Henry County Cemetery Commission Minutes, Jan. 24, 2008

Commissioners Present: Donna Tauber, U.E. Bush, Michael Burch, Ann Holmes, and Thomas Hamm
Present from the Public: Eddie Hager, Ken Holmes, Angela Tielking, Karl Schettler 1. The minutes of the meeting of September 27 were approved as previously distributed. Notes on the October meeting at which no quorum was present and no business was transacted were also reviewed. 2. The following officers were elected for 2008:
    President:             Donna Tauber
    Vice President:     Michael Burch
    Treasurer:            Ann Holmes
    Secretary:            Thomas Hamm 3. The treasurer reported a balance of $3,424.94. One donation for use in the Lebanon Baptist Cemetery had been received. 4. The treasurer and president reported that they had submitted the required grant report to the Henry County Community Foundation on October 10, 2007. A press release was prepared. 5 The Day of Caring work at Hillsboro Cemetery was a success. 6. Arrangements have been made to furnish members of the commission with official, county-issued photo identification cards. 7. The commission voted to spend $129 for a heritage sign at the Painter Cemetery. 8. The president reported that she and Angela Tielking met on November 2 at Rogersville Cemetery with representatives of the Central Indiana Land Trust. They sought a way to reduce the weeds in the cemetery while preserving native plants. 9. The annual banquet was held on November 26. Andrew Hiday received the Volunteer of the Year Award. Appreciation awards went to Aaron Bush and Todd and Melissa Hiday. 10. The commission has received a letter from Liberty Township Trustee Phyllis Shaffer asserting that debris and trash were left in the cemetery after our work there and asking to be reimbursed for the costs of clean up. The commission, after considerable discussion, concluded that the "debris" was sand and gravel, which would have been used for future work and was placed in such a way that it did not interfere with cemetery maintenance. We will continue efforts to reach an amicable resolution of this disagreement. 11. The president reported that we would make our annual report to the county commissioners on February 13. She will present a request to be included in the budget. 12. The president reported that the county commissioners had reappointed her for a four-year term. 13. Genfest, a genealogical gathering, will be held at the New Castle-Henry County Public Library on June 13-14. We have been invited to have a booth. 14. The commission authorized the president and treasurer to prepare an application to the Henry County Community Foundation for supplies for the coming year. 15. It was reported that a tombstone was found at a property on the Greensboro Pike: William, son of J.N. and Hannah Robinson, died Aug. 9, 1848, aged 11 years, 4 months, 11 days. * 16. The meeting adjourned at 7:00. Next meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 28, at 6:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,
D. Tauber, President
T. Hamm, Secretary

*Footnote
Indiana Marriages to 1850
about Robinson, John Newton
Spouse 1: Robinson, John Newton
Spouse 2: Silver, Hannah
Marriage Date: 12 May 1836
Marriage Location: IndianaHenry County

Henry County Cemetery Commission Minutes, Feb. 28, 2008

Members present: D. Tauber, U.E. Bush, T. Hamm, D. Burch, A. Holmes
Present from the Public: K. Holmes 1. The minutes of the meeting of January 24, 2008 were approved as previously distributed. 2. No claims were presented. 3. Application is being made for a sign at the Painter Cemetery. 4. Ken and Ann Holmes will prepare an application to the Henry County Community Foundation for tools and tires for the trailer. 5. The question was raised of our status as a nonprofit, governmental entity, and how that affects our capacity to receive grants. This is unclear. 6. On February 14, Donna Tauber, Ann and Ken Holmes, and Mike Burch attended the county commissioners meeting. Donna made a very effective presentation about our work. The commissioners agreed to place a line in their budget submission to the Henry County Council, which must approve the funding. 7. The Liberty Township trustee reportedly contacted the Boy Scouts national office about materials left at the Leakey-Wisehart Cemetery as part of Andrew Hiday's project. Todd Hiday responded, which has apparently resolved the situation. 8. The consensus of the commission was that we should submit a grant application for $3,500 (see item 4 above). The meeting adjourned to meet next on March 27 at 6:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,
D. Tauber, President
T. Hamm, Secretary

Henry County Cemetery Commission Minutes, Mar. 27, 2008

Commissioners present: M. Burch, U.E. Bush, A Holmes, D. Tauber
From the public: Fred Mann, Ken Holmes 1. The minutes of the meeting of February 28 were approved as previously distributed. 2. The treasurer reported a balance of $3424.84. 3. Ken Holmes reported on the grant he had prepared for the Henry County Community Foundation. 4. Mike Burch reported that about one-half of the Evans Cemetery had been restored through his township funds. 5. Ken & Ann Holmes will pay for the heritage sign for the Evans Cemetery. 6. A cemetery tour of South Mound Cemetery will be given during GenFest (June 13 & 14) is being planned. 7. The commission brain-stormed on cemeteries to work-on during 2008. 8. The next meeting will be April 24.

