Cemetery board member updates status of projects

To the editor:

On behalf of the Prairie Lawn Cemetery District Board, I would like to give you an update on our cemetery projects. As many of you know, and to those who don’t, about 15 years ago the cemetery received a rather large memorial donation from the Grace Errett estate, which had been passed down to her from her sister, Dorothy, and Dr. Wendell Tate.

There were no specifics as to how the donation was to be used. A metal building to house equipment was built, a new tractor and lawnmower were purchased, stones were straightened, and various other regular maintenance items were completed. The board feels that memorial monies should be spent to enhance or improve the cemetery, not for routine maintenance items.

With this in mind, a contractor’s bid was approved at a special meeting in December to construct a directory shelter at the front of the cemetery. It will house a map and book providing the location of all interments. Another contractor’s bid was also approved for stone pillars at the entrance. Both contractors have agreed to begin work around the middle of March and to be completed by May 15, providing the weather cooperates.

All of this work is being funded by a portion of the remainder of the Tate Memorial Fund. Memorial plaques will be placed on both sides of the entrance work and the directory shelter stating this fact. No taxpayer money will be used; it is all memorial funds.

The board feels this will not only be a great enhancement to our cemetery, but an appropriate memorial to the generosity of the Tate family as well.

Future plans are to add a new fence across the front. A fence fund has been established for this purpose. The best interests of the cemetery and the community are our first concern.

The annual meeting of the cemetery will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at the city building conference room. We encourage everyone to attend and see the contractor’s drawings of our projects.

We thank you for your support and hope we can get through the construction phase without too much inconvenience to anyone and that we can have it all looking beautiful for Memorial Day.

Carmen South
Secretary-Treasurer
Prairie Lawn Cemetery Board