The following cemetery regulations were published in The Sentinel May 29.
Rules for decorations and plantings are: “The owner or proprietor of any lot shall have the right to cultivate only such shrubbery, flowers or other vegetation as is approved by the sexton;
-Enclosures and curbing around burial lots and grave guards are prohibited, including wire and other types of guards or enclosures placed around shrubbery and flowers. ---Fences and hedges around lots or graves are also prohibited;
-Placement of cut flowers or artificial flowers, excavations for planting of seasonal flowers, perennial flowers, or shrubs, with the prior approval from cemetery staff, shall be confined to the area within six (6) inches of the ends of the foundation of the marker.
-Flowers and other items placed on a grave during a funeral will be removed and discarded by the sexton one week after the funeral;
-Flowers and other items placed on a grave on Memorial Day, holidays and special family dates will be removed and discarded by the sexton one week later, and on March 1 for flowers and other items placed on a grave on Christmas Day and New Year's Day;
-The concrete foundation around the marker is a mowing flange and should not be used for decoration purposes. All items left on the mowing flange will be removed and disposed of;
-All items that interfere or make mowing or string trimming dangerous will be removed and discarded at the discretion of the sexton. Such items not allowed include but are not limited to:
•The placing of boxes, shells, toys, metal design, and ornaments;
•Glass, wood, or iron cases and similar;
•Marble chips, wood chips, rock of any kind on any grave or lot;
•Objects made of wood, tin, glass, porcelain and clay;
•Any borders of any kind, including wood, stone, rock, brick, and fences;
•Alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage containers meant as decorations;
•Banners or Balloons made of any material;
-No shepherd hooks will be allowed without prior written approval. No approval shall be given for more than one shepherd hook per occupied space. Cemetery personnel may relocate or remove shepherd hooks when deemed necessary;
-Artificial flowers, wreaths and cut flowers shall be placed and secured in a manner that they will not become dislodged or scattered by the wind. No holes may be dug in or around a grave to support flower vases or any other placement structures;
-Damaged or faded artificial flowers or wreaths, and neglected or dead flowers and plants may be removed by the cemetery staff as necessary to maintain the attractive and neat appearance of the cemetery;
-Trees will only be allowed to be planted in a location authorized by the sexton or cemetery staff, and the species of such trees shall be in accordance with the needs of the cemetery;
-No personal items are allowed inside the mulched planting area of the memorial islands. All personal items must be confined to the concrete apron of the space or spaces owned;
-No concrete pots or vases allowed unless they sit entirely on the concrete foundation with a 4-inch mowing flange;
-No benches are allowed on private spaces except when used in lieu of a traditional stone or marker. Pre-existing benches will be allowed to remain until they reach a state of disrepair or until the spaces on which the bench sets becomes occupied at which time the bench will be removed by cemetery personnel. Individuals may purchase a memorial bench, meeting specifications determined by the city sexton, to be placed in pre-determined public locations in the cemetery with prices determined from time to time by resolution of the governing body.
-The city and its staff do not accept responsibility for and shall not be held liable for any disposal or return of any temporary decorations or permanent decorations or trees that were installed without written approval. Plantings may be removed without notice by cemetery staff when they become unsightly, undesirable, or interfere with cemetery maintenance. Such items will not be replaced. Any plantings, shrubs or trees wrongfully placed will be removed without notice.”
