You are here: Home News Trustees Respond To Critics of Rate Hike

Features

RSS Feed

Enon News
Enon Sports

Joomla 1.5 HTML Module

Click for Enon, Ohio Forecast

Trustees Respond To Critics of Rate Hike PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 02 March 2010 14:08


After passing a resolution last month to raise cemetery rates for non-residents, the Mad River Township trustees want residents to know it was not a money making measure, but a conservation effort.
“The price changes were implemented to help conserve space for our residents,” said trustee Bob McClure.
During their regular session on Feb. 15 the trustees passed the resolution implementing a new fee schedule. On March 1 they wanted to reiterate that these increases are for the benefit of those living within the township. The Enon Cemetery is maintained and operated by Mad River Township as a service to its residents.  
“In the last few years, we have noticed that an increasing number of people from outside of Mad River Township have been purchasing lots,” said trustee Kathy Estep who read from a prepared statement representing the board as a whole.
“Since the cemetery is intended primarily for use by township residents, the trustees have decided to raise rates for those individuals and families living outside of our township who wish to us the cemetery.  
“There is a limited amount of space, and the trustees wish to insure that resident will have a place for burial of their loved ones close to home for many years to come.”
The new fee schedule is as follows: monument grave space (sections A,B,C, and D) $600 for resident, $1,200 non-resident; ground marker grave space (section 7) $550 for residents, $1,100 non-resident; opening and closing of grave, standard weekday $600, Saturday $850; overtime or after 12 p.m. on Saturday $150 an hour; cremation $250 on weekday, $450 Saturday; deed transfers $50; flower stones $40; foundations 60 cents per square foot and precast military foundations $100.
Township Project Coordinator Don O’Connor reported that he has not heard any complaints from residents regarding the changes.
“The residents who have talked to me about it are glad to see it,” he said. “The only phone calls I have gotten have been from funeral directors.”
O’Connor reported that the forms with the new cemetery rates are done and Fiscal Officer Maralee Leonard is working on a new brochure.
In other cemetery business, March 15 will be the annual clean-up. Anything old decorations or anything on the grave’s that is broken will be removed. O’Connor stated that they have received numerous complaints about discolored flowers on the graves.

Box 27 volunteers
Mad River Township/Enon Fire and EMS Assistant Chief Elmer Beard reported that the department has started receiving assistance
from Box 27, a volunteer support group that assists local fire departments on calls.  They provide extra lighting, additional power from a truck with a generator and oxygen back-up refills for firefighters.
Though the group has their own liability coverage in case of injury they do not have personal liability coverage for individuals who may become involved in a lawsuit.  Beard checked with the township insurance carrier and attorney to see if they could cover them.
“We can extend our personal liability coverage to Box 27 volunteers who assist with our runs,” he said.
Beard submitted a memorandum of approval to trustees to review for the next meeting. The prosecutor’s office looked over the document and found no problems.
Beard also reported that the Fire/EMS department has been on a total of 227 so far in 2010.

Nuisance property

Deputy Bob Wagner reported that the owners of the Parkridge Acres nuisance property received their certified letter on Feb. 16 and have 30 days from that date to have the house secured.  Estep recently spoke with them over the phone.
“The family lives in Florida so they are trying to get a contractor lined up to do some of the work,” said Estep.
Wagner stated that the older gentleman drives up from Florida twice a year to mow the grass himself.
“They would like to hire someone to mow the grass, but the older gentleman has concerns about hiring someone to be on the property,” Estep added.
Comments (0)
Only registered users can write comments!