COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Dave Kemp, Alan Kohls, Paula Moore, Gary Wagner, Harry Wolter

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Bob Harvey

OTHERS PRESENT: Public Works Superintendent Mike Glewwe
Public Works Assistant Jean Bryant

Chair Wagner called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m. He called for a moment of silence in memory of Wilton Anderson.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION: of Wolter, seconded by Kohls, 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.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION: of Kemp, seconded by Moore, approving the minutes of the April 17, 2007, meeting, as written. Motion passed unanimously.

NEW, CONTINUED BUSINESS

Activity Report

Ms. Bryant reviewed the Lebanon Cemetery Activity Report for second quarter. There were 5 lot/niche sales in the second quarter: 3 to residents and 2 to non-residents; 2 niche sales were single; 1 sale was preneed and 4 were at need. There were 8 burials, of which 5 were traditional and 3 were cremations. There were 6 transfers.

Chair Wagner asked for clarification on what a transfer is. Ms. Bryant responded it's from one owner to another owner. It's transferring the ownership of the lot.

Maintenance and Grounds

Mr. Glewwe reported on maintenance since April. In preparation for Memorial Day, volunteers assisted with removing unapproved memorials and litter. STS [Sentence to Serve] helped touch up the wood chips around the trees and picked up litter. Other activities consisted of mowing, weeding, planting flower beds, and top dressing and hydroseeding graves that settled. With the dry weather, there has been watering of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Other than that, the main focus this year has been to complete the back to nature cremation boulder area. It has taken up quite a bit of time.

Work was done at the corner monument. Mr. Glewwe said crews lifted up the flowers, as you can see in the picture [on the new brochure given to members]. Nancy and Wilt [Anderson] wanted that done. They are more visible from the road now. Artificial flower arrangements were made for the two urns on the sides. Real flowers and plants were very difficult to maintain.

A cremation lowering device was purchased to help provide a more professional burial. Chair Wagner asked if it would be used for an interment in the columbarium or just for ground burial. Mr. Glewwe responded it would be for ground burial. At the columbarium, a small stand is set up right below the niche and the urn sets on it during the ceremony. The lowering device would be used for lawn burials for cherubs and cremation vaults. It has skirting around it and looks just like the casket lowering devices.

Chair Wagner asked which way the cremation boulder photo faced. Mr. Glewwe said County Road 42 is in the background. It's right between the old and new sections and utilizes the space where the storm sewer runs. It couldn't be used for traditional burials. The trees were donated by the Southern Dakota County Labor Council. Chair Wagner asked how many boulders can be there and how many interments in each. Ms. Bryant said about 20 boulders are planned with one or two interments in each.

Committee Member Wolter asked about the hot line mentioned in the April minutes. Mr. Glewwe explained it was the hot line going to the street lights. He thought the lines ran along the road and came in at the lights but they run across lots. They need to be located to determine if they need to be moved. Some lots will be placed on hold until the work can be done.

Cremation Boulders

Ms. Bryant reported on the cremation boulders. In the agenda packet is a picture of the site prepared by Streets crews. It was decided to use ag lime for the walk area for an even walking surface and easy maintenance. It has held up well during a couple of hard rains. Places for boulders were picked out; three boulders are here and one more is coming. Landscaping will include hardy plants that can withstand the wind, sun, and dry conditions: tall grass on the north as a buffer from County Road 42, shorter grass on the west side to set it apart from the ground burials and still keep a connection with the area, maybe rudbeckia, echinacea, and lilies like those around the historical marker.

Committee Member Moore suggested salvias and Russian sage. Ms. Bryant said planting would begin but not be completed to allow for boulders to be placed. Committee Member Wolter asked if there were reports of vandalism with the boulders. Mr. Glewwe said they are heavy, weighing 1,000 pounds, and Committee Member Moore mentioned it is a pretty high profile area. Committee Member Kemp said his cemeteries have not had any problems. Committee Member Moore asked the dimensions of the area. Mr. Glewwe said about 35 feet wide and 50 feet long. Committee Member Moore asked if it would be for burials only and not for just memorials. Ms. Bryant said if someone wants to purchase one of the boulders and have it as just a memorial, they could.

Committee Member Kemp asked if the paths would be kept clear in the winter. Mr. Glewwe said that is the plan.

Ms. Bryant continued reporting on the cremation boulder preparation. Changes were made to the price list. The cemetery brochure (handed out at the meeting) was updated so there is a section on the boulders. Four boulders were purchased. Information was placed in the summer edition of the City newsletter, as shown in the agenda packet. Chair Wagner asked what the boulders cost. Ms. Bryant responded a single boulder is $1,150 and a double is $1,875. There would be a $400 opening fee which includes the scrolls with the name and dates. There is space for an emblem or portrait in the center of the cover, which would be an extra cost.

