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Committee reviews Valley High and Spicer cemetery oversight; suggests filling vacancy and exploring staff‑led appointments
Summary
Committee received an overview of Valley High and Spicer cemeteries, learned Valley High has available plots and that Spicer is an abandoned small lot within a subdivision, and suggested filling the cemetery board vacancy with a staff member or other engaged appointee rather than a passive public volunteer.
The Administrative Services Committee on Oct. 8 received a briefing on the county’s two cemeteries — Valley High Cemetery (active pauper cemetery near Nelson Road) and Spicer Cemetery (a small, largely abandoned plot inside a subdivision) — and discussed how the county should staff and oversee their boards and operations.
Scott Hartman, deputy county administrator, and Jim Heisler, county board liaison to the Valley High Cemetery Board, described the county’s statutory responsibilities under the County Cemetery Care Act and the Disposition of Remains Act and outlined operational details for burial, plot availability and maintenance.
Why it matters: Valley High is the county’s pauper cemetery and is used for indigent burials; the county also owns the Spicer Cemetery, an abandoned small lot now within a residential subdivision. The committee said a vacant trustee seat should be filled so the cemetery board can meet and act when needed, and suggested considering staff or an engaged local official for the role rather than a passive volunteer.
Hartman said Valley High’s “first edition” contains 244 full plots and 24 cremation plots; 26 full plots and 10 cremation plots already contain interments, leaving approximately 218 full plots and 14 cremation plots available under current site configuration. The cemetery board has adopted a policy to permit cremation‑only interments going forward, he said. The original section of the cemetery dates to the 1800s and is assumed to be full.
Heisler described Spicer Cemetery as a small, abandoned burial site that has come under county ownership. Facilities staff maintain the site on a limited basis — mowing and fence‑line upkeep — and told the committee the county performs regular maintenance at Valley High (weekly mowing) and periodic treatments at Spicer.
Greg Berry, the state‑appointed public administrator for the county (a role Scott Hartman cited), is responsible for investigating whether decedents have assets or next of kin; when no family or assets are identified the coroner and the public administrator may direct disposition, and indigent burials can be arranged at Valley High.
The committee discussed whether future appointments to the Valley High Cemetery Board should be by members of the public or by staff; several members said a staff or engaged agency representative would likely provide more consistent stewardship given the board’s infrequent activity. Because state law restricts county board members from serving on certain trustee posts while in office, the committee said it will coordinate with the county board chair to identify an appropriate appointee.
Hartman said staff will bring a recommendation to the board chair about filling the current vacancy and will examine options for ensuring the cemetery’s oversight is effective given the low meeting frequency and limited budget for burials. He also reported staff will apply for a state cemetery maintenance grant (up to $25,000) to help address stone resetting and other maintenance needs.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; the committee requested staff follow up on appointments and the grant application and to report back.
