Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/22/2026 MEMORIAL HALL COMMISSION April 22, 2026 5:00 p.m. Veterans Memorial Hall Members present: Craig White in the Chair, Randy Miller, David Grimm, Richard Day, Frank McCaw, Heidi Warrington, John Mrzlak and Stephen Grimm (A). Jim Lentfer arrived at 5:01 p.m. Mel Wittwer was absent. Also in Attendance: Nancy Higby and Rick Hurtado. Moved by S. Grimm, seconded by D. Grimm,that the agenda as presented be approved. Voice vote-Ayes: Eight. Motion carried. Moved by Warrington, seconded by D. Grimm, that the meeting minutes of March 25, 2026, be approved. Voice vote-Ayes: Eight. Motion carried. Citizen's Oral Comments Alex Meihe, UNI intern, explained that he wanted to take some of the personal stories in the GAR book kept upstairs and turn them into something that can be shared with others and kept on display here at Veterans Memorial Hall. He further explained that he transcribed the stories and created the graphic for the outside of the booklet. The prototype was passed around so that each commissioner had a chance to look through it. Frank McCaw shared additional information about some of the individuals whose stories are in the book and commented that they hope to have pricing soon on the cost to publish it. The commission members congratulated Alex on the wonderful work, shared their thoughts and suggestions for the final product and discussed potential opportunities on how to promote this booklet once it is complete. Chairperson's Report Craig White reported that the honor flight fundraising event was very successful and that they are not finished receiving all the various fotuis of payment. He shared that just the cash alone was over $20,000. Committee Reports Building, Grounds & Operations —Chairperson Mel Wittwer David Grimm provided an update on behalf of Mel Wittwer who was absent. He said that work on the new flooring for the kitchen, hall and two bathrooms will begin tomorrow, April 23rd beginning at 8:00am, and said that the DAV meeting has been cancelled so there will be no interruption of the work. He noted that the furnace room tiling will be torn out and not replaced. April 22, 2025 Page 2 Randy Miller commented that he and Mel removed the quarter round to avoid being charged for the additional work, and that some of the wood would need to be replaced, but the rest can be refinished. Operations—Chairperson David Grimm David Grimm commented on the following upcoming events. • The UAW oversees this year's Memorial Day parade, and we are working on the flyer. • There is a 1776 meeting tonight and said that they are asking to utilize all our flags from the honor flight for the event. • The town hall meeting is scheduled for September 19, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hall. • The Police Officers Memorial is scheduled for May 13, 2026, and Dave said that he has not yet heard back from them. David thanks Heidi for the new sound system and said that it is great and easy to use. He asked Jim Lentfer if the VFW mail had been forwarded here, as some of their mail has been coming here. Jim replied that he had used our address on some of the letters because their address wouldn't work but that he had not done so through the post office. Jim noted that he believes that the state would be taking it over and said that he did bring their flags here because he was told he could store some items here. Heidi Warrington shared that Dave Hook has provided a second set of much longer cables for the PA system. Educational/Historical/Artifacts Preservation— Chairperson Frank McCaw Frank McCaw shared that our other intern, who researched and designed a prototype reproduction of a round for the German trench grenade launcher,has turned in all the specifications to the metal fabrication shop at UNI and said that they are going to produce it for us at no cost, as a project. Notifications have been mailed out to all the political parties and expect to have candidates here for the September 19th town hall meeting. A press release will be sent out through the news media, to the veterans' organizations and anybody else that may be interested. He commented that the campaign encouraging the city council to fully fund the Grout was successful, and that council voted to fund the Grout 100%for one year, beginning July 1, 2026. Frank requested reimbursement from the Artifact Fund for purchases he made at Hobby Lobby in the amount of$20.70 and Copy Works in the amount of$42.22. Moved by S. Grimm, seconded by D. Grimm,to approve the requested reimbursement to Frank McCaw in a total amount of$62.99. Voice vote-Ayes: Eight. Motion carried. 4. April 22, 2025 Page 3 Randy Miller suggested that the commissioners consider having bricks engraved with the names of those who are listed on the prototype booklet that don't already have a brick and placing them around the Civil War Memorial Fountain. Heidi Warrington provided Frank with contact information where he might get publishing done at a discounted rate. Finance/Fundraising—James Lentfer Jim Lentfer shared the current fund balance amounts from the consolidated financial worksheet commenting that the Waterloo Community Fund balance decreased by $184.26 due to fees and changes in the market. He said that there is still plenty of money to spend on the flooring project by zeroing out the Courbat Memorial Fund with the balance coming out of the Community Foundation. Jim requested the commission's approval to purchase items in preparation for the Memorial Day event at the following approximate costs. Stage rental - $150, Brochure - $225 and Flowers - $50. Moved by Lentfer, seconded by Warrington,to approve not to exceed$600.00, for the rental of staging,brochures and flowers for the Memorial Day event. Voice vote-Ayes: Eight. Motion carried. The commission members discussed the purchase of a laptop,printer and software. Frank said he received clarification from Bridgett Wood that she would be willing to make online purchases on behalf of the commission to ensure no taxes would be charged. There is a need for clarification on how the required software would be paid for. Craig White directed Jim to talk with Bridgett. Unfinished Business Randy Miller commented on the lack of parking, including handicap parking and questioned if that was still something we wanted to pursue. Nancy Higby explained that Mohammad Elahi has retired and offered to send David Grimm the contact information for Safiah Elahi,the new Traffic Operations Director. New Business Jim Lentfer commented that he brought the flags over from the VFW to be stored in the cabinet and asked if the state does take over the VFW, who will place flags at Calvary. He said that the district commander told him to bring this question before the Veterans Memorial Hall commission and ask if they would like to help. David Grimm shared that on Monday he talked with the VFW commander for the state and was told that he was coming to Waterloo to solve the problems here and intends to hold elections and save the Sullivan VFW Post. April 22, 2025 Page 4 He commented that this commission approved Jim's request to use a cabinet to store items because they were closing the VFW. But with the news that they are not closing, Dave told Jim that any property that belongs to the VFW needs to be returned. He further commented that this commission is not in the flag business other than the flags that are on this property. A discussion was held about flag retirement. Heidi Warrington shared that the Waterloo Cemetery will hold a burial ceremony on or near Veterans Day. With no further business before the commission, it was moved by Mrzlak, seconded by S. Grimm, that the meeting be adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Voice-vote Ayes: Eight. Motion carried. Nancy Higby Deputy City Clerk