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Denison staff outlines planned cemetery "clean sweep"; enforcement flags, ordinance gaps and timing questions
Summary
City staff described a compliance sweep using red flags to mark noncompliant plots, documented in cemetery software, and said staff will handle many cases with sensitivity; the transcript records a timing inconsistency (January vs. May kickoff) and staff noted gaps in the cemetery ordinance including columbarium rules.
City cemetery staff told the advisory board they plan to conduct a compliance sweep to bring lots into conformity with city cemetery ordinances and to improve groundskeeping. "We're number 1, we're bringing awareness," Victor Reccano told the board while explaining that red flags placed on noncompliant plots are intended as notices so families can correct issues.
Victor said staff have already placed flags and handled many corrections case-by-case; Sherry is documenting flags and creating work orders in the cemetery software (referred to in the transcript as Sam/Sem Sites). Staff emphasized education and sensitivity: they will take photos, document work orders and reach out to families before physically altering lots. Victor said the team's priority is to educate and maintain beautification while minimizing distress for grieving families.
Board members and public commenters raised operational and ordinance gaps. Kurt Chokowski recommended adding explicit language covering columbarium tokens and floral items, saying the current ordinance does not address those fixtures. Staff confirmed the ordinances are outdated and said they are drafting a template of potential ordinance changes to present to the advisory board.
Transcript entries show a scheduling inconsistency: staff earlier described an "official kickoff" as mid-January, but in a later exchange Victor said the kickoff would be in May. That timing discrepancy was not resolved during the meeting. Staff said the sweep will begin at Fairview because the cemetery software links to Fairview lots and plots, which cover about 60 acres, enabling easier tracking.
Staff also clarified what materials are permitted at headstones: florist spike vases (small plastic spike containers) are authorized when used and retrieved by families, and heavier or fixed vases are preferred because lightweight plastic can shred during maintenance. Staff noted recorded interments total approximately "14,900 souls" and that field staffing is limited (three workers), which informs how the sweep will be managed.
The board requested that staff provide the advisory board with proposed ordinance language when available and to continue sensitive outreach to families ahead of any physical enforcement.
