City of Jacksonville Cemetery Board met Jan. 19.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
The regular monthly meeting of the Jacksonville City Cemeteries Board was called to order at 8:33 a.m. in the Commission Room of the Jacksonville Municipal Building. The meeting was publicly announced by posting and by written notice to the local newspaper and radio stations.
ROLL CALL: Members present were: Chairman Doug Moore, Tom Newby, Linda Brown, Kim Pohlman; Treasurer Mary Fergurson (joined the meeting at 8:35 a.m.); Superintendent Jim Pierson; Deputy City Clerk Angela Salyer. A quorum was declared.
AGENDA: Motion was made by Newby, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the January 19, 2018 Agenda as presented in advance. By voice vote, motion carried.
MINUTES: Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the December 15, 2017 Minutes as presented in advance. By voice vote, motion carried.
FINANCE: a.) Treasurer’s Investment Report – December 2017: Ms. Fergurson advised that the $25,000.00 that was authorized in December for investment has been transferred to the brokerage account and invested in a Certificate of Deposit with a yield of 2.4%, which is currently more than the 10-year treasury yield. This investment will be indicated on the January Cash Receipts Report in February. Stock positions continue to appreciate nicely.
b.) Cash Receipts Report – December 2017: Ms. Brown gave a brief review of the Cash Receipts report, noting that there was an increase cash- wise almost across the board during December, leaving the Department in a very good cash position at the end of the year. There is a balance of $48,000.00 still in the Trust account waiting for investment. A balance of 6.6% of the revenue budget and 13.24% of the expenditure budget remains at the end of December.
c.) Cash Receipts Report and Claims Approval – December 2017: Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the Cash Receipts Report and to pay claims when funds are available. By voice vote, motion carried.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: Supt. Pierson reported on the following:
The ground is frozen down to 8 inches and is proving difficult for burials.
Flower seeds have been purchased. His department will start the seeds indoors soon and move to the greenhouse in February.
PUBLIC COMMENT: No discussion.
OLD BUSINESS: Chair Moore advised that CA Beard prepared information regarding appropriate identification of title of the Heritage Health burial plots and has forwarded that information to their attorney, Atty. Eddie Carpenter for review. Chair Moore feels that it is imperative to have documentation indicating ownership before any change of ownership can be made. General discussion ensued on past conversations regarding this issue and the current standing of the properties in question.
Chair Moore will be forwarding documentation on the Rule Book to Ms. Brown for further revisions.
Supt. Pierson advised that beginning January 1, 2018, new laws were put into place mandating that certain areas within state parks must be designated for the spreading of cremains. Brief discussion ensued regarding this issue and green burials within the cemeteries. Supt. Pierson would like to discuss the issue of green burials with the Cemetery Board at a later date. Chair Moore brought up the issue of who will be responsible for recording the spreading of cremains and general discussion ensued.
Supt. Pierson asked if it would be acceptable, at the end of the year, to put a portion of the excess revenue into the Land and Building Fund rather than investing those funds with the perpetual care monies and be restricted to using only the interest earned. Ms. Brown explained that it is required by statute that any funds received by the department must be invested by the end of each year. She recommended asking for the annual General Fund transfer of $25,000.00 now instead of waiting until October.
Supt. Pierson disseminated copies of the 2017 Year End Report that has been given to the Mayor’s Office. Brief discussion ensued regarding road maintenance throughout the cemeteries, noting that the cemeteries road maintenance schedule is lumped in with the street departments maintenance schedule, but the Cemetery Department pays its portion out of the Capital Improvement Fund. The road maintenance work is then performed by the accepted bidder for the job.
Motion was made by Newby, seconded by Brown, to re-elect Doug Moore as the Chairman of the Jacksonville City Cemeteries Board. By voice vote, motion carried.
Ms. Brown will be reappointed by Mayor Andy Ezard to the Jacksonville City Cemeteries Board at the January 22, 2018 City Council Meeting, term ending January 1, 2023.
NEW BUSINESS: No discussion.
ADJOURNMENT: Hearing no further business, a motion was made by Pohlman, seconded by Newby, to adjourn the meeting at 8:59 a.m. By voice vote, motion carried. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Jacksonville City Cemeteries Board will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.
http://www.jacksonvilleil.gov/city_government/boards_commissions_and_committees/docs/Boards%20Commissions%20Committees/Cemetery_Board_Minutes/2018/01.19.18.pdf
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