Council discusses cemetery irrigation problems and considers new mower and longer‑term water work

Wallsburg councilmembers used department reports June 16 to discuss ongoing cemetery maintenance and irrigation issues and to consider equipment replacement.

Councilmember Mary Piscitelli reported strong community response to Memorial Day and said the cemetery looks green and well maintained. Staff described recurring problems with the cemetery sprinkler system, including suspected damage during winter blowouts and recurrent repairs; public works staff said the system may not have been blown out correctly last fall and identified the need to evaluate repair costs.

Council discussed the near‑term option of buying a new 42‑inch Toro zero‑turn mower (quoted locally at about $3,400) to reduce wear on existing equipment and keep grounds maintained. Members asked about purchasing authority and whether the mower should be treated as a capital asset; staff said there are funds in the cemetery budget and recommended purchasing if council approves, while also pursuing some resale value for the old mower.

Members also discussed longer‑term water options for the cemetery, including running a line from a nearby connection, installing a backflow preventer, or including the cemetery on the town’s master water plan so the cost could be considered for capital improvements or grant funding. Council asked staff to add cemetery water improvements to the capital improvements list and to explore grant opportunities through partners such as the Provo River Watershed Council.

Councilmembers agreed there was community support to maintain the cemetery and directed staff to return cost estimates and procurement steps for a replacement mower and to include cemetery water connections in master‑plan engineering.