At the Clay County Historical Preservation Board meeting, S2 (Kathy) reported several active cemetery restoration efforts across the county and outlined grant and volunteer activities supporting the work. S2 said the Sauter Cemetery restoration is nearly complete, volunteers have placed memorial markers for unmarked burials, and a veteran marker application for James Cornelius West was submitted to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in September with no update yet.

Kathy described McKendree Hammock, a state-registered cemetery on private property, where a homeowner welcomed assistance and an Eagle Scout began a formal restoration project on Jan. 1. The board is providing oversight to ensure the scout follows preservation guidelines; S2 emphasized the work is the scout's Eagle project with the board helping with process and compliance rather than performing the work themselves.

S2 noted discrepancies between GIS data and field observations at some sites near Camp Landing, where a contact could not locate visible remains despite GIS coordinates; the board plans on-site visits to verify information. The board will also bring county and parcel maps into marker applications and can provide up to three maps for state submissions.

S3 (Steve) reported his project completed a ceremony, fence and sign; he is developing an upkeep plan and asked about state grants targeted at abandoned African-American cemeteries with an April deadline. S5 (staff) confirmed that grant applications must be submitted by a nonprofit or government entity and said county grants funds are not spent until a marker is produced, so a county-level marker can expedite recognition while the state process proceeds.

Members agreed to coordinate site visits, compile required maps and supporting bibliographies, and to pursue grant support where eligible. The board clarified its usual role is to identify and document historic resources and to assist with grant submission and signage, while on-the-ground restoration tends to be volunteer-led or undertaken by partner organizations.