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Board: Marsh Cemetery privately owned; volunteers tended Keenan Cemetery flags
Summary
Board members reported Marsh Cemetery is privately owned and not under city jurisdiction, and described volunteer and Boy Scout efforts placing and retrieving flags at Keenan Cemetery; staff said the Friends group can assist but the city cannot take action while property remains private.
At agenda item updates, members reported on two cemetery matters. Regarding Marsh Cemetery, members who drove by the site said it appears maintained but noted the parcel is private property. The board explained the city currently lacks jurisdiction; if the private owner does not provide for maintenance the Texas cemetery process could ultimately transfer responsibility through a legal path to local authorities in the future.
One member summarized the situation: "It's privately owned…we can't do anything about it" and said the owner has no current plans to transfer the site. Staff noted the Texas cemetery statutes and the Texas cemetery association process may apply if ownership changes.
On Keenan Cemetery, members said Boy Scouts and volunteers placed flags on veteran markers before Memorial Day and later reclaimed and cleaned many of them, organizing extras for reuse. The board thanked volunteers who aided wreath collection, flag cleaning and gravestone reading. Staff recommended residents contact their council members for questions that need council-level follow-up; the board will continue to monitor privately owned Marsh Cemetery but will not pursue action while ownership remains unchanged.
No formal motions were made on either matter.
