By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

WARSAW — Sexton Hal Heagy told the Oakwood Board of Regents Thursday, April 11, he had his first meeting about a possible water garden at the cemetery.

Board member Max Mock suggested in November that a water garden be added to the cemetery to be used as a sanctuary.

Thursday, Heagy said he is trying to figure out where to put the water garden before getting city engineer Aaron Ott involved. Heagy said Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose wants department heads to get together on projects, and Heagy met with Ott. Ott wanted to see everything, so they met at Oakwood and talked about the garden a little bit.

Heagy told Ott it was a little too early for him to get involved and Heagy would get Ott involved at a later point.

Heagy said they are looking to put the garden by the wall. He said they are planning on digging a hole in that area to see how water retention is in that area because it will determine if a liner will have to be put in.

He said they’re trying to figure if they want a pond or a river for the garden. The plan is to have water and benches of some kind.

In other business, the board heard:

• The Cemetery Walking Tour Committee was meeting after the board meeting. Heagy said biographies for some of the people being featured during the tour are being written.

• The bell frame is complete. A Vietnam War veteran approached the cemetery a while back in order to donate the American Legion Post 49 bell to the cemetery. Hal said they just put it up Monday.

Board President Ken Locke said the bell will be incorporated into the Memorial Day ceremony.

• Drilling holes for military flags in veterans’ foundations is in progress. Heagy said when the flags were stuck in the ground, it made weed whacking around the foundations a little tough, so being able to put the flags into the foundations was something he’s wanted to do for a while.

All Legion foundations now have a hole for flags. Most of the north-south roads have been done.

Some of the foundations will not be able to be done, but Heagy said the flags will last longer.

• New flooring for the chapel has been ordered and will be installed soon.

• The wood giveaway program gave out four loads of wood in March. People can get vouchers for wood through The Salvation Army.

• Sod is being place on the winter graves.

• A new groundskeeper, Ashton Irwin, has been hired.