Preacher’s Stand At Oakwood Cemetery To Be Removed
By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — A decision was made at the Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents meeting Thursday, Dec. 2, to remove the preacher’s stand behind the cemetery office.
The fate of the preacher’s stand, an open structure with auditorium-style seating, has been a topic of discussion since Oakwood Cemetery Sexton Hal Heagy first broached the subject in August.
Heagy said he either needs to put money into the structure or it needs to be taken down. A new roof was put on the building in recent years and more maintenance will be needed in the future.
The structure was used in the past during Memorial Day events, but those services are now held at the cemetery chapel.
During the October meeting, board members agreed that a survey would be the way to proceed, in order to obtain input from the community as to whether the building should remain at the cemetery or be taken down.
At Thursday’s meeting, the issue was readdressed, with Heagy saying he had not yet put up a survey. Heagy said only two people have mentioned the preacher’s stand to him, with the views being 50/50.
“One said it’s been an icon of the cemetery forever and the other one didn’t have a problem (with the removal of the stand),” Heagy said.
Board member Chris Plack initially made a motion to table discussion about the preacher’s stand. Board President Arthur Brown said he thought it would be a good idea to get input from the public through a survey.
However, once Heagy began talking about the estimated cost associated with maintenance of the preacher’s stand, Plack said he wanted to change his motion.
Heagy mentioned a $6,000 figure, although he said that was a high estimate. He added that he thought the actual figure would be “a lot less” since he would do some of the work himself.
“If the options are get rid of it or put $6,000 into a structure that no one uses, if that’s really what we’re talking about, then … I don’t love the idea of putting $6,000 into this structure,” Plack said. “There are better ways for you to spend $6,000, so if you’re coming before the board and saying ‘this is what we’re gonna do -we’re removing it or putting $6,000 in, then I think you need to remove it.”
Plack said he didn’t think putting a survey up on the city website would get much traction.
“I just don’t think this is a hot button issue,” Plack said. “I’d like to change my motion. I move that you remove the preacher’s stand behind your office,”
The motion was unanimously approved.
Heagy pointed out that the building will not be removed immediately, as there are items underneath the building that he wants to keep. Heagy said the structure will likely not be removed until the new cold storage building has been put up.
In another matter, Plack was presented with a plaque for serving on the Oakwood Board of Regents during 2020 and 2021. Plack will not be returning to serve on the board in 2022.
In other news:
- Heagy said Cremation Garden No. 3 will need to be expanded soon. The garden currently has 61 lots, 35 of which have already been sold.
- The 2022 cemetery budget, which was initially at $746,167, a 2% decrease from the 2021 budget, has been reduced another $32,000 and is now at $714,167.
- The next regular meeting will be 5 p.m. Jan. 6.