Thursday’s complaints turned into Friday’s compliments for city crews at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia.
Mayor Justin McKenzie and City Streets, Parks and Cemeteries Supervisor Earl Turnage began receiving reports late Thursday about sloppy work by crews at the city’s largest cemetery. By Friday morning the issues were being addressed.
“Mr. Earl has two guys that are assigned strictly to work the cemeteries around town,” McKenzie said. “The city maintains four cemeteries, Rest Haven, Woodlawn, the old City Cemetery and the one in Popetown. The regulations are the same in each cemetery. The two-man crew opens and closes graves, mows and maintains all of them.”
With two limb trucks down for repairs and recent wet weather, additional employees were placed on cemetery duty.
“They were not accustomed to working the cemeteries, nor were they usually assigned to work the cemeteries,” McKenzie said. “They went through and the completely cut the cemetery and there were things that were scattered and messed up. Mr. Turnage had already gone through and checked the cemetery and discovered how it was. He had already called them and told them that first thing Friday morning they were to go to the cemetery and get that stuff picked up. They simply ran out of time in a work day to get to it.”
McKenzie said he had then chance to inspect the cemetery and wanted to remind citizens of the cemetery rules.
“When I was out at Woodlawn Cemetery, I noticed a lot of things that are not permissible, according to the rules and regulations that govern the city’s cemeteries,” he said. “Of course, that still doesn’t make it right that the items were damaged or broken. If you have a fixed vase on a monument, that is acceptable. But having extra vases, setting plastic plants up, setting hanging trees up and putting trinkets around the monuments, those things are not permitted.”
McKenzie said that the rules help keep crews on task and efficient.
“Earl Turnage has informed me that there are around 5,000 gravesites in Woodlawn Cemetery,” McKenzie said. “That’s a lot of graves to mow around and that doesn’t include the other three cemeteries. These guys are on a tight time schedule to keep up, along with opening and closing graves. They have a lot of juggling going on in their schedules. We need people to understand that some of these items that are being placed in the cemetery are not allowed and it makes it more difficult for them to mow around. It makes it a bigger challenge to cut the cemetery. It is city property and in most any city you contact, they have rules and regulations.”
When plots are purchased from the city, buyers are given a list of rules and regulations. However, many times plots are purchased from individuals, who may not notify the purchasers of the rules.
“If you purchase your plot at City Hall, you’re going to get a deed and you’re going to get a list of rules and regulations. If you buy it from another party, you might not get the information you need. It’s important to always check in. Don’t hesitate to call City Hall and ask. We’ll try to address whatever the question is as soon as possible.”
McKenzie said repairs from the Dec, 23, 2014, EF-3 tornado have also changed the looks of the cemetery.
“There has been constant improvement out there since the tornado,” he said. “Mayor Bourne and the previous aldermen worked real hard to get that cemetery cleaned up and back in presentable shape. Through some generous donations form local business owners, they have been able to do that. The cemetery is in great shape compared to where it was three years ago. I think you’ll see constant improvement in it in the daily image of it.”
McKenzie said that one of his goals in being elected is to improve the city’s image.
“Finding that grounds had been left neglected or that any negligence had occurred will not be tolerated. Thankfully, we have a good department head in Mr. Turnage, who addressed it the next morning and things were straightened up."
Cemetery Rules
There are 11 rules that comprise the city’s cemetery guidelines. The city’s list includes:
1. All grave openings/closings must be done by the City of Columbia upon payment of the fees at the time of need. (As of Oct, 1, 2010, this charge is $500 per grave up to 3 p.m. After 3 p.m., holidays or weekends, it is $600.
2. No city installed shrubbery, trees, or ornaments in the cemetery shall be removed, defaced or injured.
3. Removing or planting of additional shrubbery, flowers, or trees is prohibited unless approved by the city.
4. No coping, fences, or other above ground markers, other than headstones, footstones, or cornerstones, shall be placed on or around any grave.
5. No grave or tombstone shall be placed in any walking or neutral ground in the cemetery.
6. No rubbish, grass, or debris of any kind shall be left outside of lots, but shall be removed from the cemetery.
7. Graves shall be maintained at ground level with no mounding of soil, sand or gravel.
8. Cement will not be mixed in or discarded on cemetery grounds.
9. There shall be no driving of automobiles over or across cemetery lots or graves
10. All burial vaults must be placed at or below ground level.
11. Only natural grass will be permitted as a ground cover for future graves.
Pictured Above: Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia was trimmed and cleaned by late Friday after citizen complaints about city crews prompted action. | Photo by Mark Rogers
