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Record of Proceedings

Cemetery Commission Meeting - October 12, 2026

Public Meetings — Monday, October 12, 2026
BodyWaukesha, Wisconsin
SessionPublic Meetings
DateMonday, October 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 24:41

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:21

I think that might be something.

Speaker 2

0:25

Oh, okay.

0:30

The Alders.

Unassigned speaker

0:32

Yes.

Unassigned speaker

0:38

And

Speaker 2

0:39

we'll have to tie our shoes.

Speaker 3

0:40

Yeah.

0:41

This is an embarrassment.

0:43

We both need to tie our shoes.

Speaker 2

0:44

Yes.

0:45

Where are you saying?

0:46

You have to sit over there.

0:46

You're important, remember?

0:48

No, we don't know.

Speaker 1

0:52

I thought you were way more important than

Speaker 3

0:53

no, I usually am here a half hour to 45 minutes early, so I just sit over there.

0:59

Only to have that

Speaker 2

0:59

time again.

1:00

Well, traffic was backed up to get across the river.

1:03

You running your motorcycle on Morland.

1:06

This weekend

Unassigned speaker

1:07

you talked to.

Speaker 2

1:11

I was looking for one of my neighbors' cats, and I saw Mike.

1:14

Yeah, I gave a weird request as the white one needs a crackition.

1:18

So if it was a black one, it probably is.

1:19

No, it was gray.

1:20

Juno.

1:21

That was not.

1:22

At least it wasn't black.

1:23

Yeah, the election comes up.

1:24

Yeah, we're on the complex.

1:25

Yes, yes.

1:25

What's your shirt say we call it?

1:27

Because I teach at Milwaukee, Washington High School.

1:29

We're perholders.

Unassigned speaker

1:30

Okay.

Unassigned speaker

1:30

I have no idea what a bird holder is.

Speaker 2

1:33

P-U-R-G-O-L-D-E-R-S.

1:37

Okay.

1:37

We'll have to look at

Speaker 3

1:38

that.

Speaker 2

1:38

It's gotta be oh well.

Speaker 4

1:43

All right, folks, we are at 5 30, and we're gonna call this meeting to order.

1:49

We're all set, Karen.

1:51

Wonderful.

1:52

All right.

1:53

5 30 on the dot.

1:55

Excellent.

1:55

Function uh punctuality.

Unassigned speaker

1:57

Okay.

Speaker 4

1:58

And a roll call.

1:59

So um

Unassigned speaker

2:00

all

Speaker 4

2:01

the men come out, Joe.

Speaker 2

2:02

I'm

Speaker 3

2:02

here.

Speaker 4

2:03

Pat here.

2:04

Oh, so who's on the other side there?

2:07

Carrie.

Speaker 3

2:07

Carrie Mike.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Cemetery Management█████████████████████████████████████████████58%
Procedural███████████████████24%
Equipment and Supplies███████9%
Community Engagement████5%
Capital Improvement Planning███4%
Summary of Proceedings

Cemetery Commission Meeting

The Waukesha Cemetery Commission met on October 12, 2026 (11:30 UTC / 5:30 PM local) in the City Hall Training Room. All members were present. The meeting covered the proposed 2027 operating budget, operational updates, and upcoming events.

Consent Calendar

  • The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the August 10, 2026 meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

  • 2027 Operating Budget: The commission reviewed the proposed 2027 executive operating budget. Director Karen noted that operating is projected to be in the black. Discussion included equipment replacement (zero-turn mowers) with one per year planned in the CIP budget, which had already been approved. A 119% increase in professional services was attributed to planning for a new natural burial section. A motion to recommend the budget as presented to the Finance Committee passed unanimously.
  • Cemetery Director Report: Karen provided a service summary through August 2026. Cremations accounted for 59% of services, up in recent years. The cemetery participated in Waukesha Unlocked with 266 tour attendees. The Tombstone Trot is next weekend. The Veteran Tribute Garden has been installed, with a dedication planned for November. Prairie burn is still hoped for this fall. A natural burial educational workshop is scheduled for November 18 or 19. CIP projects (tuckpointing, security cameras, mausoleum caulking, roof replacement) are progressing. At the event, a family member asked if any burials occurred on 9/11; none were found.
  • Friends of Prairie Home Cemetery President Report: Terry (Friends President) echoed the director’s report and thanked volunteers.
  • Alderman’s Report: Aldermen Rico and others promoted the Tombstone Trot and Veterans Day events on November 7 and November 11 at 11:11 AM.

Key Outcomes

  • The commission voted unanimously to recommend the 2027 operating budget to the Finance Committee as presented.
  • The next meeting is set for December 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM in the same location.
  • Meeting adjourned at 5:53 PM.

Meeting Transcript

I think that might be something. Oh, okay. The Alders. Yes. And we'll have to tie our shoes. Yeah. This is an embarrassment. We both need to tie our shoes. Yes. Where are you saying? You have to sit over there. You're important, remember? No, we don't know. I thought you were way more important than no, I usually am here a half hour to 45 minutes early, so I just sit over there. Only to have that time again. Well, traffic was backed up to get across the river. You running your motorcycle on Morland. This weekend you talked to. I was looking for one of my neighbors' cats, and I saw Mike. Yeah, I gave a weird request as the white one needs a crackition. So if it was a black one, it probably is. No, it was gray. Juno. That was not. At least it wasn't black. Yeah, the election comes up. Yeah, we're on the complex. Yes, yes. What's your shirt say we call it? Because I teach at Milwaukee, Washington High School. We're perholders. Okay. I have no idea what a bird holder is. P-U-R-G-O-L-D-E-R-S. Okay. We'll have to look at that. It's gotta be oh well. All right, folks, we are at 5 30, and we're gonna call this meeting to order. We're all set, Karen. Wonderful. All right. 5 30 on the dot. Excellent. Function uh punctuality. Okay.

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