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.

Sorry, I'm trying to okay.

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.

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

Last year we're at about 50.

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

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

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.

So we will need to do that this year.

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

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

So we're not seeing that, you know, it's about 7% of our services are natural burial.

Obviously, then our sales are mostly pre-need.

So there is a growing interest in the natural burial as well, which is very interesting.

We do get quite a few inquiries about that.

So for the prairie areas, we are planning a spring burn, prairie burn of all three areas sections that are platted or that are planted as a prairie.

So one is currently being used for natural burial.

The section to the east of it, we'll have to look soon on getting that platted in the next few years for natural burial.

And then the area to the south is planted as a prairie.

We'll have that burn too.

You know, that will be way down the road deciding on what that's going to be used for.

So just thought I'd let you know that.

We'll be using Midwest Prairies.

Um it's a company that does prairie burns.

And they've already submitted to the fire marshal for the permit.

They have the permit with conditions that they have to provide a little bit more information when we get to that date because the date is unknown.

So let's see.

And then the items of note, Prairie Avenue Street Light pole was replaced last week and is now functional.

So it hadn't been for some time, and there was an old wooden pole, so it's now uh a black metal pole, and then there's a street light pole on the West Avenue side that will be replaced uh this spring.

And then once those are up, um, hopefully the cameras will be installed shortly thereafter, sometime this year, anyway, security cameras.

Um, and then CIP projects that are in the works, not being done right now, but the exterior tuck pointing of the chapel building will be done this year.

Um those bids were received last fall, but because of weather, it's being delayed.

So hopefully this spring.

Um, then the security cameras and the autumn garden roof replacement project.

Um that RFP is going out soon, and that also the autumn garden tuck pointing and caulking project.

Um to be done this year, but that RFP is not out yet, and then we are still planning for that Section 8 veteran tribute garden to be complete by memorial day.

So that's the hope and weather dependence.

And then also in your um packet, there is the reminder about the celebration dinner.

Did you all receive the email about that?

Okay, I was just asked to remind everyone, and please RSVP if you haven't already.

Yeah, so that's Wednesday, March 4th.

Okay.

Any other questions for Karen?

I have some questions for Karen.

Um are there any wiring that we should be doing ahead of time?

I'm sure that for the cameras on these poles are all gonna be cordless, but since they're putting in a they already put a pole in, replacing another pole.

Uh there should have been underground wires.

There's a there, yeah, there's uh a second conduit was added that is vacant right now that will be used for that.

All right.

Um has uh what was the last time the city walkshaw fire department did a prairie burn, or they have never done a prairie burn.

As far as I know, they haven't done it.

Um, I believe it was also Midwest Prairies the last time, but it's been more than 10 years since it's been done.

Yep.

Um that was just my question.

All right, thank you, Karen.

Uh friends of prairie home cemetery president's report.

He is not here this evening.

And then I did mention I I did speak with him about the tombstone trot, obviously, and then also their next fundraiser for Taco John's is scheduled for June 10th.

You want to mark your calendars.

Those have been very successful fundraisers as well.

June 10th, I'm sorry.

Yeah, June 10th.

I believe it's from four to eight.

That's a Taco John's fundraiser for the friends.

Do we know the last one through not?

It was over $500 at the meeting.

And the Culver's one they did, I think it was over $800.

Well, actually, they they received quite a few.

Very nice donations in the box.

It was, you know, it's for the veterans uh tribute garden.

Right.

Okay.

All right.

Uh Cemetery Commission President's report.

I have no report at this time.

Alderman's report.

I have a couple items.

Um, I'm also fortunate enough to serve on the landmarks uh commission, and they had a one time a landmarks let's say almost friends of uh landmarks and springs in the city of Waukeshaw, and that has not been very active, and they are seeking new members.

So I brought up that I'm proud to serve with uh Rico here, and you guys have a great thing uh that continues to grow and grow and grow, and uh just letting people know that um if someone has a passion uh or want to do something with landmarks and wish to serve on landmarks team uh being formed as we speak, you know.

Doesn't matter what it used to be, it's gonna be what it is going forward, is because it's uh you know, people that use emails or texting or social media to keep in touch, so they're updating what they're doing.

So I'm just letting know that they are looking for new members for the landmarks commission and friends of landmarks and springs in the city of Waukeshaw.

And I'm just mentioning another tidbit uh when we have snowfall, we talk about keeping our fire hydrants clean uh and sidewalks, but also if you are near a uh sewer grate, we all should keep those things clear.

Uh this is something that the outer shoveling or snowblowing that really helps uh get the water off your street and uh re-freezing because if there's a puddle because it can't drain, it stays slippery or icy or city operations after all the salt.

Uh another plug for the drains are uh Waukeshaw County has a really neat program where you can actually adopt a drain, and then once you adopt a drain, you can name it.

Like I named it after my kids and my father-mobile.

You can come up with crazy fun names.

So it's something that's right on the city of Laws, excuse me, Walkershaw County's website, but I don't care so much about that.

If you have them on your street, keep them clear, and that's the end of the alderman's report.

All right, thank you.

Welcome.

Uh number six, those referrals.

Don't believe there's any referrals.

And with that, I'll be looking for a motion for adjournment.

Is there a second?

A second.

Okay.

Moved by Ed and seconded by Amanda to adjourn the meeting.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Thank you for coming this evening.

Happy New Year.

We'll see you in April.