2004-11-18 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

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Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 November 18, 2004 Temporary Columbarium Delbert stated that the current refocus is on a temporary columbarium which will cost approximately $26,000 each. Funds will be provided by a grant -in -aid from the federal government at no cost to the County except to develop or pour concrete foundations. Specific dimensions are required. State Cemetery Grants Program Project Manager Scott Gebhardtsbauer visited West Hawaii Cemetery recently and was informed that the urns are currently buried in the ground just as casket burials. He was astounded and suggests utilizing temporary columbariums instead. In 2005, permanent columbariums should be available. Mr. Highley suggested utilizing community volunteers to pour concrete slab for the temporary columbarium. Mr. Nishimoto said that the concrete slab needs to be poured as soon as possible and is only temporary. Once the permanent columbarium is constructed, the temporary one would be removed and the slab broken up. Director Engelhard stated that urns do not have to take up a regular size cemetery plot. There can be a designated urn section which would only take small spaces. Permanent Columbarium Mr. Nishimoto said that Scott Gebhardtsbauer and Keith Ribbentrop have photos and a schematic drawing of a sample national memorial columbarium burial site. In the center will be a memorial and then a hub. Funds - $300,000 (Allocated in 2004 Legislative Session) Delbert shared that the $300,000 allocated in the 2004 session is in House Bill 1800 (the Budget Bill) and the Governor still needs to release those funds. The Office of Veterans Services needs to write a letter to the Governor requesting that she release funds. The funds are to be used for West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery maintenance, and is designated for the pavilion /shelter. The OVS is expecting to hire a retired Engineer on a 180 day contract to oversee projects and funding. Currently the engineer in charge has been difficult to contact. Veterans Cemetery III — Damaged Gate Mr. Highley shared that during the landscaping project, De Luz Trucking delivered 450 cubic yards of soil and a lot of gravel. Unfortunately, the mauka rolling gate was accidentally damaged during delivery, however, Mr. Minoru Hanato welded and repaired the gate.