Dunn County commissioners approve $40,000 transfer to cemetery fund for veterans markers and nameplates

County staff reported invoices for work at Werner Cemetery and asked the Board of County Commissioners to move $40,000 from the general fund into the county cemetery fund to cover current bills and anticipated projects.

Sandy explained the immediate bills: $3,953.95 for eight veterans' markers, $4,634.24 for nameplates for infant graves and others without relatives, and more than $11,000 in granite costs — bringing the currently itemized charges to a little over $20,000. Sandy said additional projects are planned, including reburials and work to fence and mark a small cemetery in the western part of the county that is currently in a crop field and only surrounded by barbed wire.

"These are mostly the ones that we've already buried, reburied — they took the cement off of it and we buried them," Sandy said while outlining the invoices and the need for preservation work. Sandy told the board that the cemetery account currently holds $5,825 and asked the board to transfer $40,000 to provide immediate coverage and some margin for upcoming work.

Commissioner Kelton moved to transfer $40,000 into the cemetery fund from the general fund; the motion was seconded and the board approved the transfer by roll call. During roll call the transcript records affirmative responses from multiple commissioners and the chair announced the motion carried.

The transfer will allow staff and volunteers to pay for veterans markers and nameplates and to continue planned cleanup and reburial work. Staff said they will check whether some of the items can be handled through the public comment process or otherwise publicized.