HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-22-14 Community RelationsCOMMUNITY RELATIONS JANUARY 22, 2014 5:00 P.M.
Committee Members Present: Oliver Davis, Karen White, Derek Dieter, Gavin Ferlic
Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Henry Davis, Valerie Schey, Dr. Fred Ferlic,
Dr. David Varner
Others Present: Sign -in sheet attached
Agenda: City Cemetery Restoration Project
Oliver Davis, City Council President and Community Relations Chair, welcomed all attending then
proceeded to round table introductions. Each in turn gave their name and particular interest in the
Cemetery Restoration Project.
Oliver proceeded to thank the volunteers who helped place wreaths and flags at the cemetery for the
holidays.
Carol Nichols representing the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and principal organizer of
the holiday decoration effort reported as many as 80 wreaths as well as flags on some of the identified
veterans graves were placed. She suggested next year's decorations should be scheduled for placement
earlier, perhaps just after Halloween, prior to the wintery weather.
Oliver said the annual Schuyler Colfax Day commemoration would be held on Sunday, March 23 at 3:00
P.M. most likely in the Center for History Auditorium. He also suggested an annual Schuyler Colfax
award be initiated. It would honor a person whose efforts exemplify the ideas and public service of
Schuyler Colfax. Oliver's suggestion was roundly applauded with several ideas as to how the criteria be
established and selection made. Oliver said he would follow up with those willing to take on the
implementation.
Moving along, Oliver asked Deb Kuehn to present a progress report on the effort to map the cemetery
identifying individual plots noting location and identity of each person buried. Deb is the City's GIS
mapping guru who has researched and refined software that can once completed include not only who
and where; but other available information like familial relationships and even pictures. This would be
of great value to genealogists and history buffs. It could also be used to identify vacant pilots potentially
available for future internments. Deb said this software product would continue through the balance of
2014. Hopefully this data could be on the City website by the end of the year.
Elicia Feasel from Historic Preservation said the City Engineering Department had created an accurate
legal description for the cemetery land. This would be incorporated into Historic Preservation's
application for historic national landmark status for the cemetery.
Phil St. Clair, head of the Parks Department reported the Park Board just yesterday had awarded
contracts to help the Park Department create a 5 year plan. He is looking for public input to help fashion
the plan including plans for the City Cemetery.
Carol Nichols said the restoration work on the Colfax monument would begin in the spring.
Chris Dressel from the City Community Investment Department said work to revitalize the Western
Avenue and Lincoln Way West corridors bracketing the neighborhoods surrounding the cemetery would
begin in June and take about 6 months to complete. He also suggested the hugely successful "Bike the
Bend" event may want to include the City Cemetery on their route in the future.
Oliver Davis wrapped things up saying the next meeting would be on Wednesday, March 12, same time
and place.
Oliver adjourned the meeting at 6:10 P.M.
Community Relations