A potential extension to Jefferson City National Cemetery remains on the table, but the city may set a deadline.

Jefferson City Council will consider a bill on Monday that would support the expansion of the current cemetery. This gives the Veterans Administration (VA) two years to accept the discussed expansion site; otherwise, the offer expires.

In February 2020, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the transfer of East Miller Park, 998 E. Miller St., to the Veterans Administration for the cemetery expansion.

The National Cemetery, which is opposite the park, ran out of space for new burials in 1961 and cremation sites in 1996. At the moment, it is only open for subsequent burials of veterans or military personnel. eligible family members at existing graves.

State Representative Dave Griffith, along with veterans groups in the area, are keen to see the cemetery reopen so that the veterans can be buried locally.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis is the only national cemetery in Missouri with open burial spaces.

Griffith said he had been informed that it would be in the best interests of the project to have city council approval before submitting the proposal to the VA.

Despite the two-year sunset on the offer, Griffith said he expects a response fairly soon after visiting the VA.

“They’ll say no, hell no, or we’ll think about it,” he said.

The proposal was first presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission in late 2019, when lobbyist Tom Rackers said groups had spent two years researching options to build a new veterans cemetery in the region. However, these options were expensive.

If the cemetery extended to East Miller Park, it would double in size and stay together.

However, some members of the community spoke out against the idea of ​​losing the neighborhood park.

The proposed plan includes the construction of a new park across US 50 on East Elm Street.

The city already owns this property, but it would have to be transferred to the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department before it can be developed into a park.

The plans also include an update to the Park Place neighborhood park, which is a few blocks from East Miller Park.

Han Overton, a resident of the East Miller area, demonstrated outside City Hall in December 2019 as the Parks Commission discussed the idea and again in East Miller Park after its approval in early 2020.

He also started a petition, which now has more than 750 signatures, to keep East Miller Park where it is.

The replacement does not replace the loss, Overton said at the time, as people will not be crossing the freeway to get to the new park.

That takes away a amenity from the area, he said, which is largely black. The park sits on the edge of historic Foot, which was Jefferson City’s black business and residential district before the 1960s, when much of it has been lost.

According to council documents, plans for the cemetery would include a ceremonial plaza and a multi-purpose building at one end of the property, next to the current parking lot that would remain, and the rest of the site would be used for around 480 graves.

The board will not make a decision on Monday evening, but will wait for the board meeting on October 4.

If the council supports the transfer of the land, the VA will have to accept it for the deal to go through.

Consent agenda

City Council :

Approve an offer from Central Missouri Plumbing LLC for one year plumbing service for city facilities not to exceed $ 50,000.

Accept a $ 30,000 grant from the Historic Preservation Fund for the historic context.

Approve the installation of a community pantry next to the sidewalk in the 200 block of Adams Street.

Approve municipal staff to seek proposals for a study on staff compensation.

Bills tabled

They will consider:

A $ 35,176 agreement with JCW Boonville Properties LLC for the disposal of the Westport pumping station.

Acceptance of a grant of $ 108,652 from the Federal Transit Administration for the purchase of two replacement buses for Handiwheels. City staff are asking for a suspension of the rules so that council can approve funding on Monday rather than wait for the next meeting.

A $ 389,631 construction contract with SAK Construction LLC for a pipeline coating project.

Modify the budget to include an additional Neighborhood Services Specialist position within the Department of Planning and Protective Services to help increase federal funding.

Change the city code to allow the city administrator to have more real estate purchasing power.

Authorize an agreement with Ameren Missouri for street lighting.

Amend the city code to include the offense of second degree trespassing to align it with state law.

Modify the personnel policy for on-call remuneration to reflect the funding requests approved in the 2022 municipal budget.

Authorize an agreement with Midwest ATC Services for air traffic control services from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021.

Authorize a $ 62,910 construction contract with SLV Roofing for the replacement of the roof of the salt shed at Hyde Park and the Pavitt Building at Jefferson City Memorial Airport. It would also approve the use of insurance money for part of the works and money from the general fund for the rest of the expenses.

Pending invoices

Release of the right-of-way at block 400 of Union and Case streets and the lanes to the south and north as well as the right-of-way of Place Oberman. The request comes from the Jefferson City School District and will allow these areas to be used for the construction of new football and baseball fields.

Authorize the construction of a single-family home at 805 Monroe Street by the Central Missouri Community Action Agency. The agency would also buy the city property for $ 500.

How to participate

City council will meet in person at 6 p.m. on Monday, but will have a virtual option due to COVID-19 and social distancing recommendations.

Members of the community can attend the meeting in the City Hall Council Chamber, 320 E. McCarty St., or watch the meeting live via the city’s YouTube page.