The Charleston Town Council on June 5 approved a landscaping bid and took multiple actions related to cemetery upkeep and park tree safety.

Council accepted a $4,700 bid from a local contractor (identified in the meeting as the contractor providing mulching and reseeding services) to mulch sagebrush around the cemetery’s perimeter, reduce fire hazard and reseed with wildflowers. Town staff said the contractor’s equipment shreds sagebrush and leaves mulch in place, then reseeds the area; staff noted some steep slope areas cannot be treated by the mulcher.

Why it matters: Cemetery upkeep was raised repeatedly during the budget hearing and public comment. Speakers said the cemetery did not look maintained on major holidays and asked the town to invest in irrigation, tree care and landscaping to improve appearance and visitation.

The council also voted to remove a large, damaged pine tree in the middle of Tarot Spoon Park’s parking lot, citing a safety hazard and pavement buckling; the removal motion carried and staff said they will schedule the work with the town’s contractor.

Council members said the new cemetery irrigation system and previous plantings have improved some areas, but residents urged additional resources for long‑term maintenance, community cleanups and potential future projects (flag‑raising events, additional trees and a natural‑looking retaining wall discussed in public comment).

Staff noted the cemetery landscaping project could begin this fall, and the contractor will account for water on site and fire‑safety precautions during work. The council approved the landscaping bid and directed staff to schedule the tree removal and coordinate the cemetery work.