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Residents, officials push to activate cemetery board as 18.2-acre donation is discussed
Summary
Speakers urged reactivation of the city cemetery board and discussed a proposed donation of roughly 18.2 acres adjacent to Greenwood and Hillside cemeteries to address limited burial space; staff and residents proposed maintenance strategies including a pilot robo-mower program that a vendor said could cut labor costs 20–30%.
The town hall turned to cemetery management after attendees raised concerns about limited burial space in city cemeteries and the need for an active governing board. A participant who has researched state records said a proposal is on the table to donate about 18.2 acres next to Greenwood and Hillside that could expand capacity and create a contiguous cemetery area.
"There's a proposal on the table to give 18.2 acres," said one participant, describing the parcel as adjacent to Greenwood and potentially usable after surveying. Commissioners and staff acknowledged limited remaining space in existing cemeteries and said the city could re-engage an existing, but dormant, cemetery board to take on stewardship, maintenance, fundraising and allocation of burial space.
Speakers also discussed maintenance innovations. A city participant suggested testing contracted robotic mowers in one cemetery as a pilot; according to the vendor cited in the meeting, the technology could "save us anywhere from 20 to 30% of labor costs." Staff said the robot services typically include maintenance and blade sharpening as part of the contract, leaving city crews to handle targeted tasks such as edging and clearing.
City leaders asked volunteers and residents to help shape the board and offered to return with clear recommendations on roles, responsibilities and how the donated acreage would be evaluated. The commission did not take formal action; staff said they would pursue the legal and surveying steps needed to determine how much of the donated acreage is usable and bring options back to the commission.
