Fort Smith board tables proposal for city to acquire four private cemeteries after debate over costs

The Fort Smith City Board of Directors on Aug. 19 tabled — for further study — a staff recommendation that the city acquire and operate four privately owned cemeteries after an extended debate over costs and future funding.

City staff presented four options for the privately managed Rose Lawn, Holy Cross, Forest Park and Washington Cemeteries: maintain the status quo, lease the properties while allowing the nonprofit to operate them, city acquisition and operation, or do nothing. Director of Parks and Recreation Sarah Dueser presented preliminary cost estimates that the board packet described as conservative: roughly $961,000 in initial startup capital for equipment and improvements and an estimated annual operating increase of about $1.25 million to staff and maintain the additional cemetery acreage to the same standards as Oak Cemetery.

The city noted nearly $86,000 in code‑enforcement liens have been…