The cemetery nobody wants

City heads to court to avoid responsibility for orphaned Northside graveyard

BY SHARON COOLIDGE | [email protected]

 

Cincinnati to cemetery: Drop dead.

 

That's the message from the city to a historic Northside cemetery, according to state officials and supporters of the cemetery.

 

Now the fate of Wesleyan cemetery, winding its way through the courts, might determine what happens when any Ohio cemetery is abandoned.

 

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http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070211/NEWS01/702110368

 

Cemetery your baby, city told

Court says city must care for Northside graveyard

BY DAN HORN | [email protected]

 

Cincinnati is still in the cemetery business.

 

A state appeals court Friday ordered the city to continue to maintain Northside's Wesleyan Cemetery, a 25-acre burial ground that has suffered from neglect and mismanagement for years.

 

The city reluctantly took responsibility for the property last year after previous caretakers bowed out because of legal or financial problems.

 

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http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070421/NEWS01/704210385/

 

By my bistro math, this omes out to $200 - $300 per acre per cutting.

Seems kinda high to me.

Wouldn't this work out to about $70 - $100 to cut a regular suburban lawn ?

Isn't the mayor looking for summer jobs for kids ?

This is the info The Friends of Wesleyan Cemetery were handing out t the recent Memorial Day Service at the cemetery.

 

We thought this would he a good time to bring you up-io-dale on the happenings

regarding Wesleylan Cemetery this pasi year- We are vei-y pleased although still

cautiously opiimislic about the future of Wesleyan Cemetery.

 

As you recall. Mr Robert Merkle and his board signed a Settlement Agreement before Judge Sieven Martin in the Court of Common Pleas which required them to give up control of Wesleyan Cemetery.

 

At that point Attorney General for the State of Ohio Jim Petro filed suit by Assistant

 

Attorney General Mike Rzymek against the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County regarding their joint responsibilities tor maintaining Wesleyan Cemetery in the future. Cincinnati provided equipment to cut the grass and Hamilton County provided individuals from the Welfare Department and olhers to cut the grass This agreement ran through the Summer of 2005.

 

Attorney General Jim Petro requested that Judge Martin rule as to who is responsible for maintaining Wcsleyan Cemetery tor the future. Last Summer Judge Mariin ruled that it is the City of Cincinnati's responsibility to maintain Wesleyan Cemetery. In his wisdom, Judge MArtin ruled that during the entire appeals process the City of Cincinnati should maintain Wesleyan Cemetery.

 

Last year, 2006 Cincinnati gave monies to the Park Board to maintain Wesleyan Cemetery. Dave Gamstetter and his crew did a beautiful job.

 

This budget year beginning January 2007 Wesleyan Cemetery was removed from ihe Cincinnati budget although there is a court order stating ihe City must maintain Wesleyan and several members of The Friends ol Wesleyan had spoken before the Finance Committee ol ihe City of Cincinnati.

 

The City of Cincinnati appealed Judge Martin's decision to the Court of Appeals. We are very happy to report that the Court of Appeals on April 20. 2007 ruled that it is the City nt Cincinnati's responsibility to maintain Wesleyan Cemeiery in the future. The Friends of Wesleyan has heard that the city will appeal this decision to the State Supreme Court. But, again, because of the decision made hy Judge Steven Martin, the City must maintain Wesleyan during this process.

 

The Friends of Wesleyan Cemetery, Inc. would like to thank our attorneys, Taft, Siettinius und Hollister and the Attorney General's Office ot the State of Ohio. Without their combined efforts we would not be wherc we are today. It has been a very long siruggle.

 

Finally, we would very much like to thank Judge Steven Martin. We are so very grateful.

 

Please remember to vote for Judge Martin!

 

We are Still awaiting the news of the source of the funds from the Cily's budget for this year to maintain Weslevan Cemetery. It is our understanding thai Assistant City Manager Scutt Styles is the indlvidiiiil who is responsible lor seeing that Wesleyain is well maintained. It is our understanding that the City Finance Committee (all of which are City Council members) consisting of John Cranley, Chairman (352-5302), Jeff Berding Vice-Chairman (253-3283), Chris Bortz (352-3249), Laketaq Cole (352-3466), David Crowley (352-2453), Leslie Ghiz (352-3352), Jim Tarbell (352-3604) and Cecil Thomas (352-3499) are working to decide where the monieswill be coming from. Please get involved! Call your Cincinnati Finance Committee members These are the individuals who will he making decisions about where ihe monies to maintain Wesleyan Cemeiery will he coming from in the future. Lei your voices he heard! Please tell them it is their responsibility to see that Wesleyan Cemetery is properly maintained.

 

We hope very much next year to inform you that our long struggle is over and our loved ones will finally receive the respect they so deserve. We want a permanent solution and not a lernpdrary one from year to year. We are almost there. but not quite yet!

 

Our Very Best Wishes to All of You on Memorial Day, 2007.

 

The Fuends ofWesleyan Cemetery, Inc.

 

Debbie Redmon, President

 

Pal Jaeger, Vice President and Secreiary

 

Helen Fornash. Trustee

 

Helen Grigg. Trusteec

 

Betty Krieg. Treasirer

 

Will Redmon, Trustee

 

William Surgener, Trustee

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