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Pioneer Cemetery commission asks Jackson County to limit utility easement at Sweezy Cemetery
Summary
George Doherty of the Pioneer Cemetery Commission told the board the utility company plans to move a pole off cemetery grounds but asked the county to approve a narrowed easement that prohibits trenching or placing equipment on cemetery land; staff will return a final easement for consideration next week.
George Doherty, chair of the Pioneer Cemetery Commission, told the Jackson County Board of Supervisors that a proposed utility pole move near Sweezy Cemetery has shifted so the pole will sit on adjacent private land owned by James and Sue Mayberry rather than on cemetery grounds.
Doherty said the commission negotiated a narrower easement because the original draft gave the utility broad rights to place equipment on cemetery property. "We're asking them to make sure that, you know, is that they can't dig or do any trenching on the cemetery property," Doherty said, adding he has exchanged emails with a representative of the Macogeta Valley electric cooperative indicating the cooperative does not need the broader rights in order to maintain service.
County officials advised Doherty to forward the finalized easement text to county engineering (Jaden) and the county attorney (John Keyes) for review; the chair said the board cannot act today but can place the item on next week's agenda. Doherty said the Mayberrys have agreed to the change and that moving the meters will give the property owner control over his own service. The board did not take further action at the meeting and asked staff to validate the cooperative's written confirmation before returning the easement for formal approval.
Next steps: county engineering and the county attorney will review the modified easement and the board expects the item on the agenda at the following meeting for formal action.
