Cemetery Board Hears Bike, Pedestrian Plan Proposal
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents Thursday night heard a request for a bike and pedestrian path to be located behind the cemetery. It would allow visitors to enter the cemetery from the back. Fred Helfrich, Warsaw-Winona Lake Ride-Walk committee member, made the proposal during the meeting. Helfrich said the path would be good for children. “It’s a safe place for children to ride their bikes,” Ellen Hoffer, board member, agreed. Helfrich said he had received the suggestion from residents that would be a part of the Greenway. Hal Heagy, cemetery sexton, said the board had previously reviewed the request years ago and decided against it as it posed safety and vandalism issues. Heagy said he will write a list of pros and cons regarding the path. In other business, the board approved a $55,600 contract with DeGraff Memorials for six units with 144 burial niches. The board also reviewed a bid from Patten Monument. Heagy informed the board cemetery employees are gearing up for leaf season, and an employee will be hired for the season. The employees have gathered 10 to 12 loads of walnuts to be taken out so they won’t get in the leaf blower machine. The board heard the cemetery’s annual wood giveaway will be Oct. 14 to March 31. Those interested can pick up vouchers at Combined Community Services. The board approved cemetery rule changes that states for the best interest of lot owners, permanent memorials must be bronze, marble or granite. Marble and granite must be a minimum of four inches thick and follow the cemetery guidelines for height and length. No stone will be set by the cemetery except for baby stones. The rules also state if a stone is purchased on the Internet it must be delivered to a monument company and set by them. The cemetery will remove temporary funeral director markers when permanent memorials are installed. There were 17 burials in the cemetery, nine lots sold, 21 foundations poured and 10 burial deeds signed. The board will meet again Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. at the cemetery office.
