By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

WARSAW — Oakwood Cemetery Sexton Hal Heagy updated the Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents Thursday, July 10, on the possible purchase of a neighboring property.

Heagy said he has talked to property owner Tom Kinch twice about the cemetery buying part of the property.

Kinch did have concerns and Heagy said he understood those. Heagy said Beacon has Kinch’s property laid out into four or five sections. Part of the garage is listed as being city property, so Heagy said they’re going “to clean that up and get that under him.”

Initially, Heagy said he wanted to acquire the woods section of the property, but it was suggested to Heagy he try to purchase more of the property. There is a pond that Heagy said he was interested in putting a walkway around. Heagy said he does not want to buy the house. He said he doesn’t want Kinch to feel like he has to move if he doesn’t want to.

Kinch had concerns that if he said no to the offer, the city will take the property through eminent domain. Heagy said that is not going to happen.

If, after the appraisals are done and Kinch still says no to what is offered, Heagy said he will ask about just buying the wooded area. What they’re looking at doing is leaving Kinch a little chunk of the pond that is on the property, so if it is sold, that might help with the price. Also, if the property is sold, the owners would still have access to the pond, but the cemetery would take care of it.

Heagy said the purchase of the property is going forward and may take a while.

Later in the meeting, the board approved the cemetery’s 2026 budgets.The proposed regular budget totals $945,912. Salaries and wages are $491,302. Employee benefits are $254,934. Supplies are $62,500. Other services and charges are $13,390. Insurance is $26,261. Utility services is $17,425. Repairs and maintenance is $20,500. Rentals is $8,600. Capitol outlays is $51,000. The proposed permanent budget is $145,000.

In other business, the board:

• Heard Board President Ken Locke said there were questions if there was going to be a historical walk at the cemetery next year. There will be a walk in 2026 and planning is in the early stages.

• Heard the extension to Cremation Garden No. 3 has been complete.