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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-27-99Approved by Cemetery Advisory Committee 4/28/99 CITY OF SANFORD CEMETERY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting of January 27, 1999 PRESENT: Thelma Mike ABSENT.: Fred Gaines Bill Welborn Chris Neal Eliza Pringle Howard Jeffries Linda Tucker, City Secretary Thelma Mike, Vice Chairman, conducted the meeting Eliza Pringle was welcomed to the Cemetery Advisory Committee. Linda Tucker took the roll call. Minutes of Nov. 19, 1990 meeting were read and approved. OLD BUSINESS: Status report on development of Crawford Property: Howard reported that the Contractor is now clearing the Crawford Property. Additional soil was needed to correct the problem with swales and bird bathes. The open ditch between Evergreen and Crawford property 00 will be sodded to prevent erosion. An irrigation system will be installed and overseeing will follow. A temporary gate will also be installed to keep vehicles out of the area. Status report on gazebo repair in Lakeview: Howard reported that although the Cemetery Committee recommended demolishing the gazebo and brick building, the Historical Society requested that the City repair the gazebo. The Historical Society donated over $15,000. for repairs with the City to pay the balance. We are presently recommending approval of bids to the City Commission. Weshmark is the approved bidder. Their bid was $42,500., however they are going to totally rebuild the structure, keep the original design, and build according to the Southern Building Codes. Status report on Committee's recommendation to increase the opening/closing fees for graves spaces and the availability of children's spaces: Howard reported that the City Commission approved increasing the opening/closing fees as proposed by the Cemetery Committee. Status on complaint from State Comptroller statin) the City is ille(->al in charainf-) for marking for monuments: Bill Welborn asked the status on the complaint we received regarding charging for monument markings. Howard stated that the information was forwarded to the City Attorney and he wrote a letter to the State of Florida Comptroller stating that we were not illegal in charging. He stated in his letter that the Comptroller's office was referring to "tying" (when a company sells monuments and then turns around and charges for marking for the monument to be installed.) The City is not in the monument business. We have had no response from the Comptroller's office, therefore is the City will continue to charge. NEW BUSINESS: Reappointment of Christopher Neal for term of office: Howard reported that the City Commission has approved Christopher Neal 's reappointment for term of office. His term will expire 3/12/2002. Discussion on recommendation to increase the rates of cemetery spaces: Howard stated that the City had conducted a survey with other cemeteries and according to the survey Sanford has the lowest rates for cemetery spaces. Staff sees a need for an increase. (Survey attached) The City's last rate increase was in 1995. After discussion from the Committee, Bill Welborn motioned that the Committee recommend that the regular spaces be increased to $625.00; cremation spaces to $250.00; and children's spaces ($200.00) and infant spaces ($75.00) remain the same. The Committee felt that children and infant spaces should not be increased because families usually do not have insurance to cover funeral expenses, etc. Seconded by Thelma Mike. PASSED. Discussion on any revisions needed to Cemetery Rules and Regulations: Howard stated that he felt that the rules and regulations should be revised, particularly referring to the requirements on monuments. Some plastic markers have been installed that do not look like they would last. The Committee felt that the rules and regulations should not be changed; however City staff should require the installer of these particular markers to prove that the markers will last. No further business meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m. 0