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Record of Proceedings

Waukesha Cemetery Commission Meeting - February 9, 2026

Public Meetings — Monday, February 9, 2026
BodyWaukesha, Wisconsin
SessionPublic Meetings
DateMonday, February 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 13:33

Original source
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0:02

Okay, passed.

0:03

Part is starting.

0:04

Okay, I'd like to call to order the meeting of the cemetery commission for Monday, February 9th.

0:11

Let's do a roll call.

0:13

Amanda Roddy here.

0:15

Mike Christine.

0:16

Here.

0:16

Ed Rather.

0:18

Rico Camacho.

0:19

Here.

0:20

Jerry Jim who's not here.

0:23

And Don Brown is don't mark him absent.

0:29

Walking in soon.

0:31

Yes.

0:31

Well, and Peg Boki.

0:34

Present.

0:36

All right.

0:37

Public comment is item two on the agenda.

0:39

See no one here from the public.

0:41

We will move on to item number three, which is approval of the minutes from December 8th, 2025.

0:48

I'm in them right now, and I see no issues with any of them.

0:53

So I'd like to make a commission to accept the meeting.

0:55

It's I believe December 8th.

1:01

Okay, it's been moved by Mike and second by Rico to approve the minutes of December 8th.

1:11

All in favor say aye.

1:13

Aye.

1:14

Opposed?

1:15

I'm gonna abstain.

1:17

Okay.

1:18

Amanda abstained.

1:20

And otherwise it's passed unanimously.

1:28

All right.

1:29

The next item of business is to review and act on the request of the friends of Prairie Home Cemetery to host a third annual tombstone trot run walk fundraiser on Sunday, October 18th of 2026.

1:46

So I don't see anyone from the friends here.

1:52

Yeah, the president is sick and over material.

1:55

But um so they the first two tombstone trots went very well, and um last year they raised over 13,000 to a stone trot and would like to do the third annual on October 18th.

2:12

It's a Sunday again this year.

2:19

Is it silver circle?

2:21

Silver Circle Sports events.

2:23

Okay.

2:26

Any other questions?

2:30

Yeah, they must do a really good job at um sponsorship too because there's most of the dollars come in through the sponsorships, yeah.

2:38

Okay, that's great.

2:41

All right, is there a motion for this item?

2:47

Ed restaurant move that we uh allowed to enable the friends of prairie home cemetery always, third annual tombstone trot the Sunday, October 18th, 2026.

2:58

Second okay.

3:01

It's been moved by Ed and seconded by Amanda to approve the Friends of Prairie Home Cemetery to host their third annual tombstone trot.

3:11

So all in favor say aye.

3:12

Aye opposed passed unanimously.

3:20

Then we'll move on to reports, and the first one is the cemetery director's report.

3:30

Sorry, I'm trying to okay.

3:33

So um as part of the report, you receive the 2025 service summary summary report, and you'll see that um our services uh went up to 189 last year.

3:50

And um of note, I think is very interesting that for those that are related to cremation, it was 58 percent this year.

4:00

Last year we're at about 50.

4:04

Um, so we are seeing uh the need for cremation options growing, and the uh US averages about 63 percent.

4:15

Um they averaged last year for those that pass away that are cremated.

4:22

So we're very close to that with our uh services, and kind of highlights our reasoning for adding more cremation options in the boulevard.

4:33

So we will need to do that this year.

4:36

Um then another interesting thing is with our sales property sales for property items pre-need and at need.

4:52

Um, we're seeing last year 34% of our property sales were natural burial.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Cemetery Management█████████████████████████████████████████████76%
Procedural███████12%
Snow Removal███████12%
Summary of Proceedings

Waukesha Cemetery Commission Meeting - February 9, 2026

The Cemetery Commission of Waukesha met on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the City Hall Training Room. The meeting included approval of previous minutes, a request for the third annual Tombstone Trot fundraiser, and reports from the Cemetery Director and an Alderman. Key topics included rising cremation rates, natural burial interest, planned prairie burns, and infrastructure projects.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (December 8, 2025): Motion by Mike Christine, seconded by Rico Camacho. Approved unanimously with Commissioner Amanda Roddy abstaining.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public were present.