Committee Member Kohls asked if this is the non-resident price also. Ms. Bryant said the non-resident fee is double. Committee Member Kohls said he has talked to people who have family at the cemetery but don't live in Apple Valley. He's been hearing from people with three or four generations of family there and feels those people are being turned off by the "Apple Valley only." He understands residents paying less because of the bond issue and paying taxes, but the non-resident thing is not sitting well with some people.

Chair Wagner said we could check with the City Attorney, but all interments and graves should be the same fee. However, residents of Apple Valley get a discount. That way, you're not offending non-residents. Committee Member Kemp said you don't penalize the person for being out of the City; you reward the person for living here. Committee Member Kohls would feel better presenting it as a discount. People are getting the impression if you don't live here, you can't be buried here. Other cemeteries don't deny people burial because they don't live there. Committee Member Moore said it's another way of delivering the same message. Committee Member Kohls said it's being more sensitive because there are a lot of non-residents with family at Lebanon.

Members want to know the origin of the thinking behind it. Does the Council want it? Committee Member Kemp said they're trying to protect it and make sure people of Apple Valley have a place. Committee Member Moore said maybe the terms "resident" and "non-resident" need to be changed. We can still honor residents, but can we do it without turning off non-residents. Maybe just a review of language is needed.

Chair Wagner thinks the non-resident rate is not out of line with other cemeteries.

Committee Member Moore asked where we are financially - how many non-resident sales are we getting annually. Are we really losing a lot of money where we should come down on the price. Maybe, with the volume we get, the non-resident fee doesn't need to be that high. Chair Wagner said people seem to expect that because it's City owned, prices will be lower.

Ms. Bryant said the Council wants the cemetery to be for residents. Last year's sales were about what the Council is looking for.

Committee Member Kemp suggested staff contact Floyd Groehler in Hutchinson to see how their city cemetery approaches resident and non-resident fees, thus comparing a city to a city. Chair Wagner stated Bloomington cemetery is owned by the City of Bloomington. Only residents or past residents and some family can be buried there. If it's going to be for Apple Valley residents only, it should be advertised that way. Committee Member Kemp said if it's for Apple Valley residents only, it's going to slow down sales unless they're banging down the doors to get in, which they certainly aren't.

Committee Member Moore suggested the City establish the priority. Is it to make money or to give residents a place. You can't have both so which takes priority? Then you move forward.

Members want the question proposed to Council. Ms. Bryant said the Council is adamant there be enough for future Apple Valley residents. Chair Wagner said there's enough for 50 years. And what about purchasing more land, and then it should be opened up for everybody. Now, with cremations, it'll take care of Apple Valley for 200 years.

Committee Member Kemp said before cremation the standard was 1,000 burials per acre of land. The City is willing to put two and three in a lot so there is some time out there. How far out do you want to push it?

At this point, the 2006 sales were reviewed. There were three resident sales to one non-resident sale. Cremations were 55 percent of burials.

Chair Wagner said running a cemetery is different than running road work. You're dealing with people's psychology, grief, and some people get awfully turned off. Committee Member Kemp added that if you have one dissatisfied customer, ten others know about it. That is unwanted publicity. Cemeteries rely on heritage and family.

Committee Member Moore said most people want to be buried here because of some connection to family or the community. It's a business but we need to be tender about how we approach it.

The Committee requested staff research into stating resident and non-resident prices to the public to achieve a friendlier terminology and bring suggestions to the October meeting for discussion.

OTHER BUSINESS

City News Article

Chair Wagner commented on the article on the four alternatives we have for interring cremation remains which appeared in the City News. He questioned, as it's open 365 days a year, who opens it up on Christmas. Ms. Bryant said the gates never close; there are no gates that close.

The MAC Quarterly Article

Chair Wagner brought the Committee's attention to the quarterly newsletter of the Minnesota Association of Cemetery which includes a question and answer article Ms. Bryant is in.

Sun-Current Article
Thisweek Article

Chair Wagner said the articles from Sun-Current and Thisweek are on Wilton [Anderson]. "When you read it, it's just like him telling you personally. We're going to miss him, 'though I'm sure his spirit is with us. He'll be remembered for many, many years."

Other

Chair Wagner asked for any other business. Committee Member Wolter brought to the Committee's attention that the cemetery brochure states "owned and operated by the City of Apple Valley" and "serving the community." Chair Wagner said if we are going to take any action, we can do that in October. Committee Member Kohls mentioned he saw the Apple Valley Today segment with Mr. Glewwe about the boulders. The segment is airing in July and August.

ADJOURN

MOTION: of Kemp, seconded by Wolter, to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 3:02 p.m.

Approved: October 16, 2007