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Home My WebLink About2004-10-14 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, October 14, 2004 County Council Room and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) 3:00 p.m. Present Members Penny Fox Roy Hinokawa Paul Johnston Louis Kaoiwi Wendall Kekumu Morris Kihara Patrick Pavao Gilbert Sampaia Hideo Segawa Dale Wilson George Yamamoto Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencin2) Members Guests (Kona) Les Chess Himeo Hanato Minoru Hanato Herb Lum Joe Pretsch Lee Pretsch Ex- Officio (Hilo) Patricia Engelhard, Director, P &R Keith Ribbentrop Also Present (Hilo) Delbert Nishimoto Diane Noda, Deputy Corporation Counsel Absent Denny Austen Peter Callahan Richard Highley Charles Mayes George Mukai Call to Order • Chairman Kaoiwi called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m, INTRODUCTION • Deputy Corporation Counsel Diane Noda was introduced, she replaces Craig Masuda as the newly assigned attorney representing the Hawaii County Veterans Advisory Committee. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 October 14, 2004 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii Minoru Hanato announced that Veterans Cemetery III will be closed for approximately three (3) weeks during landscape project. Previous Meeting Minutes — September 23, 2004 • The Minutes of the September 23, 2004 meeting were approved as submitted. STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD — REPORT Delbert Nishimoto, Big Island representative on the State Veterans Advisory Board had no report. Veterans Cemetery II Delbert Nishimoto made a recommendation to committee members to coordinate a physical walk through inspection with checklist of the Veterans Cemetery II — Expansion Project with P &R Director Patricia Engelhard and the Park Planner. Project is in its final phase and there is a depression of approximately 3 to 4 inches on the top soil application which is uncalled for. There is distinct indication that water is being drained and there is a ditch line in the cemetery area. The roof of the shelter which was suppose to be completely removed and done with a new material has been incorporated with the old material. The roof is light green on one side and dark green on the other and the copper gutter is partially very aged and partially brand new. State Cemetery Grants Program Project Manager Scott Gebhardtsbauer recommended during his visit last month that projects should not be accepted below standard. Delbert feels that project is way below standard. Director Engelhard will arrange a walk through of project with the P &R Park Planner, a representative from M &E and invite committee members to participate. UNFINISHED BUSINESS VETERANS CEMETERY III — WEST HAWAII Landscaping Improvement Project Les Chess of the Golf Course Superintendent's Association reported that 7 or 8 veterans worked at the cemetery yesterday. Additional irrigation lines were installed and a new valve on the south perimeter. During the week prior, all the sprinkler heads were raised. Irrigation system is 90% completed, all headstones have been removed, numbered and placed on pallets. Two forms of replacing headstones properly will be used — GPS and by extra measurements taken from fence to benchmarks by Minoru Hanato. Top soil was scheduled to be delivered by De Luz (also donated by him) on Saturday, however, because of restrictions on the Waikoloa Road due to the Annual Ironman Triathlon, Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 October 14, 2004 delivery has been rescheduled to October 23'd. Delivery to include 400 yards of cinder soil. On October 25th, Goodfellows will be delivering equipment including a D -4 or D -5 dozer. Larry Walker of Swing Zone will be grading on Tuesday, October 26th and feels he can complete grading in one day. On October 27th and 28th, fine grading should be done and re- installing of headstones. On Thursday, October 28th, Goodfellows will GPS work that has been done and confirm that headstones are installed in the proper location. On Friday, October 29th, Kukio Resort will start cutting and delivering sod on pallets. Employees from the Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa Beach and Mauna Lani Golf Courses will install sod around the headstones. Project is currently on schedule and should be completed by October 30th in time for the November 11th Veterans Day Memorial Service. Les wanted to convey his appreciation to Park Superintendent Steve Morifuji and Parks employees for use of the backhoe during the project. Minoru Hanato reported that the new canopy is on site. He also stated that someone damaged the gate at the main entrance near the highway. Graveliners Delbert Nishimoto said that specs for the gravliners must first be approved by the VA at the federal level and then project can be initiated. VETERANS DAY PARADE Dale Wilson told Director Engelhard they are counting on P &R to include funds for police and emergency medical support during parade. Director Engelhard confirmed that P &R will include in the proposed budget funds for sixteen (16) off -duty police officers (one at each intersection) and three (3) EMT units — either off -duty or on -duty, for 2 t/2 to 3 hours. Budget must be approved by Council. Dale discovered that there are a number of veterans organizations that have umbrella insurance policies that cover events such as parades. Dale asked committee members to check with their organizations if their insurance could cover a parade event. NEW BUSINESS No New Business. EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS REPORT ON SEPTEMBER VISIT FROM PROJECT MANAGER OF THE STATE CEMETERY GRANTS PROGRAM (Scott Gebhardtsbauer) Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 October 14, 2004 Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii Mr. Ribbentrop said that during Scott Gebhardtsbauer's (Project Manager for the State Cemetery Grants Program, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Washington, DC) recent visit he expressed how happy he was with the volunteer project at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery and the dedication of all of the veterans, Mr. Les Chess, the Golf Course Superintendent's Association and all community volunteers. Mr.. Gebhardtsbauer reported to his boss Mr. Bill Jaynes about this huge community project and couldn't express in enough positive terms his appreciation to all involved. Veterans Cemetery II — Punch List Mr. Ribbentrop also reported that Mr. Gebhardtsbauer was not happy with the grading that he saw at Veterans Cemetery II and the old roof that was left on the expansion of the committal shelter. He recommended Section Markers for the cemeteries and lighting of the flag poles, especially at Veterans Cemetery III, possibly utilizing solar power. Mr. Gebhardtsbauer has a personal interest in lighting the flags and will see how it can be included in the budget. ANNOUNCEMENTS Veterans Day Sunset Ceremony — (Pearl Harbor) Battleship Missouri Memorial Chairman Kaoiwi read an invitation received for a Veterans Day Ceremony on the "Mighty Mo ", Thursday, November l lth from 4:45 pm to 5:45 pm. Ceremony is open to the public Loss of Mr. Bob Pettit — Former Veterans Advisory Committee Member Mr. Sampaia announced that former Hawaii County Veterans Advisory Committee member Bob Pettit passed away on Saturday. Private family services will be held. APPRECIATION — Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii — Volunteer Project Chairman Kaoiwi commended Mr. Les Chess, veterans and all volunteers for the community project at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. He expressed appreciation to all involved on behalf of the committee. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on November 18, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. in the Hawaii County Councilroom and video - conferencing at the Kona Mayor's Office. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Nathal el Sa*i to-s- Secretary