Public works outlines 2025 cemetery care plan and enforcement of Chapter 10 rules

Public Works Director Prowse presented the city's 2025 cemetery report on April 15, summarizing rules and the operational maintenance plan and announcing communications steps for Memorial Day.

Prowse reviewed Chapter 10 of the City of Dickinson Municipal Code and recapped specific rules: graves may not be defined by fences or hedges; plantings are restricted (trees and shrubs may not be planted or removed except by authorized city personnel); glass containers are prohibited; floral arrangements may be placed only in an approved vase attached to the headstone or footstone; mausoleum displays have defined placement rules; one porcelain picture (no larger than 3-by-5 inches) and one military emblem per crypt or niche cover are permitted; privately owned benches are prohibited in mausoleum grounds.

Prowse said staff will allow flowers, flags and displays one week before Memorial Day and will remove non-fixed items one week after Memorial Day, and any removed items will not be returned. He outlined a maintenance sequence for crew work across the city's cemeteries, beginning at Far North (St. Patrick/St. Wenceslaus Cemetery) and progressing south and noted the plan to dedicate three to four seasonal staff plus one full-time employee to cemetery maintenance.

Public notices will be posted on the city's website, Channel 19, CivicPlus and Dickinson Works to remind the public about allowed display periods. Prowse encouraged residents to sign up for the city's communications channels to receive reminders. The commission did not take a separate vote on the informational report; staff said the cemetery code and schedule will guide operations and maintenance this season.