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Carlisle council agrees to accept Allen Township Cemetery ownership with $10,250 maintenance payment
Summary
After years of requests from Allen Township trustees, Carlisle City Council voted to accept ownership of Allen Township Cemetery and receive $10,250 from the trustees to cover FY26–27 maintenance; the vote followed staff concerns about perpetual-care rules and property records.
The Carlisle City Council voted to accept ownership of the Allen Township Cemetery after a lengthy discussion about records, perpetual-care status and maintenance costs.
Councilmember Beth Sauter moved and Andrya Carter seconded a motion ‘‘for the City of Carlisle to take ownership of the Allen Township Cemetery with payment of $10,250 for maintenance in Fiscal Year 26-27 from the Allen Township Trustees.’’ The motion passed 3-0-1 with Tracey McAvoy abstaining.
City Administrator Deven Markley told the council the Iowa Insurance Division advised that if two cemeteries are combined, the combined property would need to be perpetual-care, a central concern because Allen Township Cemetery is not perpetual-care. Markley said the chief concern was ‘‘perpetual care and internment rights agreements for the plots that have been sold’’ and noted staff and the Cemetery Board still had questions about transferring property, records and how to handle plots with different care rules.
Kelly Penman Jr., speaking on behalf of the Township trustees, said trustees were willing to cover the current year’s mowing. Trustee Peggy Fogle confirmed the cemetery ‘‘was not perpetual care’’ and described the trustees’ steps toward a transfer. Council members raised operational and budget concerns: one councilmember said full ownership would affect the General Fund and that annual mowing and maintenance costs were roughly $8,000.
The council’s action directs staff to proceed with the transfer process, including any required public notice or resolution declaring intent to acquire. Markley noted additional steps may include publishing notice and following Iowa Insurance Division guidance on records and care status.
Next steps: staff will work through the statutory notification and transfer process and clarify how existing sold plots and any grandfathered internment rights will be handled.
