Board approves two-burials-per-grave rule and advances cemetery expansion planning

Norwich Township trustees voted to amend Wesley Chapel Cemetery rules to limit graves to two burials and advanced planning work on a proposed cemetery expansion.

During the June planning meeting, Robbie Thomas proposed a two-burials-per-grave rule; trustees approved the amendment to Wesley Chapel Cemetery rules (motion passed #190625.01). OHM Advisors had circulated a $1.2 million expansion plan and later provided refined engineering and geotechnical work; at a Dec. 5 meeting OHM and township staff previewed a virtual-reality walkthrough and a refined cost estimate near $1.06 million before alternates.

Residents John Fields and John Chandler attended meetings to raise concerns about flooding in the area proposed for columbariums, potential property encroachment and site security; OHM and staff said the ALTA survey and geotechnical reports would address encroachment and drainage questions and that fencing would likely be natural (trees/shrubs) rather than chain-link.

Mrs. Fisher noted the township carries an approximate $10 million rainy-day/carryover balance from estate-tax revenues and that the cemetery budget operates from the General Fund rather than a dedicated cemetery levy. Trustees discussed phasing, inclusion of columbarium foundations as alternates, and whether to include a proposed Veterans Memorial relocation in a grant application; staff planned to apply for grant funding by Jan. 10, 2020 for a possible $300,000 award.

Next steps: OHM will finalize bid documents and the township will decide which alternates (additional columbariums, plaza features, monument relocation) to include in the first bid package.