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County hears multi‑year Greenway Cemetery restoration plan; commissioners split on funding mowing contract
Summary
Town of Bath Cemetery Corporation presented a volunteer-driven five‑year restoration plan and asked Morgan County for $4,300 for specialized equipment and $8,000 toward 2027 mowing. Commissioners praised the volunteers but several expressed reluctance to commit recurring county funds for a $51,000 mowing contract and deferred mowing decisions to upcoming budget talks.
Representatives of the Town of Bath Cemetery Corporation outlined a volunteer-led, five‑year plan to restore headstones and ground markers at Greenway Cemetery and asked Morgan County commissioners for financial support during the June 17 meeting.
Ms. Skinner described recent volunteer training, a November 2025 Civil War Trail dedication that helped spur interest, and a March 2026 volunteer recruitment event. She said volunteers and regional partners can carry out much of the restoration but that the work requires specialized equipment — notably a one‑ton tripod that can lift headstones — and requested $4,300 for needed tools. The corporation also asked for $8,000 toward mowing for fiscal year 2027 after the Town of Bath committed $36,000 for extended mowing coverage.
“After we started our research work … we set up a March 13th event in 2026 to begin recruiting volunteers that we could train to restore headstones,” Ms. Skinner said, and noted regional groups have agreed to provide follow-up training and assistance.
Commissioners pressed for details on the cemetery’s mowing contract, which Ms. Skinner and the treasurer said was the result of multiple bids and currently totals $51,000 to cover 23 weeks of mowing at about 60 hours per week. Commissioners questioned why mowing required that level of contractor hours and whether a town- or county‑run alternative could be less expensive. Several commissioners expressed discomfort with adding a recurring county appropriation for mowing without fuller budget review.
The commission did not deny the restoration project outright; members signaled support for the volunteer restoration work and said they would consider one‑time equipment funding but were resistant to committing ongoing cemetery mowing funds during the current budget cycle. Commissioners asked staff to return budget figures and suggested the restoration request be considered in the next budget round.
Why it matters: Greenway Cemetery contains historic markers and community history; the restoration plan relies heavily on volunteers but requires equipment and recurring maintenance funds. The debate highlights competing budget priorities and the county’s reluctance to assume ongoing service costs without a clear, sustainable funding source.
What’s next: The county will review budget options and can consider one‑time support for tools; commissioners asked for a clearer accounting of mowing bids and options before approving recurring funding. Ms. Skinner and the cemetery corporation said they would continue volunteer recruitment and training while the commission evaluates budget questions.
