CEMETERY COMMISSION 2015/10/21 MinutesLAKE FOREST CEMETERY COMMISSION MEETING
LAKE FOREST CEMETERY GATEHOUSE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 5:00 P.M.
MEETING MINUTES
I. ROLL CALL, CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Dennis O’Brien called the meeting of the
Lake Forest Cemetery Commission to order at 5:10 p.m. at the Lake Forest
Cemetery Gatehouse. The following members were present: Chairman Dennis
O’Brien; Commissioners Patrick Looby, John Dick, and David Hooke; City Staff
Chuck Myers, Superintendent of Parks and Forestry; and Phil Alderks, Cemetery
Sexton; and Tony Hoban from William Blair and Company.
II. APPROVAL OF THE JULY 15, 2015 MINUTES: Commissioner Dick motioned to
approve the July 15, 2015 Minutes which was seconded by Commissioner Hooke
and passed unanimously.
Commissioner Dick asked if there had been any progress had been made
regarding the motion at the last meeting about approaching City Council with
the question of ‘selling’ naming rights for the Cemetery Ravine and its restoration.
As of this time no progress had been made, but Chairman O’Brien and Sexton
Alderks will draft a letter to City Council for the next Commission meeting.
III. THIRD QUARTER INVESTMENT REPORT: Tony Hoban from William Blair and Company
reviewed the third quarter investment report stating that while there wasn’t
much good to report, there are some bright spots. Hoban said that the Fed has
been going back and forth on interest rates and the jobs report was weak. Wm
Blair continues to be bullish on equities
Hoban walked through a handout and overview of the current market. He then
proceeded to review the investment report with the Commission. In reviewing
the Performance Summary, Commissioner Dick asked about the format of the
Performance Summary since it is such a big page. Hoban listened to
Commissioner Dick’s comments and said he will work on a new format. Hoban
also said that since we have indexed the large cap stocks it may be a good time
to revamp the report. Hoban will take a look at the Performance Summary and
bring some ideas to the next meeting.
Commissioner Dick asked Hoban what was on his big screen. Hoban said the
continuing slowdown in China is on the radar as is the possibility of the Fed raising
rates. Also, jobs report. Hoban said it is nice to be in the earnings season as good
earnings temper the macro issues. He also said that if the Fed does raise rates,
that could be a good thing as that would show a vote of confidence in the
economy.
The City of Lake Forest is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who plan to
attend this meeting and who require certain accommodations in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting, or who have
questions regarding the accessibility of the meeting or the facilities, are required to contact City Manager Robert R. Kiely, Jr., at (847) 234-2600
promptly to allow the City to make reasonable accommodations for those persons.
Chairman O’Brien asked if there were any further questions or comments and
being that there were none, he thanked Hoban for the report.
REVENUE/EXPENSE REPORT: Chairman O’Brien presented the Revenue/Expense
Report to the Commission. O’Brien said that Sexton Alderks had met with
Commissioner Dick to review the report and incorporated the changes to more
accurately reflect revenues.
Alderks reported revenues were nothing spectacular, but OK for coming up to
mid-year. He said it only takes one good sale to put us over-the-top since we are
dealing with a fairly pricey product. He also stated that there were no surprises
on the expense side.
IV. CEMETERY UPDATES –
a. Ravine Restoration: Superintendent Myers stated that the Cemetery did
finally receive preliminary notification of the grant award from the IDNR
and should be receiving the official letter within a few weeks. The grant is
for $80,000 and is an Illinois Coastal Management Grant. Myers stated that
currently the permit application has been sent to the Army Corp of
Engineers for review and approval. He said they were hoping for a three
month turn around on the permit. We are working on getting the tree
removal complete this winter.
Commissioner Dick asked if we should have a separate document to
track the project. Myers said that once we get a feel for how long the
permitting will take, he will update and re-send the timeline to the
Commission.
Commissioner Dick then asked staff to explain the boundries of the project
and who the owners of the different parts are. Following some discussion
Chairman Dick asked if the Commission members could have a plot plan
that shows who owns what of the Cemetery Ravines.
