Pictured, from left, newly elected Board President Arthur Brown and Oakwood Sexton Hal Heagy.

WARSAW — The first order of business Thursday, April 5, at the Oakwood Board of Regents meeting was the resignation of Dave Baumgartner as board president due to conflicts with his work schedule. Baumgartner will remain on as a board member. Arthur Brown was elected to take over as president for the remainder of 2018. 

Sexton Hal Heagy gave a report on the 2018 equipment replacement rotation, stating that the cemetery’s Simplicity garden tractor is being replaced with a John Deere tractor. The 2008 cemetery gator is also due to be replaced this year. Heagy said a 2003 plow truck will be used as trade in for a newer plow truck. According to Heagy, the cost of the new vehicle with a plow package is approximately $35,000. With the municipality discount of $10,000 and the trade in value of the 2003 truck at $4,000, the final cost will be approximately $21,000. 

Heagy informed board members that he also ordered a 12,000 lb. Mohawk lift for his cemetery mechanic.

“Since I’ve been here at Oakwood, my mechanic has had to use jacks and lift and prop in order to do things, which is very unsafe in my opinion,” said Heagy.

The company will install the lift, with the cemetery paying a monthly inspection fee. “I just want my mechanic a little safer,” said Heagy. “Some of this equipment is pretty big.”

There was discussion regarding limiting the number of cemetery lot buy backs per owner. There are situations in which a resident may purchase a large number of lots, and after that person passes away family members decide that the rest of the lots are not needed. The cemetery will only buy lots back for the price at which the lot was purchased. 

“We’ve had great-grandkids come in who found great-grandma’s deed and they think they hit the lottery because they know what the current price of a lot is,” said Heagy.  “What they don’t realize is that back in 1920 great-grandma maybe paid $75 each for those lots.” 

No final decision was made. It was agreed to table this issue and address it again at a later date. 

Other News:

• The new phone system is currently being installed at the cemetery.
• Foundations are ready to be poured as soon as weather permits.
• The cemetery wood giveaway has ended for the season. 
• The next regular meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 3.