New Business

  • Third Annual Tombstone Trot: The Friends of Prairie Home Cemetery requested approval to host their third annual run/walk fundraiser on Sunday, October 18, 2026. The previous two events were successful, with the 2025 event raising over $13,000 through sponsorships and registrations. The event is organized by Silver Circle Sports Events. Motion by Ed Rather, seconded by Amanda Roddy, to approve. Approved unanimously.

Reports

  • Cemetery Director Report (Karen):
    • Presented the 2025 Cemetery Services Summary, showing 189 interments/services, up slightly from the prior year.
    • Cremation services accounted for 58% of 2025 services, up from approximately 50% the previous year. The U.S. average is 63%, highlighting the need for expanded cremation options in the Boulevard section.
    • 34% of property sales (pre-need and at-need) were for natural burial plots, indicating growing interest, though natural burial services represent only 7% of total services.
    • Planned spring prairie burn of three prairie areas using Midwest Prairies; permit obtained from fire marshal with conditions.
    • Prairie Avenue street light pole replaced with a black metal pole; West Avenue pole replacement scheduled for spring. Security cameras will be installed after poles are up, likely later this year.
    • Capital Improvement Projects: Exterior tuck pointing of chapel building (delayed due to weather, hopefully spring), autumn garden roof replacement and tuck pointing (RFP forthcoming), and Section 8 veteran tribute garden to be completed by Memorial Day (weather dependent).
    • Reminder of the annual celebration dinner on Wednesday, March 4, 2026; commissioners asked to RSVP.
  • Friends of Prairie Home Cemetery President's Report (not present):
    • The president was absent due to illness. Commissioner noted the upcoming Taco John's fundraiser on June 10, 2026 (4-8 PM). Previous Taco John's fundraiser raised over $500, and a Culver's fundraiser raised over $800 for the veterans tribute garden.
  • Cemetery Commission President's Report: No report.
  • Alderman's Report:
    • Encouraged interest in the Landmarks Commission and Friends of Landmarks and Springs, which is seeking new members.
    • Reminded residents to keep fire hydrants, sidewalks, and sewer grates clear of snow to prevent icing. Mentioned Waukesha County's "Adopt-a-Drain" program, where drains can be named.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes of December 8, 2025, with one abstention.
  • Approved the Friends of Prairie Home Cemetery to host the third annual Tombstone Trot on October 18, 2026 (unanimous).
  • Scheduled next meeting for April 2026 (exact date not set during this meeting).
  • Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, passed. Part is starting. Okay, I'd like to call to order the meeting of the cemetery commission for Monday, February 9th. Let's do a roll call. Amanda Roddy here. Mike Christine. Here. Ed Rather. Rico Camacho. Here. Jerry Jim who's not here. And Don Brown is don't mark him absent. Walking in soon. Yes. Well, and Peg Boki. Present. All right. Public comment is item two on the agenda. See no one here from the public. We will move on to item number three, which is approval of the minutes from December 8th, 2025. I'm in them right now, and I see no issues with any of them. So I'd like to make a commission to accept the meeting. It's I believe December 8th. Okay, it's been moved by Mike and second by Rico to approve the minutes of December 8th. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? I'm gonna abstain. Okay. Amanda abstained. And otherwise it's passed unanimously. All right. The next item of business is to review and act on the request of the friends of Prairie Home Cemetery to host a third annual tombstone trot run walk fundraiser on Sunday, October 18th of 2026. So I don't see anyone from the friends here. Yeah, the president is sick and over material. But um so they the first two tombstone trots went very well, and um last year they raised over 13,000 to a stone trot and would like to do the third annual on October 18th. It's a Sunday again this year. Is it silver circle? Silver Circle Sports events. Okay. Any other questions? Yeah, they must do a really good job at um sponsorship too because there's most of the dollars come in through the sponsorships, yeah. Okay, that's great. All right, is there a motion for this item? Ed restaurant move that we uh allowed to enable the friends of prairie home cemetery always, third annual tombstone trot the Sunday, October 18th, 2026. Second okay. It's been moved by Ed and seconded by Amanda to approve the Friends of Prairie Home Cemetery to host their third annual tombstone trot. So all in favor say aye. Aye opposed passed unanimously. Then we'll move on to reports, and the first one is the cemetery director's report.

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