Reidville council approves SM&E contract to map cemetery, search for unmarked graves

The Reidville Town Council unanimously approved a contract with SM&E to conduct a boundary survey of the town cemetery and archival research to attempt to identify unmarked graves in a wooded area.

Town Administrator Christine McKaba presented the item and Mayor Josh Simpson moved to accept the agreement, with Councilmember Amy Gore seconding. Council members voted unanimously to approve the scope of services, which the minutes describe as surveying the cemetery boundary and performing archival research to locate potential unmarked burials.

Council did not record contract cost or a project schedule in the minutes; the motion and approval in the minutes authorize staff to proceed with the scope described. Administrator McKaba later completed the swearing-in of a newly appointed Architectural Review Board member earlier in the meeting, but the cemetery contract was voted on after the council’s executive session and was presented as a discrete action item.

The agreement directs SM&E to perform on-the-ground boundary work and archival/documentary research; the minutes do not specify deliverable dates, budget amounts, reporting requirements, or whether the work will require additional town funding or state approvals. The council did not attach conditions to the approval in the minutes, and Mayor Simpson stated there were no further decisions from executive session.

The approval is intended to clarify cemetery boundaries and to better identify potential unmarked graves prior to any land-use action affecting the wooded area. Residents and officials will receive further details if and when staff return with the contract scope, schedule and cost for public review.