Township moves to modernize Wesley Chapel records, address drainage and replace stolen equipment

Wesley Chapel Cemetery was a recurring subject in 2002 township minutes: trustees approved a plan to digitize cemetery records, authorized geotechnical testing to address groundwater and drainage issues in the north section, and authorized replacement equipment after a theft.

Cemetery data: Trustees approved buying a cemetery data program (Cims Light) and supporting computer hardware; Steve Montgomery and volunteer data entry support were tasked with preparing sections for electronic entry. By December staff had the program and earmarked an entry plan: township administrative assistant Ellen Joseph and volunteer Jeff Warren to begin data input and synchronization with the cemetery system.

Drainage and soil: Geotechnical testing by H.C. Nutting identified groundwater at elevations above grave bottoms in Section D. The report recommended surface drainage pathways and deep trench drains (trench depths of about 7 feet in places) to lower local groundwater roughly 5 feet below the surface. Trustees authorized a $1,940 study by H.C. Nutting to evaluate soil/drainage and later discussed contracting for corrective work.

Theft and equipment replacement: After a break‑in at the cemetery office (July 2002), stolen items included a computer, monitor, printer and equipment. Trustees authorized immediate replacement of equipment and installation of an alarm system; by late summer the alarm had been installed and the clerk recorded steps to replace stolen hardware.

Why it matters: The cemetery is a long‑term public resource; drainage issues affect burial operations and asset integrity, while record modernization supports long‑term stewardship and public access. The break‑in disrupted operations and prompted security and capital replacement spending.

What’s next: Trustees tasked staff to gather contractor prices for drainage remedies, proceed with data entry, and continue inventory and security improvements.