Respectfully submitted,
D. Tauber, President
A. Holmes, Treasurer

Henry County Cemetery Commission Minutes, April 24, 2008

Commission Members Present: D. Tauber, U.E. Bush, A. Holmes, M. Burch, and T. Hamm
Present from the public: K. Holmes, A. Tielking 1. The minutes of the meeting of March 27 were approved as previously distributed. 2. The treasurer announced that a $1,000 grant had been received from the Henry County Community Foundation. Expenditures in the past month were approved: $618.56 for tools and supplies and $283.65 for tires for the commission trailer. We still need to pay for the sign at the Painter Cemetery. 3. A state cemetery commission conference under the auspices of the Department of Natural Resources will be held in Indianapolis on June 21. 4. DNR is also coordinating public meetings around the state on cemetery preservation. A meeting will be held in conjunction with this commission's May 22 meeting at the Henry County Community Foundation building. 5. Stony Creek Township Trustee Mike Lykens has asked for advice on a contract with the Central Indiana Land Trust for care of the Rogersville Cemetery. He would like to see the cemetery restored and mowed, but because of limited funds may enter into a new contract with CILI. We hope that a compromise can be found under which the part of the cemetery with marked graves can be kept clear while preserving native grasses in other part of the cemetery. 6. Future work days will be scheduled at the Pressel cemeteries in Liberty Township and Rogersville Cemetery.

Respectfully submitted,
D. Tauber, President
T. Hamm, Secretary

Henry County Cemetery Commission Minutes, May 22, 2008

Commissioners present: M. Burch, U.E. Bush, T. Hamm, and D. Tauber
Present from the Public: Angela Tielking, Bob Hess 1. The minutes of the April meeting were corrected and approved. 2. In the absence of the treasurer, there was no report this month. 3. No claims were presented. 4. The commission discussed cemeteries for work this summer. The Pioneer Baptist Cemetery in Knightstown was suggested, but it is uncertain whether the trustee will give permission. The Bunner Cemetery in Prairie Township is another possibility, but it is inaccessible until the fall. The Hess Cemetery in Harrison Township and the Hodson Cemetery in Stony Creek Township were suggested. It was also suggested that we make use of prisoners from the New Castle Correctional Center. They are supervised and eager for work. 5. Angela Tielking is pursuing contacts with Stoney Creek Township Trustee Mike Lykens. 6. The commission agreed to have a display at Genfest on June 13 & 14. 7. Bud Bush distributed an inventory of the commission's tools, implements, etc. 8. The commission agreed to take part in the Adult Day of Caring on Sept. 9. The Holland Cemetery in Dudley Township and Lewisville Cemetery are possibilities. 9. Mike Burch and Donna Tauber reported that the county's township trustees have formed an association to try to raise consciousness about their duties and responsibilities. Mike will speak to the group about the work this commission. 10. It was suggested that we need to take more care in documenting our work with photographs and survey sheets. 11. It was agreed to have a workday at the Hess Cemetery on May 31. The meeting then adjourned to a public session on recent cemetery legislation and regulations conducted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Henry County Cemetery Commission Minutes for June 26th, 2008

Commissioners present: Donna Tauber, Bud Bush and Ann Holmes
Advisory Board Members Present: Angela Tielking and Ken Holmes
No public visitors 1. The minutes for May were approved as presented, with a change to item #5 - Angela will pursue contact with Stoney Creek Twp Trustee Mike Lykens 2. Treasurers Report was presented with little change - amount in account is $3522.62. Ken Holmes present a claim for 86.91 for materials, which will come out the Foundation Grant fund. Bud presented a claim, which was approved in the amount of 56.80 for items including a display board, which were used at the GenFest, which was held June 13th, and 14th. The display board will be displayed at various locations through out the county to help gain public awareness about the commission. 3. GenFest generated a lot of awareness for genealogists for Henry County resources, and was attended by persons from West Virginia to California. HCCC booth was utilized through out the event. 4. Tauber agreed to contact Helen Wildermuth about the survey sheets she uses for Cemetery data, so that we can better document our work. 5. Thank you cards have been sent to the Foundation and Dick Myers for their support in receiving the recent grant money. 6. A request for restoration work at McDaniel Cemetery was received by Tom Hamm; Tauber will obtain permission from Henry Twp. Trustee Nancy Wadman to begin work there. Interest was also expressed about doing some of the smaller stones there as well. 7. Jeff Ray contacted Ken Holmes about our help in restoration at Rogersville Cemetery; Tauber will obtain permission from the Stoney Creek Twp. Trustee. Holmes will contact the local work force to see if manpower is available. 8. Tielking attended the State Cemetery Commission held on June 21st in Marion County. There was discussion on the new probing laws that will go into effect July 1st, 2008 by the DNR, as well as possible legislation for 2009 session. 9. Due to vacation schedules in July, the commission agreed to move the regular date back one week to July 31st at 6 pm. Tauber will amend the public notice and send to the newspaper. 10. It was agreed that during the month of July work should focus on making progress in McDaniel and Rogersville Cemeteries.

