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Oak Ridge council hears plan to strengthen maintenance and survey Old Union Cemetery
Summary
Staff outlined the town’s maintenance routine and potential projects for Old Union Cemetery, including ground-penetrating radar, a small parking area, and gravestone repairs; council asked staff to return with costed options for budget consideration.
Town staff briefed the Town of Oak Ridge Town Council on Sept. 5 about maintenance and possible improvements at Old Union Cemetery on East Harrell Road, a town-owned 1.5-acre parcel donated in 2012.
Brock, the town manager, provided the history of ownership and described the current maintenance routine: biweekly mowing and trimming along roadway and fence lines, plus two annual heavy-maintenance workdays for leaf and dead‑fall removal. He said outside volunteers and organizations have assisted, including a DAR cleanup and a Girl Scout troop; the town spent $30,000 in 2021 for contractor removal of dead and dying trees.
Staff presented several possible improvements that could better honor and protect gravesites, including a ground‑penetrating radar survey to locate graves, a small gravel parking area and benches, rebuilding the split-rail fence and repairing toppled or broken headstones. Brock said such projects are typically vetted through the budget process and that staff will bring costed options to council for possible inclusion in a future budget.
Council members urged a concrete plan and more frequent oversight. Councilman Stone, who has walked the site in recent weeks, said: “We have to put a plan together that says, at a minimum, this is what the cemetery needs to look like. And just maintain it at that minimum level or better.” Other council members suggested using outside volunteer groups (Eagle Scout projects, Preservation Oak Ridge, DAR) to supplement town work and recommended site visits so the council can set a desired end state. Staff will return with recommendations and cost estimates for council consideration.
