New cemetery rules target decorations

Monuments can only be two pieces and have weight restrictions.
By MARY R. SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township is tightening restrictions on what can be put on grave sites at the township's cemeteries.
The regulations would pertain to all three of the township's three in-use cemeteries, Kerr, Ohltown and Welsh Hill.
Township Administrator David Pugh told trustees last week that he plans to have the cemetery crews start cleaning up graves May 22 to remove things that don't belong there under the new regulations.
A fourth cemetery, Old County Line cemetery is now not actually used for new burials, Pugh said, and he added there is virtually no decorating done there because the graves are so old.
New regulations added for the cemeteries are:
Monuments must consist of two pieces only -- base and upright. Each piece can weigh no more than 1,000 pounds.
Hanging baskets and plants cannot be displayed on any metal fixture or Shepherd's hook on any portion of the grave site.
Artificial flowers cannot be displayed except when placed in a vase that is secured onto the base of a monument.
Small items (statues) cannot be placed anywhere on the grave unless they are secured onto the base of the monument. Pugh noted that even small statues can become projectiles when caught up in the suction of a commercial mower.
Balloons are not permitted.
All holiday decorations will be removed 10 days after the holiday.
Resolution passed
In other business, trustees passed a resolution in opposition to a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution on the November ballot. The amendment proposes a limit on state or local budgets through a formula of inflation (the Consumer Price Index) plus population growth, or 3.5 percent -- whichever is greater.
It also requires that a majority of all registered voters in a subdivision are needed to determine the outcome of an election. That change would make it improbable that Weathersfield Township could pass a levy for any necessary services, trustees said.