A new road is being constructed at Oakwood Cemetery that will allow for burial lots.
Cemetery Sexton Hal Heagy said, during Thursday's Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents meeting, Phend & Brown Inc., Milford, laid a topcoat of asphalt on the road this week.
He said the road will not open until spring, pending work being completed on marking lots and planting grass by the road.
Heagy said the road currently is roped off with cones.
The board approved a motion at its August meeting allowing the road to be constructed east of Willow Street in the cemetery.
The road will make room for 1,100 lots, and be called Chestnut Street to keep in line with the current street names at the cemetery, Heagy said.
Heagy said he hopes to have trees installed along the road. A request for money for the trees will be put in the 2009 budget since the cemetery's 2008 budget already has been approved.
The cemetery will need to have city approval to plant the trees.
A new wall has been installed in the Cremation Garden, and flowers and shrubs will be planted next year, Heagy said.
President Warren Tatter said he has discussed with Mayor Ernie Wiggins a replacement for board member Bob Sandy, who resigned at the Sept. 6 meeting.
Tatter said Republicans have applied, but the candidate needs to be a Democrat to apply.
Heagy said fall cleanup begins at the cemetery Oct. 15. Winter decorations or grave blankets may be placed on lots after Nov. 15.
There were seven burials at the cemetery in September. Eleven deeds were signed during the meeting.
Cemetery board members are Lewis Dobbins, Tatter and Council Representative Bob Morrison.
The board will meet again Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. at the cemetery office.
