West Central Reporter

City of Jacksonville Cemetery Board met Feb. 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The regular monthly meeting of the Jacksonville City Cemeteries Board was called to order at 8:30 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, Carolyn Bonjean, Gerald Scott; Treasurer Mary Fergurson; Superintendent Jim Pierson; City Clerk Skip Bradshaw. A quorum was declared.

Motion was made by Bonjean, seconded by Scott, to adjourn into Executive Session at 8:31 a.m. to review August 2018 Executive Session Minutes. By voice vote, motion carried.

The regular monthly meeting of the Jacksonville City Cemeteries Board was called back to order at 8:34 a.m.

AGENDA: Motion was made by Newby, seconded by Bonjean, to approve the February 15, 2019 Agenda as presented in advance. By voice vote, motion carried.

MINUTES: Motion was made by Newby, seconded by Bonjean, to approve the January 18, 2019 Minutes as presented in advance. By voice vote, motion carried.

FINANCE:

a.) Treasurer’s Investment Report – January 2019:

Ms. Fergurson advised that the Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund shares were sold as previously discussed and the full amount was reinvested in the Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund, listing at just over $18,000 at the end of January. Stock values rebounded quite nicely in January and ended the month at about $283,000. The next maturity is the $100,000 American Express Certificate of Deposit (CD) which is set for March 1st. Ms. Fergurson feels confident that she can secure a higher return of 2-3% on that CD even though the Federal government is planning to temporarily halt increases in interest rates. She recommends that the Board reinvest those funds in the Fixed Income Security when the CD matures March 1st. She explained that the Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund is a dividend yield that runs around 3.50%. Brief discussion ensued regarding investments.

b.) Cash Receipts Report – January 2019:

Ms. Brown gave a brief overview of the Cash Receipts Report, noting that there is a current revenue balance of 93.84%, and a current expenditure balance of 97.02% remaining at the end of January.

c.) Cash Receipts Report and Claims Approval – January 2019:

Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Newby, 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 department is dealing as best it can with the inclement weather.

PUBLIC COMMENT: No discussion.

OLD BUSINESS:

a. Rev. Patsy Kelly, Passavant Hospital, to discuss fetal burials. Passavant Hospital currently conducts autopsies on fetal remains of infants born at a gestation period of 20 weeks and under to determine the cause of death. The remains are then stored at Passavant Hospital if the family cannot afford a private burial. Rev. Kelly is asking the City Cemetery Board to consider donating a plot, including the opening and closing of the grave, for burial of those remains. Each plot should accommodate several small caskets, and each casket should accommodate 3-5 fetal remains. Burials would occur one time per year, with a service of remembrance at some point thereafter. Local funeral homes have agreed to donate a small casket on a three year rotating basis, and Andy Bruington with Jacksonville Monument has donated a monument for the grave. Burial records would be maintained by Passavant Hospital. Supt. Pierson asked that if the Board agrees to this request, that all families involved follow the rules and regulations of the cemetery. At this time there are 5 fetal remains currently in storage at Passavant Hospital whose families have asked for burial or some type of service for those remains. Brief general discussion ensued and at the end of discussion it was determined to consider the matter and respond back at a later date.

Chair Moore continues to work on the Rule Book.

NEW BUSINESS: Supt. Pierson would like to have a written history of the city cemeteries. Mr. Newby suggested contacting Greg Olson to see if he has any information that he can pass along.

Chair Moore would like to discuss Rev. Kelly’s request at the next meeting in March. Discussion ensued regarding dedication of the Heritage Health spaces and how it ties in with Rev. Kelly’s request for a burial plot. Supt. Pierson suggested donating all eight of the Heritage Health spaces to Passavant Hospital should the spaces be turned back over to the City.

ADJOURNMENT: Hearing no further business, a motion was made by Brown, seconded by Scott, to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 a.m. By voice vote, motion carried. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Jacksonville City Cemeteries Board will be held on Friday, March 15, 2019, 8:30 a.m. in the Commission Room at the City of Jacksonville Municipal Building.

https://www.jacksonvilleil.gov/city_government/boards_commissions_and_committees/docs/Boards%20Commissions%20Committees/Cemetery_Board_Minutes/2019/02.15.19.pdf