Rules and regulations were enforced at the Warsaw Cemetery Board meeting Thursday.

"I appreciate you letting me attend tonight," Charles Smith, Muncie, a Wearly Monuments representative said. "A chain of events happened that shouldn't have happened."

A sales representative from Wearly Monuments failed to comply with monument size restrictions set by the Cemetery Board.

Even though the monument was oversized, "he preceded to sell the monument," Smith said.

"I'm here tonight to apologize for what has taken place," he said. "This should have been addressed before the monument was put in because it's truly oversized."

"This is one thing we're going to have to correct," Warsaw Cemetery Board President Warren Tatter said.

Tatter said if the board did not address the issue, they "might as well disregard the rules."

Tatter and board members fear that if the issue is left alone, other monument dealers in the area would "scream discrimination."

"It's just going to be a nasty situation," Tatter said. "So this is why we're going to have to really enforce the rules."

"We're going to do what we have to do here," Smith said. "It's truly unfortunate when you're dealing with this type of business where somebody has passed away."

The monument in question was 12 inches oversized.

"I certainly appreciate the situation," Smith said. "We're just caught right in the middle of a very difficult situation here."

Smith said Wearly Monuments would do whatever the board decided.

Board member Lewis Dobbins said the monument needed to be brought into specifications.

Board members were also concerned with securing the integrity of the design.

"It's gotta be reduced in size, someway to comply with this," said Bob Sandy, board member.

"I'm really sorry. It's a sad situation," board secretary Ellen Hoffer said. "But I do agree. It has to be brought lengthwise in, or we're going to run into major problems with other families wanting that."

The board decided the monument in question must be brought into size to comply with rules and regulations.

Smith said he would make sure all representatives from Wearly Monuments have a copy of the rules and regulations and said the situation will not be repeated.

"We'll keep you posted and let you know every step of the way how everything's going to be brought into compliance," he said.

The next cemetery board meeting is scheduled at 5 p.m. May 4 at the Oakwood Cemetery office.

"It's a public meeting, anybody can come," Tatter said.

Members of the Warsaw Cemetery Board are: President Warren Tatter, Secretary Ellen Hoffer, Lewis Dobbin, Bob Sandy and David Shaw, cemetery sexton. [[In-content Ad]]