One of the Commissioners also brought up the possibility of the Catholic
Archdiocese sharing costs for the restoration. Sexton Alderks said that
when the Archdiocese was approached for the original project they said
they would grant permission for the City to restore the ravine, but they did
not have any money in the St. Mary’s Cemetery funds to help out with
costs. Alderks assumed this would again be the case. Chairman O’Brien
said he would be willing to approach the Archdiocese about shared costs
and will work with Sexton Alderks to communicate with the Chicago
Catholic Archdiocese .
Commissioner Looby asked if this was out publicly in the Lake Forester and
Myers said that nothing yet has been published yet since ‘officially’ we
have not been awarded the grant. Something will be published in the
future at the proper time though.
b. Rules and Regulations: Sexton Alderks said he is still working on the Rules
and Regulations re-write and will have something for the Commission at
the next meeting.
V. CONSIDERATION OF CEMETERY FEES AND CHARGES FOR FY 2017: Chairman
O’Brien walked the Commission through the new format for the Cemetery Fees
stating that since the lot sales and interment fees comprised the majority of the
Cemetery’s income, those were the fees that were being most focused on.
Sexton Alderks presented the fees to the Commission and following some
discussion Commissioner Dick motioned to accept the fees as proposed.
Commissioner Looby seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
VI. FY2017 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET: Sexton Alderks presented the FY2017
Capital Improvement Budget. Alderks said that the most important column to
look at was the FY2017 column. Alderks stated that the CIP was very fluid and
projects were evaluated on a yearly basis. Some projects are merely place
holders so there are no surprises to the Cemetery Commission if and when it is
decided to act on them.
Alderks said there was $150,000 in the Capital Improvement Budget for ravine
restoration and also $50,000 for Landscape Improvements. Commissioner Dick
motioned to approve the CIP Budget which was seconded by Commissioner
Looby and passed unanimously.
VII. APPROVAL OF CEMETERY REVENUE FORECAST AND BUDGET TARGET NUMBER:
Chairman O’Brien said that because of the new budget documents, this will be
presented with the budget at the January meeting.
VIII. APPROVAL OF McLAUGHLIN FAMILY MONUMENT: Sexton Alderks presented the
McLaughlin family monument to the Commission for approval. Alderks said that
the Commission had already seen and approved a portion of the monument,
but now the complete design is being presented. Alderks stated that while there
really is no issue with the design of the monument, there is however a problem
with the height of the monument at 7 feet.
Alderks said that the tallest monument in the area was 6 feet and his feeling was
that 7 feet tall was a little out of character for the area. Alderks also said that the
family was requesting a base that is 18 inches deep as opposed to the standard
14 inches. Alderks said that normally the 14 inches is a maximum, because a
larger/deeper monument base does not allow enough room to physically fit the
burial vault in the grave. In this case, Alderks said the McLaughlin’s have a 4
grave lot (2 graves in one row and 2 graves below) which allows shifting the vault
a little into the grave below if necessary since there will be no monument in that
row. Alderks said he would recommend that the maximum height of the
monument be 6 feet and that the 18 inch deep base be approved in order to
provide the proper proportion for the design.
Commissioner Dick motioned to approve the monument at a maximum height
of 6 feet tall and the base at 18 inches deep. Commissioner Looby seconded the
motion which was unanimously approved.
IX. CIMS DEMONSTRATION: Tabled due to the CIMS computer being with Janet, the
Cemetery’s Office Manager being at CIMS training with the computer. Sexton
Alderks will send a link to the Commissioners to the eCIMS website.
X. OTHER MATTERS: Sexton Alderks shared that a local Eagle scout had asked to do
a project at the Alexander McKinlock gravesite. Alderks said that the Eagle Scout
did a clean up of the site which was very good, but now he would like to install a
planting at the lot. Alderks said that his concern is that there seems to be no
McKinlock family left, and who is going to maintain it. He also said that the Eagle
Scout has been very cooperative in the project.
Commissioner Looby stated that if there is to be something like this, he would like
to challenge the young man to create something self-sustaining. Commissioner
Dick thought it would set a bad precedent to have amateur groups in here
doing projects without the family’s permission. Alderks said that he is hearing from
the discussion that the Commission is not really in favor of setting the precedent
of non-family members doing work on Cemetery lots. Alderks said he will contact
the Eagle Scout and inform him of the Commission’s decision.
XI. CITIZENS’ OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS CEMETERY COMMISSION: No citizen
comments were made during this meeting.
XII. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:08 pm.