Florida county may take over cemetery

Regardless of whether Highland County takes on the task, officials are planning to seek bids on maintenance at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Capital campaign in Washington state?

Officials in McCleary, Washington, are considering a measure to create a Cemetery Capital Improvement Plan and use some of the local real estate excise tax for cemetery maintenance and possible expansion.

While pols fuss, volunteers work

Officials in Belleville, Illinois, are working on ways to solve a problem of potential embezzlement of prepaid funeral funds, volunteers are making sure that the Mount Hope Cemetery still looks good.

Town's groundskeeping policies, re: herbicides

This is a letter to the editor from a city grounds official in Dickinson, North Dakota. Among other things, he mentions the hazards of using herbicides, which, if not used under the right conditions, can harm trees on the property.

Inmates back working in Fla. cemeteries

Regulations prevented inmates from working on "private property," but now, officials have determined that they may in fact work to maintain the grounds of the local cemeteries in Chiefland, Florida.

North Carolina cemetery under local man's care

Because there is no record of actual ownership of a historic cemetery in Dobson, North Carolina, a local businessman has taken it upon himself to care for the site.

Opinion piece on maintaining cemeteries

Here's an op-ed from Utica, New York, that says it's our civic duty to maintain cemeteries. And here is a link to a New York-based adopt-a-cemetery organization linked to the article.

Pontiac, Michigan, eyes cemetery sale

Officials in Pontiac say they have a buyer for two cemeteries, Ottawa Park and Oak Hill. StoneMor Partners, of Levittown, Pa., is offering $475,000. The company owns more than 200 cemeteries across the country.
While residents and history buffs want the town to hold on to these historic site, the town is $6 million in the red and says it costs $300,000 to $400,000 a year in maintenance costs.

Texas town seeks bids to maintain local cemeteries

Greenville, Texas, has solicited bids to take care of its East Mount and Forest Park cemeteries, and the town council is expected to act on a recommendation Tuesday. The current budget includes $110,000 for the work, which is being done by the Parks and Recreation Commission. The 2007-08 budget included double that amount. Here's what will be considered at the local council meeting:

Parks and Recreation Director Colby VanGundy is recommending the Council
award the bid to Crew Cut Lawn Care [of Greenville] for $74,400 for the next year, with a 3 to 5 percent increase per year for two additional years.