Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cemetery And Parks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Township OKs purchase of parcel for Oakwood Cemetery, plans phased Peace Park development
Summary
The DeKalb Township Board approved a resolution to use donated funds to purchase a parcel from First Congregational Church for Oakwood Cemetery expansion and Peace Park. Closing costs and purchase totalled approximately $13,097; landscape architect work and tree surveys were authorized for the next design phase.
DeKalb Township trustees on May 20 approved a resolution to use donated funds to acquire a parcel adjacent to Oakwood Cemetery from First Congregational Church and to proceed with preliminary design for a donor‑funded Peace Park.
Why it matters: The purchase secures land for cemetery expansion, parking and a park development funded by donor‑restricted money. The resolution authorizes payment of the purchase price and closing costs from the Peace Park restricted fund and advances design work by a landscape architect.
Details
- Purchase and closing: The supervisor told trustees the purchase price and closing costs totaled $13,097 (purchase price $10,000 plus closing and usable costs). The supervisor said she received the final settlement statement and that the payment would be drawn from the Peace Park restricted fund.
- Project phases and next steps: The landscape architect provided a conceptual rendering tailored to available funds and proposed a two‑phase plan: Phase 1 — park development and removal/cleanup of existing garden and shed (highway department to assist); Phase 2 — convert the back woods to a walking path and scattering area for cremated remains. The firm proposed a tree location survey and final plan drawings with blueprints; staff estimated the tree survey and design stage would take about six weeks.
- Implementation tasks: The supervisor said site cleanup (removal of garden and a shed) could be done with highway department help and that the landscape architect’s next tasks are the tree survey and final drawings for bid documents.
Board action and provenance
The board passed Resolution 2025‑004T by roll call. The supervisor said closing was scheduled the following morning.
Provenance (transcript evidence): resolution motion, background, design discussion and roll call (transcript timestamps ~3311.96–3597.68).
