City to seek resolution, annexation and zoning to take possession of Iron Ore Creek Cemetery

Parks and Recreation staff told the Parks and Recreation board that the city plans to hold a public hearing and present a resolution to the City Council on June 16 to take possession and control of Iron Ore Creek Cemetery under Health and Safety Code regulation 713.009. The staff member said, "We have initiated that process, and so what that will look like is we will conduct a public hearing in support of adopting a resolution as well as an action plan for maintenance and care that will go before the city council on June 16. If all of that passes, the city then has to take possession within 60 days."

The staff member said Parks and Recreation began providing care in 2020 and obtained access to part of the property in 2021. The city has been unable to locate any property owners on record in Grayson County and has "exhausted, many efforts in trying to locate any such owners or any, interested parties to Iron Ore Creek Cemetery, none of which we found up to this point," the staff member said. The presentation stated there are about 41 gravesites on the property.

If the council resolution passes, staff said the next steps include annexing and zoning the property; those steps will go to the planning and zoning board for review and later return to the City Council. The staff member described components of an action plan already under way, including tree removals and removing old fences, and said the city intends to create a more controlled, maintained space "like we're doing with Fairview and Magnolia along with all of our other cemeteries." The staff member also said the current access agreement runs through June 2027.

The department noted that a historical designation application submitted in February was approved and that the Texas Historical Commission's medallion and plaque are finalized and are "in the process of shipping." Staff said it is coordinating an unveiling ceremony and trying to align that timing with annexation and zoning procedures.

Board members asked about the condition of markers and records; one board member said many markers are "unrecognizable" and that "it's likely" there are unmarked burials. When a board member suggested an ordinance could prevent future burials, the staff member agreed. The staff member cautioned that Parks and Recreation has limits on what it can do prior to formal possession and annexation because it is not the legal owner.

No final City Council action on the resolution had occurred at the time of the Parks and Recreation meeting; the staff presentation described planned legal and administrative steps but not completed council action.