Cemetery Board Allows Too-Tall Monument

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer-

A request to install a monument exceeding the cemetery's height requirements was granted with the switch of deeds during Thursday's Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents meeting.

Mary Stouder and Wes Stouder approached the board with a vertical monument design measuring 66 inches high. The family owns 10 lots in a row.

The allowable height on the side-by-side lots for a monument is 60 inches.

By swapping deeds to two unsold lots "in back of" two others and placing the headstone in the middle of four lots, the height limit increases to 70 inches.

Cemetery sexton David Shaw said two strands of barb wire will be strung along the top of the west chain link fence in an attempt to keep people from crawling over the fence and to deter deer.

Shaw said the fence has been battered down in several places from people crossing it.

In other business, the board:

• Heard two new employees will begin Monday, replacing two who have left the department.

• Signed 12 deeds.

• Heard Lewis Dobbins wishes to remain on the board for another term.

• Set the next meeting for Dec. 4 at 5 p.m.

Board members include Bob Sandy, Warren Tatter, Lewis Dobbins and Ellen Hoffer. Jeff Grose represents the city council. [[In-content Ad]]

A request to install a monument exceeding the cemetery's height requirements was granted with the switch of deeds during Thursday's Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents meeting.

Mary Stouder and Wes Stouder approached the board with a vertical monument design measuring 66 inches high. The family owns 10 lots in a row.

The allowable height on the side-by-side lots for a monument is 60 inches.

By swapping deeds to two unsold lots "in back of" two others and placing the headstone in the middle of four lots, the height limit increases to 70 inches.

Cemetery sexton David Shaw said two strands of barb wire will be strung along the top of the west chain link fence in an attempt to keep people from crawling over the fence and to deter deer.

Shaw said the fence has been battered down in several places from people crossing it.

In other business, the board:

• Heard two new employees will begin Monday, replacing two who have left the department.

• Signed 12 deeds.

• Heard Lewis Dobbins wishes to remain on the board for another term.

• Set the next meeting for Dec. 4 at 5 p.m.

Board members include Bob Sandy, Warren Tatter, Lewis Dobbins and Ellen Hoffer. Jeff Grose represents the city council. [[In-content Ad]]

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