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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-17 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, February 17, 2005 County Council Room and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) 3:00 p.m. Present Absent Members Penny Fox Richard Highley Roy Hinokawa Paul Johnston Louis Kaoiwi Morris Kihara George Mukai Patrick Pavao Dale Wilson George Yamamoto Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencin2) Members None Guests (Kona) Minoru Hanato Boss Hanato Herb Lum Joe Pretsch Lee Pretsch Richard Stevens (Arrived late) Ex- Officio (Hilo) Patricia Engelhard, Director, P &R Also Present (Hilo) Delbert Nishimoto Nathalie Santos, Secretary Keith Ribbentrop Denny Austen Peter Callahan Wendall Kekumu Gilbert Sampaia Hideo Segawa Call to Order • Chairman Kaoiwi called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m, Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 February 17, 2005 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC No Statements from the public. Previous Meeting Minutes — November 18, 2004 • The Minutes of the November 18, 2004 meeting were approved as submitted. STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD — REPORT Delbert Nishimoto, Big Island representative on the State Veterans Advisory Board reported the following: New DOD Engineer Hired Department of Defense Engineering has hired a new engineer utilizing federal grant funds to work on grants for West Hawaii Cemetery. They now have two engineers working at DOD. Veterans Cemetery II Site Visitation — Veterans Cemetery H — Expansion Proiect Recently both DOD engineers, Keith Ribbentrop, a representative from M &E Engineering and Delbert made a site visit to Veterans Cemetery IL The following problems were discussed: the grass and curb needs more work, granite sign needed and additional A/C pavement needed at the maintenance shed. As requested by members of the Veterans Advisory Committee, the installation of a gate will remain a priority, but there may not be enough funds left from this project. Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii The initial grant of $100,000 will be used for temporary urn niches. There will be (4) niche units that will provide 96 spaces. Projection for installation is prior to October 2005. Delbert distributed copies of Department of Defense's memo dated January 20, 2005 from Engineer Johnathan Ito to OVS Director Edward Cruickshank outlining the Near Term Schedule of Improvement Projects at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. In summary, they are seeking $1.2 million dollars in federal grants to begin as early as July 2005 to plan and design a committal shelter, installation of approximately 200 lawn crypts (graveliners) and construction of a new maintenance area. They are hoping that construction of major improvements can begin within two years. UNFINISHED BUSINESS VETERANS CEMETERY II — EXPANSION PROJECT UPDATE Director Patricia Engelhard said that Mr. Nishimoto covered the status of the project and reported that the final inspection cannot be scheduled until the sign is installed. Mr. Nishimoto added that the major problem is that the contractor is not responsive to check list problems. One concern is that there is a lot of sleeping grass throughout the Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 February 17, 2005 area, the lawn is purple instead of green. By using weedeaters they were spreading the problem. The contractor has since hired someone to weed the area by hand. VETERANS CEMETERY III — Reforestation Project Richard Highley shared that the grant has moved to the state level. The cost to install a hogwire fence with one strand of barbed wire to keep the goats out, ranges from $7.00 to $10.00 per square foot. The total cost @ $7.00 per square foot to enclose the entire cemetery would be approximately $60,000. Looking at getting a volunteer from the private sector to run a bulldozer and hoping that Goodfellows will agree to do surveying. 75% of project could be funded by a grant, 25% would need to be raised. Kukio Golf Course CEO Christine Bean is also interested in the project and discussed possibility of starting a nursery to raise plants and trees in the cemetery grounds. Mr. Stevens arrived late and reported that the reforestation project continues to march forward and gather more allies. Supporters include Jeff Knowles of the Natural Resources Conservation Service who is helping with grant application to cover 75% of fencing costs, Christine Bean of Kukio who shared how they would like to be a part of project, Les Chess shared ideas of how the bulldozing and fence installation could be accomplished and recent supporter Jill Wagner has a plant nursery and has expertise in reforestation. Once the fence is erected, will be ready to put plants in the soil. Gate Mr. Hanato thanked Director Engelhard for supplying materials to repair gate, however, because it is so heavy the gate cannot be installed until the backhoe is repaired. Backhoe has been out of order for awhile. Columbarium Mr. Highley has been communicating