Ross County — Floral Hills Memory Gardens has finally reached clarity, and is on the road to receiving public care…but not just yet.
In a Ross County Common Pleas Court status conference Thursday with Judge Mike Ater, it was determined that the legally abandoned large burial ground south of Chillicothe is a public cemetery per state law, and that Huntington Township is obligated to take it over, but after a little more paperwork is done.
Ross County Prosecutor Jeffrey Marks (as counsel for county and township officers) and two Huntington Township trustees, as well as volunteer leader Dave Robertson, attended the hearing.
Marks agreed that Floral Hills is out of limbo, and on the road to becoming public. But that will not happen until some time after the next hearing on September 25th, after Federal tax liens are addressed, as well as sorting through many files.
Huntington Township trustee John Cottrill said the township’s conversation with the Ross County Commissioners last Monday set the foundation to deal with the inevitable takeover and its costs.
Cottrill said the first year of caring for the cemetery will be the hump year, and they asked the commissioners – and will possibly ask the state – for assistance.
He said his cost analysis shows it will be more than $300,000 to get everything done for the cemetery that more than doubles their caretaking: the cemetery office needs repair or replacement, the storage building needs work, the entry road needs repair, and brush needs cut. In addition, the bridge at the entrance is in bad shape and the county can’t help them with it until the township has clear title.
Dave Robertson has led a volunteer effort to care for the abandoned grounds for a decade, and says it is a relief that the legal process has finally reached this point – but is frustrated with the time and effort it took to get it started, and how long it took. He says he will continue to lead work on the cemetery, and then cooperate with the township as they take over.
Robertson says he has personally spent many thousands of dollars on the care, including buying mowers and gasoline – but that to claim compensation for it would just set things back, and it is the price for doing the right thing.
Hear much more in the below videos, and read previous stories:
- “Local Officials Thinking Ahead with Another Hearing on Abandoned Cemetery in Ross County” August 16th.
- And “Next Hearing on Abandoned Floral Hills Cemetery This Afternoon” August 17th.
