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Resident tells council Oak Hill Cemetery plots were driven over during funeral; also raises animal-control complaints
Summary
A McAlester resident told the council that vehicles driven by cemetery workers damaged family plots at Oak Hill Cemetery during saturated ground conditions and that two urns with ashes were lost.
A McAlester resident told the City Council that burial work at Oak Hill Cemetery damaged his family’s plots and caused the loss of two urns containing ashes, and he asked the city to investigate and improve staff training.
Joseph De Silvestro, who identified himself as a resident of north McAlester, said he found vehicles had driven through his family plot and described the incident as ‘‘negligence’’ by cemetery employees. He said he had video and photos and described lost urns and ‘‘thousands of dollars of materials’’ used to prevent damage at gravesites. De Silvestro asked the council to look into the cemetery damage and to ensure workers are trained to prevent similar incidents.
On the same visit to the podium, De Silvestro also raised animal-control concerns, saying the city’s leash and animal-control ordinances are not being effectively enforced. He told the council there is ‘‘one man’’ handling animal control 40 hours a week and said dogs have killed rabbits on private property; he said animals are returned to owners without fines in some cases and asked for better enforcement.
City Manager (name not specified) responded in the meeting under the city manager’s report. The manager said staff had to proceed with a funeral on saturated ground and that alternatives—such as airlifting—were not feasible. The manager said crews laid plywood and rubber mats and took steps to reduce damage; the manager said staff had spoken with the owner of the plots and were attempting cleanup. The manager acknowledged the family’s concerns and said the city was working through the issue.
Why it matters: allegations of damage at a cemetery involve sensitive, personal losses for families and raise questions about municipal operations and training. Animal-control concerns raise public-safety and property-protection issues for residents.
No formal action or vote on either topic was recorded at the meeting; the resident requested that the council investigate and improve training and enforcement.
