Pictured, from left, Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents Council Representative Jerry Frush, Board President Arthur Brown, Board Secretary Ellen Hoffer, Board Member Dave Baumgartner and Oakwood Sexton Hal Heagy. The board members are pictured around the Brock monument, which features the full music score of the gospel hymn “Beyond the Sunset,” written by Virgil and Blanche Brock. The monument was designed by Virgil in memory of his wife, who died in 1958.

WARSAW —   Discussion resumed regarding limiting the number of cemetery lot buybacks at the Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents meeting held Thursday, May 3.

This topic was addressed last month, with board members agreeing to table the issue and readdress it at a later time. 

Sexton Hal Heagy told board members that over half the annual budgeted amount for cemetery lot buybacks has been used already this year. 

“There are multiple reasons that people will make the decision to sell back their lots – people will move out of town, people will buy multiple lots and then decide they don’t need that many. It happens,” said Heagy. 

Board members mulled over different options, such as limiting the number of buybacks an owner could have per year or setting a cap on the amount that could be spent on buybacks per year so that the cemetery would not be in danger of going over their buyback budget. It was eventually decided that the best option would be that once a certain percent of the buyback budget has been met, approval of any further buybacks for that year would be at Heagy’s discretion. Heagy stated he will meet with an attorney to have something drawn up regarding this policy. 

Heagy informed board members that Bradford Landscaping has begun construction work on creating a retaining wall along Lefty Drive. 

“This is the first stage. It needs to be done due to erosion in order to secure the vaults there,” said Heagy.

Heagy informed board members that three seasonal summer employees will be returning to work at the cemetery this summer. Heagy has hired one additional employee to help out on a part-time basis during the summer months. 

Other News:

• Voting will be held in the Oakwood Chapel Tuesday, May 8. 
• Board members discussed potential sites for another cremation garden and an additional Baby Land area.
• The second foundation pour of 2018 was done Wednesday, May 2. Twenty-one foundations were poured.
• The next regular meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 7.