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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/15/2008 Cemetery Advisory Minutes 4-15-2008 Page 1 of 4 MINUTES OF LEBANON CEMETERY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING April 15, 2008 - 2.00 p.m. Apple Valley Municipal Center COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Dave Kemp, Alan Kohls, Paula Moore, Gary Wagner COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT David Brueshoff, Bob Harvey OTHERS PRESENT Acting Public Works Director Carol Blommel Johnson Public Works Superintendent Mike Glewwe Cemetery/Public Works Coordinator Jean Bryant City Clerk Pamela Gackstetter swore in Alan Kohls, who was reappointed by the City Council for a term on the Cemetery Advisory Committee expiring March 1, 2011 Chair Kohls called the meeting to order at 2.08 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION of Kemp, seconded by Wagner, approving the agenda for today's meeting as written. Motion passed unanimously AUDIENCE - 10 MINUTES TOTAL TIME LIMIT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THIS AGENDA There was no one present to speak. Chair Kohls called for a moment of silence for Bob Erickson [City Councilmember] who passed away since the last Cemetery Advisory Committee meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -January 15, 2008 MOTION of Moore, seconded by Wagner, approving the minutes of the January 15, 2008, meeting, as written. Motion passed unanimously NEW/CONTINUED BUSINESS Resolution Reappointing Cemetery Advisory Committee Members Ms Bryant pointed out the resolution is included m the agenda packet reappointing David Brueshoff and Alan Kohls for another term. Activity Report Ms. Bryant reviewed the Lebanon Cemetery Activity Report for first quarter There were 15 lot sales m the 1st quarter 5 to residents and 10 to non-residents, there were no niche or boulder sales, 10 sales were preneed and 5 were at need. There were 8 burials, of which 4 were traditional and 4 were http.//www ci.apple-valley.mn.us/Minutes/Cemetery/2008/04-15-08.htm1 4/14/2009 Cemetery Advisory Minutes 4-15-2008 Page 2 of 4 cremation. There were no transfers and 2 returns. The 2 returns repurchased lots. Maintenance and Grounds Mr Glewwe reported on maintenance. The ground has been too wet to allow equipment on the grass without doing a lot of damage, but now it is drying out. There was some damage from snowmobiles and plows to the plantings and edging by the firefighter memorial. The addition of curbing is planned for that area. The columbanum and three footings are scheduled for installation this year Staff wants to develop a small feature area by the parking lot. Drain file is needed in Addition 10 behind the firefighter memorial. More perennials will be planted in the boulder area, and possibly the ag lime walk will be replaced with a different material. Committee Member Wagner commended Mr Glewwe on his solution to getting the vault, casket, and mourners for a recent burial to the grave site without having to go across the grounds and tear it up A section offence was removed so equipment and people could reach the grave using the asphalt pathway With a removable fence section, there is now an alternative for accessing that area. Chair Kohls agreed the situation was handled well with consideration give to the grounds and the snowy weather Committee Member Kemp asked what the expected date for installation of the columbanum is. Ms. Bryant said Granit Bronz would like to install it June 21 The City needs to have the footings installed first. Chair Kohls asked where it will be placed. Mr Glewwe replied he needs to look over the site with engineering, but probably the columbanum will be placed m the northwest position. Columbarium Update Chair Kohls commented this rtem was covered with Maintenance and Grounds. There was no other discussion on the columbanum. Resident/Non-Resident Fees Discussion Ms. Blommel Johnson noted the City Council has expressed its desire to ensure space in the cemetery for residents and has encouraged the non-resident fee. Committee members have expressed dislike for the presentation of the fee. She presented an alternative approved by the City Attorney that changes only the arrangement of the General Price List. Instead of having Resident Sales and Non-Resident Fee, there would be Lot Cost and Resident Rate. Lot Cost would be the current non-resident