Henry County Cemetery Commission Minutes, July 31, 2008

Commissioners present: M. Burch, A Holmes, D. Tauber
From the public: K. Holmes 1. The minutes of the meeting of June 26, 2008 were approved as presented, with the following changes: #2 - Bud's claim was in the amount of $53.73 and #6 to read "from Tom Hamm." 2. The treasurer reported a balance of $3357.98. 3. Donna Tauber mentioned a contact with individuals concerning the Mary Todd marker in Greensboro Cemetery had fallen over. 4. Ken Holmes reported on a meeting with Bob Riddle about the Hess Cemetery. 5. A report was made on the condition of the Bell Cemetery that was completely cleaned by the Commission and family members. The cemetery is now completely overgrown again. 6. The Henry County Cemetery Commission's top priority is to focus only on the cemeteries that are maintained by the township trustees. The Commission feels that they are wasting their efforts on cemeteries that are not maintained after the initial cleanup. 7. The Day of Caring will be on September 9, 2008. A number of different locations were discussed 8. The next meeting will be August 28, 2008 at 6:00 pm at the Historical Society.

Henry County Cemetery Commission, Minutes, Aug. 28, 2008

Commission Members Present: Burch, Bush, Hamm, Holmes, Tauber
Present from the Public: Ken Holmes 1. The minutes of the July meeting were approved as previously distributed. 2. The treasurer reported no receipts or disbursements in the past month. 3. The commission approved working at the Beech Grove Cemetery in Prairie Township as the Day of Caring project on September 9. 4. Nancy Wadman, the Henry Township Trustee, has approved limited work in the McDaniel and Lewelling cemeteries. 5. The meeting was adjourned with the next meeting set for Sept. 25 at 6 P.M.

Henry county Cemetery Commission minutes September 25th, 2008

Commission Members present: Tauber, Bush and Burch
Present from the public: Bob Hess and Marianne Hughes 1. The minutes of August were approved as presented - there was no treasurer's report. 2. The Day of Caring was held on September 9th with about 12 volunteers working at Beech Grove Cemetery in Prairie Township - about 60 stones were cleaned and restored. 3. Heritage Signs are now up at Evans, Painter and Livezy cemeteries 4. A lengthy discussion was held on the possibility of a future endowment provided by Mr. Rinker. A meeting will be scheduled with the Henry County Foundation on how to handle doing this by the next board meeting. 5. Past minutes do not show where we actually waived having an October meeting, so the next and last meeting for 2008 will be held October 23rd. 6. Mike will schedule our Holiday Gathering for Monday December 1st at 6 pm at the Highway 38 Diner 7. Mr. Hess expressed interest in helping the Commission in the future, and attended to learn more. 8. There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned.

Henry County Cemetery Commission Minutes, Oct. 23, 2008

Commissioners Present: Tauber, Burch, Hamm, Holmes, Bush
Present from the Public: Ken Holmes 1. The minutes of the meeting of Sept. 25 were corrected and approved. 2. The Christmas Party will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 2, a change from the previous date. 3. The treasurer's report showed a balance of $3,358.71. 4. The fallen Mary Todd stone has been reset in Greensboro Cemetery. 5. An anonymous donor has approached the commission about donating an endowment fund that could reach $125,000 over a period of five years. The commission voted to authorize the president and Bud Bush to pursue this generous gift. They will also explore formation of a Friends of Henry County Pioneer Cemeteries group under the aegis of the Henry County Historical Society to provide the necessary nonprofit status without establishment of a separate 501-c3 organization. It may be necessary to call a special meeting for these purposes. 6. Work continues in the McDaniel Cemetery in Henry Township. 7. The meeting was adjourned until January 22.

Respectfully submitted,
D. Tauber, President
T. Hamm, Secretary