time consuming and takes up already limited space. It was suggested to send a letter to lot owners informing them that we will no longer be labelling and storing non-regulation items and will instead be discarded immediately, beginning in the Spring of 2026. Current regulations state that items of value will be kept for 30 days, so any changes will require both committee and Council approval. Staff will discuss the process internally and follow up with the committee at the January meeting. D. REVIEW PROPOSED REVISIONS TO PRICING FOR 2025 Ms. Davis reviewed the updates to the General Price List for 2026. A pricing survey was completed in 2023 that considered rates at area cemeteries. This year’s proposed rate increase was a 1.8% inflationary increase. MOTION: of N. Anderson seconded by D. Kurtz, approving the General Price List for 2026. Ayes- 6, Nays-0 6. COMMUNICATIONS / UPDATES 7. OTHER BUSINESS 8. ADJOURN MOTION: of D. Brueshoff, seconded by T. Grawe to adjourn the meeting. Ayes - 6, Nays - 0 Meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, __________________________________________ Wendy Davis, Cemetery/ Public Works Coordinator Approved by the Cemetery Advisory Committee on 10-21-25