fee, and there would be a Resident Rate of 50 percent of the Lot Cost. She asked committee members to discuss if this is the best approach. Will people look at the pace and dust say it's too much because they don't see the resident rate? Committee Member Wagner asked how they see the pace list. If they talk to Ms. Bryant, she would let them know Committee Member Kemp said by law the pace list needs to be the first thing shown to customers, and it dust needs to show pace ranges. The City's General Price List is the complete list and is used for sales. He questioned the Administrative Transfer Fee amount and suggested Ms. Bryant check on whether the State now allows a reasonable fee. Ms. Blommel Johnson asked whether other cemeteries have differing fee rates. Committee Member Kemp replied usually that only occurs when a city owns the cemetery and the taxpayers are paying for rt. Committee Member Wagner brought up the expansion of the cemetery Ifthere is room for 8,000 earth burials, not including cremations, how long does that last? You have to think about the future. When the cemetery was started m 1863, would they have imagined what rt is now? Ms. Blommel Johnson emphasized the Council wants the cemetery to last a long time - 100; 200 years, even longer - and we need to provide for that. Committee Member Wagner added you look at trends and cremation is http.//www ci.apple-valley.mn.us/Mmutes/Cemetery/2008/04-15-08.htm1 4/14/2009 Cemetery Advisory Minutes 4-15-2008 Page 3 of 4 the trend. Chair Kohls said the taxpayers are paying for the cemetery whether or not they buy lots. That ~s different from before the Crty took over, and tt is making it a better place for those who are buying. Ms. Blommel Johnson noted cremation is the trend now, but we don't know what will be the trend m another hundred years. Ms. Blommel Johnson asked committee members for their thoughts on changing the appearance of the pace list. Committee Member Moore prefers people to see a large amount and then find out they get the resident rate rather than how rt is currently presented. Committee Member Wagner said the Crty non- resident fees are very reasonable compared to large cemeteries he deals with. Ms. Blommel Johnson mentioned that staff has done annual samplings to see how our rates compare and plans to do a more comprehensive rate study this summer Any changes would be made m the City's Fee Schedule, which Council adopts towards the end of the year Ms. Blommel Johnson asked for a recommendation from the committee as to what direction to take. Committee Member Moore thinks this is a better approach. Chair Kohls added he feels more comfortable with this. Other members agreed. MOTION of Moore, seconded by Kemp, to accept staff s proposal for changing the layout of the General Price List. Motion passed unanimously Committee members suggested making the change effective May 1, 2008 OTHER BUSINESS Star Tribune Articles Chair Kohls stated Laurie Blake called him and Ms. Bryant about doing the article on cities adopting private cemeteries. Ms. Bryant added she sent Ms. Blake the history article Wilt Anderson wrote. Crty News Article Chair Kohls noted the article m the Crty newsletter requesting cemetery volunteers and asked Ms. Bryant if there were any responses. Ms. Bryant replied she has received three or four mquines and has sent out information. Committee Member Moore inquired if we were getting enough volunteers. Mr Glewwe said we usually have a good response, about 12 last year The volunteers help out m different ways and for varying amounts of time Committee Member Moore suggested thank you notes signed by the committee be sent to the volunteers. Ms. Bryant proposed banging cards to the October meeting for signatures. Members thought that would be a very nice way to wrap up the year Ms. Blommel Johnson noted the City Council recognized all committee members at their last meeting. April is National Volunteer Month. She extended thanks from staff for the members contributing their time to help guide the cemetery and provide leadership ADJOURN MOTION of Kemp, seconded by Wagner, to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed unanimously Meeting adjourned at 2 52 p.m. http.//www ci.apple-valley.mn.us/Minutes/Cemetery/2008/04-15-08.htm1 4/14/2009 Cemetery Advisory Minutes 4-15-2008 Page 4 of 4 Approved. July 15, 2008 http.//www ci.apple-valley.mn.us/Minutes/Cemetery/2008/04-15-08.htm1 4/14/2009