Resident complains of cemetery removals as council advances cemetery-rate ordinance

A resident told the Washington Court House City Council on July 22 that items were removed from graves and that drainage and monument sinking at the city cemetery need attention, while the council moved an ordinance adjusting cemetery rates to first reading.

"My husband is buried at the cemetery," said resident Eileen Fredley during public comment, describing photos she said she had taken after items were removed around Father's Day. Fredley said she believes her family was treated differently and asked why some graves were singled out for enforcement. The city manager offered to recheck the drainage at her relative's plot and to meet with her at the cemetery office.

The council also placed Ordinance number 11 20 26, described by the clerk as "an ordinance modifying cemetery rates," on first reading after a motion and unanimous roll-call. The motion to put the ordinance on first reading was made by a council member (speaker 7) and passed by roll call with Blair, Call, Chrisman, Johnson, Lynch, Osborne and Shilts recorded as voting "yes."

According to the committee minutes read earlier in the meeting, the city has been reviewing cemetery rules and is proposing changes that would affect rates and the reimbursement paid to funeral directors in indigent-burial cases. The city manager also said the city would increase reimbursement rates for indigent cremations to reflect rising costs.

Council members and staff scheduled a follow-up inspection: the city manager and cemetery staff agreed to meet with Fredley at the cemetery office to examine the drainage and the specific graves she cited. The city indicated it will hold, rather than discard, items taken from grave sites until claimants are identified.

The matter will return to council as the ordinance proceeds through the readings; no final rate change was adopted at this meeting.