2007-09-20 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

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Veterans Advisory Committee Page 6 September 20, 2007 to establish working conditions when there aren't constant people there. The employees change. She will ask staff to continue to try to put the urn section in the place closest to the pu'u which is a raised area, but in the meantime there are also columbariums for urns. We will ask that people use the columbariums for urns rather than being buried in the ground. Chairman Highley again said if its important to the committee that we change Rule 7 so that Cemetery III is exempt from some of these things that we say we can't afford, then that would make things according to the rules instead of "it can be followed if it can and if not then the rule goes out the window ". Just trying to establish what needs to be done. As far as the burials and the urn burials, he asked Mr. Minoru Hanato to comment on the availability of burials. Mr. John Young commented that he doesn't think it's an undue burden to have people be able to visit the cemetery at decent times, it was an undue burden for these people to wear the uniform period. Mr. Norman Stahl said the question in his mind is why is there money to provide these services in Hilo for families of veterans and we can't find the budget to provide the same thing in Kona. Director Engelhard said this issue only recently came up, it hasn't been provided, and in the past it's been acceptable. If it's the committee's will that we spend an excessive amount of money to open and close the cemetery, then I will put it in next year's budget which we will start to work on in October. Mr. Young commented that if it goes into the budget we shouldn't be calling it excessive. Director Engelhard responded that she won't call it excessive when it goes in the budget. Veterans Cemetery III - Burial Space/Equipment Request Mr. Minoru Hanato said during last week's burial at West Hawaii Cemetery he counted 4 sets of graves left at the cemetery (1 Set = husband and wife). Employees at the cemetery asked if they could remove the ocean side fence in order to dig and make another half row for an additional 4 sets of graves. If we run out of space there, Director Engelhard said we can use area for urn burials which will be hard because the ground is harder, but that area can be used for full casket burials and will be able to hold 5 more sets. Lately burials have been pretty regular and unsure if the expansion side will be ready before area is full. A few meetings back Chairman Highley asked if the ocean side fence could be removed because the workers would like to avoid damaging other graves with the heavy machines. Even with plywood on it, the stabilizing legs and tires would probably go through the plywood and damage the graves. The heavy truck that hauls the dirt away will also have to go on the grave. Employees also asked if they could get equipment with tracks instead of tires, like an excavator or track loader with backhoe so the distribution of the load will not be a heavy burden on the gravesite. On the new side,