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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-04-20 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, April 20, 2006 County Council Room and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) 3:00 p.m. Present Absent Members Denny Austen Don D. Bennett Penny Fox Richard Highley Louis Kaoiwi Morris Kihara George Mukai Patrick Pavao Hideo Segawa George Yamamoto Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencin2) Members Richard Stevens Guests (Kona) David Carlson Manuel Delo Santos Antonio Gaspar Boss Hanato Minoru Hanato Herb Lum Joe Pretsch Lee Pretsch Alfredo Tobias Guests (Hilo) Ex- Officio (Hilo) Patricia Engelhard, Director, P &R Keith Ribbentrop, OVS Also Present (Hilo) Nathalie Santos, Secretary Roy Hinokawa Wendall Kekumu Gilbert Sampaia CALL TO ORDER • Chairman Richard Highly called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 April 20, 2006 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC No Statements from the public. PREVIOUS MEETINGS MINUTES — MARCH 16, 2006 • The minutes of the March 16, 2006 meeting were approved as submitted. REPORT ON CEMETERIES — STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD Hawaii Island Representative Mr. Herring Kalua NO REPORT Mr. Kalua absent - He traveled to Kona to attend a meeting at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery this morning with state officials from Oahu. UNFINISHED BUSINESS VETERANS CEMETERY II — EXPANSION PROJECT Director Engelhard reported status has not changed since last month's meeting. Expecting required improvements to be completed by July. VETERANS CEMETERY III — WEST HAWAII (Reforestation Project) Vice Chairman Stevens again invited everyone to the next planting scheduled for April 28tt' . The opening ceremony /planting will begin at 9am and lunch /social will be held at l lam. The Keiki Planting will comprise of many different schools ranging from elementary age children (5t' graders from Holualoa School have committed). Tomorrow students from Hualalai Academy will be marking the planting locations. The Greenhouse is coming on the 21st, also working on the sign project and getting topsoil for roadside planting. VETERNS CEMETERIES - BURIAL TIMES (Funding for Improvements, Expansion of Grave Sites and Graveliners) Chairman Highley reported that he, Delbert Nishimoto and Director Engelhard met today at 2pm to discuss burial times. They reviewed Rule 7, which states that burial times will be at the discretion of the Director. The Director has designated two burial times in the morning and one in the afternoon. If the burials go into lunch break by union workers between 11 am and 12 noon, the families will be required to pay overtime. Mr. Nishimoto went to the see the head of UPW and there is no way they will back down. The final conclusion of the meeting was not to change the rules, but to instead work with it and see what happens. VETERANS CEMETERIES I AND II Columbariums Director Engelhard reported that she took Mr. Kalua to see the niches and he understands what needs to be done to make columbariums useable and will report back to Mr. Morita. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 April 20, 2006 VETERANS CEMETERY III - WEST HAWAII Chairman Highley said the meeting held this morning at Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii with Mr. Ralph Morita and staff member Joseph of DAGS; Herring Kalua, State Veterans Advisory Board- Hawaii Island Representative; many members of various Veterans organizations, Council Members Virginia Isbell and Pete Hoffman; representatives from Cindy Evans' office and Ed Case's office was good. They discussed burial availability at Cemetery III and the importance of preparing the second section so that veterans families don't get turned away and have to bury loved ones elsewhere. Chairman Highley also reported that the $300,000 from the State legislature has been released. Colonel Cruickshank told him the 1.2 million dollars would be part of the funds secured from the Veterans Administration. The revised master plan will be worked on beginning May or June and is expected to take approximately six (6) months to complete. The plan will then be submitted to Veterans Administration to release the funds to continue project. He asked if there were any comments or questions about items discussed at the meeting. Mr. Minoru Hanato of DAV said veterans in attendance stressed the importance of installing graveliners quickly. State representatives will try to push project and asked if anyone knows of somebody that could manufacture concrete graveliners on this island. There will be another meeting with state representatives in July after they gather more information. Will work with them closely and continue to push the issue of quick expansion. VETERANS CEMETERY III - WEST HAWAII Vandalized Road Sign Repaired Mr. Hanato thanked Herring Kalua for requesting that the vandalized sign on the Highway be replaced. APPRECIATION - FORMER CHAIRPERSON LOUIS KAOIWI Former Chairperson Louis Kaoiwi served for many years in various capacities on the Veterans Advisory Committee. He was honored with a lei from the Department of Parks and Recreation, a plaque from members of the Veterans Advisory Committee, a Certificate of Appreciation from Mayor Kim presented by Managing Director Dixie Kaetsu, and a summary read by Director Engelhard describing his sixteen years of volunteer service to the committee. Louis Kaoiwi thanked Director Engelhard, Mayor Kim and the Managing Director for helping to get what is needed for the cemetery. He also thanked everyone for working together as one team. Managing Director Dixie Kaetsu thanked all members for serving on the committee and for their hard work and dedication. She then presented Mr. Kaoiwi with a Certificate of Appreciation from Mayor Kim. Refreshments will be served following the committee meeting. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 April 20, 2006 NEW BUSINESS MAINTENANCE FUNDS FOR VETERANS CEMETERIES ON THE BIG ISLAND Chairman Highley said that the County of Hawaii is receiving $22,500 for maintenance of all three cemeteries. During today's meeting, Colonel Cruickshank acknowledged that these cemeteries are also under his office and he has already solicited additional funds for maintenance of these cemeteries. Chairman Highley encouraged members to write letters to their congressmen supporting Colonel Cruickshank's request for additional funding. EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS NO REPORT ANNOUNCEMENTS NONE MEMBERSHIP - VACANCIES It was announced that Mr. Antonio Gaspar would be nominated to represent the American Legion on the Veterans Advisory Committee filling Peter Callahan's vacancy. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. in the Hawaii County Councilroom and video - conferencing at the Kona Mayor's Office. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 3:25 pm. Respectfully submitted, NathalielScwitos -, Secretary