A request for an oversized memorial was discussed during the Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents meeting Thursday.
A family is requesting a 14-foot base across four rows, said sexton Hal Heagy. The memorial would be 2 feet, 10 inches high. It would be placed in the front row.
A family actually bought five plots, but a couple and their two sons would be placed in those plots, Heagy said.
The maximum base is 9 feet in the cemetery rules, Heagy said. However, he did note he and the Board have made exceptions in the past, mostly for plots in the back row.
The one issue Heagy brought up was he didn’t know if the stone was too big for a memorial company to make.
Board member Ellen Hoffer said if Heagy didn’t have a problem with it and it didn’t cause any issues with workers doing lawn work, she didn’t see a problem with it.
Heagy said he didn’t think the issue needed to be voted on, so if the Board was OK?with it, then he’d see if he could go ahead with it.
Board members Chris Plack, Max Mock and Arthur Brown were not present. Heagy said he’d contact them and see if they’re OK with it.
In other business, Heagy said he was entertaining the idea of removing the preacher’s stand behind the cemetery’s office.
Heagy said the building has been there forever and part of the stable of the cemetery. He said he put a new roof on the building a couple years ago and there’s more work to be done to maintain it.
He said the building has been used once a year for Memorial Day. Envoy Ken Locke of The Salvation Army has taken over Memorial Day celebrations for the American Legion and has pretty much moved celebrations to the cemetery chapel.
“So it’s not used,” Heagy said. He did note some kids do sometimes sleep in the building.
Heagy asked for opinions from the Board, stating he was kind of torn on the idea.
Hoffer asked what the benefits of keeping the preacher’s stand were, whether the cemetery kept it just to keep it.
Heagy said yes, the cemetery kept it just to keep it. There’s some older stuff underneath the building Heagy said he wouldn’t get rid of and moved it to cold storage, not wanting to get rid of historical things.
No decision was made. Heagy said it didn’t need to be voted on Thursday. He just wanted to bring up the topic and talk about it.
In other business, the Board learned:
• The eastern section of the cemetery has been opened. There have been 26 lots sold and 15 lots transferred to that section.
• New prices for services at the cemetery will take affect Monday. Heagy said if there’s an old foundation pricing, the cemetery will take old pricing, but otherwise the new pricing will take affect Monday.
• The next meeting will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 2 in the Council Chambers at Warsaw City Hall.
