Ways to possibly beautify and update Oakwood Cemetery were discussed during the Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents meeting Thursday.
Board member Max Mock said he would like a water garden at the cemetery if it could be pulled off. He said it’s going to be a lot of effort to get something put together, but said it could be used as a reflection area for people.
Board member Ellen Hoffer said it would be a wonderful idea. Sexton Hal Heagy said he was up for the idea.
Heagy said it has taken him 14 to 15 years to get the equipment at the cemetery to be where he wanted it at. Now, it’s more about beautification of the cemetery.
Hoffer asked if the money could come out of the cemetery’s perm account. Heagy said it could possibly. He said the perm fund is if the cemetery ever got landlocked, that fund could be used to keep up the cemetery as best as possible.
Heagy said the question he had was where the water fountain would go. Mock suggested the area to the right near the entrance of the cemetery. Heagy said they could also do it by the Legion area. Heagy said the front entrance is a beautiful entrance, but the area has a lot of muck.
Mock said he is willing to do some research into the issue of the water garden.
Also, Heagy talked about putting banners up at the cemetery. He said he is looking at making the cemetery more self-sufficient. The cemetery currently spends a lot of money on flowers. He said it looks beautiful but it takes a lot to keep the flowers alive.
“We’re going a little bit different for a bit,” he said. The cemetery is going to put 18- by 36-inch banners down Central and Legion. The flags won’t say anything, but will be prints.
He said the cemetery is going to have different banners for different seasons. The banners will be hung up instead of hanging flower baskets. Initial cost will be $7,000.
Heagy said the cemetery will still put flowers up in front of the cemetery and in the cremation area.
The banners will be hung starting next year.
Heagy said he also has plans on updating the entrance of the cemetery.
He said he plans on taking out the bushes at the entrance and try to save them and put them by the cemetery office. He wants to put pavers and benches at the entrance. He isn’t planning on doing it until next year.
In other business, the board:
• Discussed the walking tour at the cemetery for next year.
Resident Sally Hogan brought books with some information about 185 people at buried at the cemetery. The people are separated into groups like the Civil War. Suggestions on possible efficient walks were included in the information Hogan gave the board.
Heagy said the hard part of the tour will be narrowing down who they want portrayed during the walking tour. He also said there may be a number of discussions about plans for the walk before it is held.
• Fall cleanup and leaf removal at the cemetery has begun.
• Work on the walkway to the Preacher’s Stand will start next week.
The next meeting will be 5 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Warsaw Council Chambers.