Glendale council discusses graveyard survey, veteran monument and discounted plots for resident veterans

Councilors in Glendale discussed options to improve mapping and marking at the town cemetery, considered a family-funded veterans statue, and debated a proposal to offer resident veterans discounted burial plots.

On a planned mapping project, the town reported a proposal from Jones & DeMille to place survey markers at about $20 each per row. Councilors questioned value for money, noting the cemetery already has an existing map and some physical markers. Staff described plot-number inconsistencies and uneven rows in older sections and suggested converting a couple of narrow rows to cremation-only plots to better use space. Councilors discussed using simple stakes and strings for some straightening work and whether county resources or the town's existing GSI tools could help with formal mapping.

The Maxwell family approached the town seeking a site for a statue honoring Ken Maxwell, a Green Beret killed in Vietnam and buried in Glendale. Councilors discussed several possible locations including open property near the orchard or in front of the town flag where it would be visible to passersby. A participant said an eight- to ten-foot statue in a nearby town had cost about $100,000; the Maxwells proposed to finance the sculpture while the town would provide a site and basic installation (lighting, foundation) if feasible.

Separately, councilors considered a town policy to sell cemetery plots at half price to veterans who are town residents (suggested definition: born in town). Current prices cited in discussion were $3.50 for resident plots and $1,000 for nonresident plots. Councilors proposed adding a stipulation that beneficiaries meet a standard definition of veteran service (at least one day of active duty under the applicable federal standard) to avoid including people who served only in basic training or in state-only service. No ordinance or final policy was adopted; councilors asked staff to draft specific eligibility language for consideration at a future meeting.

Councilors also discussed Memorial Day decorations and whether to add a flag display or plaques listing local veterans rather than placing flags at each grave. The town said it has about 41 veterans recorded in the cemetery and flagged that a single central display with plaques might be more durable and easier to maintain than many individual flag holders.

No formal vote was taken on the statue placement or the discount policy at the meeting; councilors agreed to follow up with a dedicated hearing or a future agenda item to finalize policy language and site selection.