MARKERS OR MEMORIALS

Permitted Materials and Styles:
All markers, memorials and monuments must be of quality granite or standard bronze. Marble may be permitted if it is of durable quality and finish. All other grades of marble, sandstone, slate, artificial stone, fieldstone, terra cotta, wood, iron or glass, in any form, shall not be permitted. Unsightly and ill-proportioned monuments or stone work are prohibited. Appendages such as books, photos or glasswork are prohibited unless cast in bronze and used as a plate in the die of a  marker, memorial or monument. The Clerk may cause a marker, memorial or monument to be removed, rebuilt or remodeled, at the owner’s expense, where and when such is desirable for the proper and orderly development of the cemetery and to preserve the aesthetic value thereof. In the event that a marker, memorial or monument must be removed, rebuilt or remodeled, the Township will not be responsible for any loss thereof either to the lot owner or dealer.

Markers, Monuments & Memorials Regulations:
Only one marker, monument or memorial shall be permitted per burial space. All markers, monuments, and memorials shall be located on the West Side of the space.

The marker or monument foundation may not be more than 42 inches long, the width of a single burial space and 20 inches in depth. The marker or monument foundation for multiple spaces may not be more than 60 inches long and 20 inches wide. All monuments must face the East or West direction. The Township Clerk must approve any variations in size and/or location.

INTERMENT REGULATIONS

Interments Per Grave Site:
Only one person may be buried in a burial space except for a mother and infant or two children buried at the same time or one infant when buried with an immediate family member when said family member had previously been interred. The ash remains of one person may be interred in a grave wherein lie the remains of only one other person who was an immediate family member or joint owner at the time of initial purchase.

Advance Notice Required:
Not less than 36 hour notice shall be given in advance of the time of a funeral to allow for the opening of the burial space.

Method of Ordering Grave Opening:
The Township will not assume responsibility for errors in opening graves when orders are given by any means of communication other than in writing or in person. Orders submitted by funeral directors for the opening of graves will be considered as if coming from the plot owner.

Removal of Flowers and Emblems:
Following an interment, all flowers or emblems used at the interment that have become unsightly will be removed and the management assumes no responsibility for their return to the owners.

GROUND MAINTENANCE

Plantings:
The Clerk reserves the right to direct the planting of trees and shrubs in the cemetery. Plot owners may obtain permission to plant dwarf evergreens on a plot and must be planted in line on either side of a marker, memorial or monument. All requests must be submitted to the Township Clerk.

Clerk Authority Regarding Plantings:
The Township Clerk has the discretionary authority to trim and/or remove all trees, shrubs and plantings, which have become unsightly or overgrown. No unauthorized trimming, pruning or removing of a branch from any tree or shrub in the cemetery is permitted except under the supervision of the Township Clerk.

Mounds Are Prohibited:
Mounds, which hinder the free use of a lawn mower or other gardening apparatus, are prohibited.

Required Surface:
Surfaces other than earth or sod are prohibited.

Proper Disposal of Refuse:
All refuse of any kind or nature including, among others, dried flowers, wreaths, papers and flower containers must be removed or deposited in containers located within the cemetery.

Urn Regulations:
An urn, defined as an open top, concrete or stone container for planting flowers, is permitted on lots which consist of two (2) plots. An urn must be set in line with the marker, memorial or monument on a lot. Urns not in use by June 1st may be marked and removed.

Location of Flower Beds:
Flower beds must be located directly in front of and adjacent to the marker, memorial or monument and extend not more than eight inches from the base of the marker, memorial or monument. Potted flowers placed above the ground are not allowed. Beds or urns set contrary to this ordinance may be removed without notice.

Cut Flower Regulations:
Cut flowers may be placed in a depressed metal vase set adjacent to and/or in line with a marker, memorial or monument and extend not more than eight inches from the base of the marker, memorial or monument.

Artificial Flowers and Wreath Regulations:
Artificial flowers, grave blankets, and artificial wreaths are permitted at ground level on lots only during Fall and Winter from November 1st to April 1st. They may be placed adjacent to the marker, memorial or monument or in urns or they may be placed in lieu of a marker, memorial or monument. The Township Clerk shall have all artificial flowers, wreaths and blankets remaining on the grave after April 1st removed.

Summer Season:
April 2nd to October 31st, artificial flowers and/or wreaths are permitted only if placed in urns, or affixed to the marker in such manner so as not to interfere with general maintenance practices.

Items Not Permitted:
Only a marker, memorial or monument shall be permitted on the gravesite. The following items shall not be permitted: chairs, settees, benches, hanging baskets, glass containers, and glass covered boxes, photos and boxes for the preservation of flowers, wreaths, statutes, ornaments and flower pots. Other questionable items are subject to the discretion of the Township Clerk.

PENALTIES
Any person, firm or corporation who violates any of the provisions within the Ordinance here within shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of up to $500.00 and/or imprisonment for up to 90 days in jail as may be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, plus the costs of prosecution. Each day that a violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense. Any criminal prosecutions hereunder shall not prevent civil proceedings for abatement and termination of the activity complained of.

PERPETUAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE
The purchase price of every plot includes perpetual care and maintenance and such care is made a part and condition of each sale in order to provide for the essential services and requirements of a cemetery without further expense to the owner. Perpetual care and maintenance shall consist of mowing, reseeding and leveling all sunken graves at reasonable intervals. Anything other than the essential features of lot maintenance as herein outlined is not included, such as the repair, maintenance or replacement of any marker, memorial, monument or urn. Nor does it include the watering of plants, flower beds or cut flowers, except as such work is done on the normal care incidental to regular maintenance.

DISINTERMENTS AND REINTERMENTS

A.  DISINTERMENT REGULATIONS: Disinterment of a body once properly interred shall not be made without approval of the Clerk and is subject to the orders and laws of the properly constituted public authorities. Graves shall not be opened for inspection except for official investigation.

1. A permit for disinterment and reinterment is required before disinterment of a dead body. The local health department in whose jurisdiction the body is interred shall issue the permit.
2. The department shall prepare and furnish to local health department the forms for permits and applications therefore, which shall be used in the procedures prescribed by this section. The local health department shall retain an application for a disinterment and reinterment permit for not less than five (5) years. A duplicate copy of the permit shall be maintained in permanent records of the cemetery from which the body was disinterred.
3. If a required consent cannot be obtained, a person may petition the circuit court of the county in which the cemetery is located for disinterment order.

B. NOTICE AND FEES REQUIRED: One week’s notice is required prior to any disinterment or removal. All fees for disinterment and reinterment shall be prepaid.

DAMAGE TO CEMETERY PROPERTIES
The Township shall not be responsible for any kinds of damage by the elements, vandals, and thieves or by other causes beyond its control. The defacement of markers, memorials, monuments, graves or cemetery appurtenances, whether intentional or otherwise, and the removal of flowers, urns or any of the cemetery equipment without proper authority will be considered a misdemeanor and the individual(s) will be liable for the damages. The operator of any vehicle will be liable for any damage caused by said vehicle, whether intentional or unintentional. The speed limit established on cemetery roads is ten (10) miles per hour.

SEVERABILITY
The provisions of the Ordinance here within are hereby declared to be severable and should any provision, section or part thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall only affect the particular provision, section or part thereof involved in such decision and shall not affect or invalidate the remainder of such Ordinance which shall continue in full force and effect.