Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents approved six deeds for cemetery plots at its meeting Thursday night.
Sexton David Shaw reported there were 14 burials, 19 foundations poured and five headstones repaired in July.
Trina Hoy approached the board with her mother Shirley Rife requesting the board's approval of placing a headstone on her sister's grave.
Hoy's husband, Bill Hoy, approached the board at the July meeting requesting to place a headstone consisting of 93 percent quartz and 7 percent acrylic-recin on his sister-in-law's grave.
President Warren Tatter tabled the request until Thursday's meeting where all board members would be present to discuss the issue.
Tatter did not attend Thursday's meeting.
Hoy presented information she had collected about the headstone and described it as a surface similar to cambria.
The material is used for indoor surfaces such as kitchen or bathroom counters.
"It is a good composite consisting of 93 percent quartz and is a fairly new product that hasn't been around for more than 10 years," Hoy said.
She said the benefits of the material include that it is maintenance free, all natural and numerous tests have been conducted to prove that the surface is twice as strong as granite.
Board members expressed their concern with the material not being 100 percent granite and not lasting as long when it is exposed to outside elements such as UV rays.
"The benefits of using granite is the hardness and durability, where in quartz there is a bonding agent that may not be appropriate for an outdoor setting," said Tony Lloyd of Patten Monuments.
Shaw recommended Hoy collect more information regarding the outdoor durability of the material and wait until Tatter attends the meeting to discuss the issue further.
Hoy said she would do further research and come back to the board.
The next board meeting is Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. at the cemetery office.