with State Cemetery Grants Program Project Manager Scott Gebhardtsbauer, James who is the head of the State Cemetery Grants Office, and a representative from a company in Canada who would like to sell columbariums, but the specs may not match. Mr. Highley said he's looking for answers on how to expedite the columbarium, how to prepare necessary foundation and the difference between the temporary and permanent ones. Mr. Nishimoto will contact new DOD Engineer Roy Kaneshiro who is handling Veterans Cemetery III and ask him for dimensions and reinforcement information to submit to Mr. Highley. He also suggested that West Hawaii veterans hustle for the concrete. Burial Space Mr. Highley asked why the burials are not being done right next to each other, but instead plots are being skipped. Director Engelhard explained that at the time of death, a reservation can be made for the surviving spouse. Mr. Highley said that Kimo (P &R Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 February 17, 2005 employee) estimates that approximately 30 plots are left. Burial numbers have recently increased and burial rate is approximately 1 t/2 per month. If reserved plots are included, that leaves 15 plots, which could fill within a year. They would like to have graveliners installed before burials begin on the other section. Delbert Nishimoto recommended that projects be prioritized and to stick to list rather than jumping from one project to another. Different people have different wish lists, but there should be one list of priorities rather than heading in different directions. VETERANS DAY PARADE Dale Wilson reported that the Military Order of the Purple Heart advised him that they have an umbrella policy that covers members from various chapters and departments when they participate in activities. If they sponsor such an activity, it wouldn't cover anyone else, just their members. The DAV advised him that an insurance company in Kansas City represents, DAV, (inaudible) and VFW altogether and individual chapters have liability coverage. Mr. Wilson requested that again the members check with their various chapters and organizations if they have liability coverage. Penny Fox said that their organization does not have liability insurance. In a separate matter, Mr. Johnston said that the president of the Korean War Veterans Association checked with representatives of the Merrie Monarch Festival and they said that participants are covered under their insurance policy for that parade. Mr. Highley shared that various veteran organizations have participated in Kona parades and haven't signed waivers or anything to participate. Mr. Wilson said that another way to handle liability is to have waivers signed by participants. Director Engelhard shared that if you are hosting the parade there is a difference from just participating. She also said that waivers are often challenged, but they do give people the idea that we care about safety. NEW BUSINESS ELECTIONS Elections were held and Chairman Kaoiwi and Vice Chairman Austen were re- elected, however, Mr. Richard Highley pointed out that according to Chapter 15 -63 elections are to be held biennially and elections were held on January 15, 2004. Director Engelhard confirmed that Chairman Kaoiwi and Vice Chairman Austen should remain as chairman and vice chairman until elections are held next year, since they were elected last year. A motion was passed to rescind the nominations and elections. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 5 February 17, 2005 EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS No Reports. ANNOUNCEMENTS Big Island Veterans Association (BIVA) BIVA Secretary Frances Sherrard has requested names and addresses of all Hawaii County Veterans Advisory Committee Members for their mailing list. All members present approved transmitting roster to Ms. Sherrard. Meeting Schedule - 2005 Chairman Kaoiwi announced that all meetings for 2005 are scheduled for the third Thursday of the month except for July's meeting. State Veterans Home — Update — Nominations for Naming Facility Mr. Nishomoto announced that the State Veterans Home site at Hilo Medical Center Campus is progressing. They are also trying to acquire additional land to construct a parking lot. The State Veterans Advisory Committee has the task of naming the facility and Delbert asked members to go back to their organizations to discuss possibilities, nominations will be closed in June. Letters should be sent from the Office of Veterans Services requesting nominations. There currently is one nomination for a person who was a Medal of Honor recipient. Veterans Cemetery I — Flag Pole Expansion Mr. Mukai acknowledged Director Engelhard for providing materials for flag pole expansion project at Veterans Cemetery L Director Engelhard said that thanks should go to the volunteers including Duane Mukai, Jimmy Miyake and the Lions Club members. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on March 17, 2005 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 3:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Nathal el Sa*i to-s- Secretary