MEETING MINUTES:

Cemetery Board of Trustees

August 28, 2000    7:00pm    City Hall

ROLL CALL – Members Present – Chairwoman Olson, Trustee Knapp, Trustee Robertson.  EXCUSED – Trustee Dougherty

Also Present – Mark Hammar, Rod Hage

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES – It was moved by Trustee Knapp and seconded by Trustee Robertson to approve the Meeting Minutes of May 22, 2000.                                                  MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

OLD BUSINESS – Mr. Rod Hage, Cemetery Crew Leader for the Department of Municipal Services outlined the proposed Bench Program, citing possible regulations such as size, location on grave plot, and materials of the bench that would be permitted.  Administration offered to research this program further and return with a formal document for the Board’s review at the November 27, 2000 meeting.

NEW BUSINESS – The Administration gave a brief overview of the revised rules and regulations and offered clarifications as to the changes that are being proposed.  It was noted that the revised rules and regulations also include the adopted rules and regulations for crypt and niches.  Chairwoman Olson inquired as to a timeline when the new rules would be available for distribution. She was advised that they could be made available within 2-3 weeks, depending on the printing firm’s schedule. It was moved by Trustee Robertson and seconded by Trustee Knapp.

WHEREAS           The City of Plymouth does maintain and operate a municipal cemetery to protect the public health, safety and welfare, and

WHEREAS           The City has established a Cemetery Board of Trustees to make recommendations to the City Commission as are necessary and expedient for proper control, maintenance and improvement of the City Cemetery.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Cemetery Board of Trustees does hereby adopt the revisions to the Rules and Regulations for Riverside Cemetery as written and recommends to the City Commission approval of said document.                                MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

          Chairwoman Olson noted the loss of a valued member of the Board, Trustee Jack Wilcox, and his years of dedicated service to this body.  She inquired as to the status of any efforts being made to fill the vacancy on the Board.   The Board was informed that anyone interested in serving on the Cemetery Board of Trustees should forward a letter of interest to Mayor David McDonald, 201 S. Main St.

          There was a discussion of the cemetery pricing survey distributed by the Administration, recommending an increase in the resident rate for a single grave at Riverside from $500 to $750. Trustee Knapp, noting the average price for single gravesites at area cemeteries starts at $900, inquired as to the possibility of raising the increase to $900. Administration offered that the resident rate historically has been lower than average because a city resident pays taxes that go toward the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery.  However, the current rate of $500 does not cover the increasing costs of mowing, snowplowing, and other areas of maintenance at the cemetery.  Chairwoman Olson inquired as to what percentage of graves are sold to residents versus non-residents. An accurate figure is unavailable, but it is estimated at around 30-40% resident gravesite sales.  After further discussion, it was moved by Trustee Knapp and seconded by Trustee Robertson

WHEREAS           The City of Plymouth does maintain and operate a municipal cemetery to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and

WHEREAS           The City has established a Cemetery Board of Trustees to make recommendations to the City Commission as are necessary and expedient for proper control, maintenance, and improvement of the City Cemetery.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Cemetery Board of Trustees does hereby recommend to the City Commission of the City of Plymouth that the following rate schedule of fees be adopted:

Cemetery Lots:           $750.00 City Residents               $1,500 Non-Residents

          Current Fee                $500.00 City/$1,500 Non-Resident 

                                                          MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

          Rod Hage spoke of a letter of request from Schrader-Howell Funeral Home regarding a single grave lot known as Lot 243 in Block B owned by the Hastings family.  The family was under the impression that the owned a 2-grave lot at the time they purchased a 60 inch wide granite marker. Mr. Hage explained that the family is requesting to purchase a 20 inch wide plot of land adjacent to their grave site which is currently unusable and owned by the city for the placement of cremains and to accommodate the width of their monument.  He also added that the monument includes a 16 inch high statue of an angle centered on the monument. After some discussion, it moved by Trustee Knapp and seconded by Trustee Robertson to approve the requested variance with the stipulation that the family acknowledge that the City of Plymouth is not responsible for damage to the angel statue due it’s prominence on the marker.

                                                          MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

          Rod Hage informed the Board that there is a good possibility that a Revolutionary War veteran may be interred in Riverside Cemetery, and requestsed approval by the Board to pursue the validity of the status and to ascertain whether the individual in question, Mr. Samuel Dunn, is indeed a Revolutionary War veteran.  It was moved by Trustee Robertson and seconded by Trustee Knapp to pursue this matter and report to the Board on the findings at the next quarterly meeting on November 27, 2000.

                                                          MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

STAFF REPORT – Chairwoman Olson noted the staff report as well as the quarterly sales and burial activities at Riverside Cemetery.  She requested that all empty hooks currently affixed to crypt and niche fronts be removed by the cemetery maintenance staff.  The Administration noted that once the new rules and regulation brochures are printed, a copy will be mailed to all current owners of crypt and niches to make them aware of the changes.

          Chairwoman Olson spoke of the abundance of wood crosses and other prohibited items currently adorning gravesites in Block K. She was advised that cemetery staff will remove these items promptly according to the rules and regulations and will maintain a closer watch on prohibited items throughout the cemetery.

          The Cemetery Board acknowledged the City Staff for their commitment to the maintenance and overall appearance of the cemetery, and were pleased with the restoration of the entrance drive landscaping.

There being no further business to come before the Board of Trustees it was moved by Trustee Knapp and seconded by Trustee Robertson to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 pm.

                                                          MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Respectfully submitted,

Mark A. Hammar, Asst. Director

Department of Municipal Services

NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING:    Monday, November 27, 2000 – 7:00 pm

                                                          City Hall