Proposal to eliminate foot stones in cemetery meets opposition

By Editor | August 9, 2023 |

By Carmen Ensinger

In 2017, the city of Winchester passed an ordinance which said that foot stones on graves in the City Cemetery are “discouraged, but not prohibited.” If they are placed, they must be level with the existing grave.

Foot stones are typically placed on the grave of a veteran and holds a military plaque.

However, at the Aug. 2 city council meeting, Alderman Bill Jacquot, who is on the Cemetery Committee suggested the city should amend that ordinance.

“We are of the opinion we should eliminate foot stones completely in the future,” he said. “Also, contact the relatives of graves that do have foot stones and change them to military plaques on the headstone at the city’s expense.”

Mayor Rex McIntire agreed with a portion of the idea.

“I don’t think we (city) should go through the expense of removing the current stones,” he said. “However, let people know that in the future the plaques have to be placed on the headstone. That way when they design the stone it can be taken into consideration.”

Military veteran Don Campbell, who has parents buried in the cemetery in a 10 space plot, said he will more than likely be buried there as well and does not like the idea of eliminating the foot stones.

“For one thing, I would like to know why you want to eliminate these foot stones,” Campbell said. “If maintenance is the issue, there are a lot of other things in the way of proper maintenance at that cemetery.”

Campbell said there are lots that have landscaping on them, some with border bricks and some with decorative rock.

“They have to mow around those,” Campbell said. “To me, if you are talking about just eliminating foot stones then I think basically you are targeting one group and that is the veterans and I’m not sure you want to do that.”

McIntire said that wasn’t the case at all.

“I don’t think this is targeted towards our veterans at all,” he said. “It is for anyone who wants to put a foot stone in.”

Campbell said that, as a veteran, they are entitled to certain benefits and the bronze plaque is one of them

“We will definitely take what you said into consideration,” McIntire said. “This is not meant to be disrespectful in any way.”

McIntire said the problem with the foot stones is that sometimes the mower hits them and damages them. Over time, some of them settle as well.

Utility Superintendent John Simmons is also wanting to limit the number of cremations to two per gravesite. The Cemetery Committee is looking for input from residents on this subject. If you would like to give your opinion, contact Alderman Jacquot, Alderman Jeff Pittman or Alderwoman Terry Gregory before next month’s city council meeting.

The council approved the removal of two trees. One of them is a dead tree at Commercial and West Jefferson on the property of Susie Fearneyhough. She will pay half of the $850 cost estimate from Powell’s Tree Service. The other dead tree is located on North Walnut off Cherry St.

The council also approved another year’s membership in the Morgan/Scott CEO program.

“Every year, I think Winchester has more students participate than anyone else,” McIntire said. “I feel it is a very worthwhile investment in our youth.”

McIntire said he couldn’t remember if the fee was $1,000 or $1,200 so the council made a motion not to exceed $1,200.

The council tabled a motion to have Easton Cleaning Services clean the basement at the library. They would basically clean all of the drywall dust off the ceiling joists, beams, ledges, walls, power wash the area, etc. It would take approximately two days and cost $2,060. This needs to be done before the area can be painted.

McIntire said that prior to this year’s Scott County Fair, Fair Board Chairman Bob Shafer contacted him regarding water use.

“He said the county is not loaded with cash and asked if there was any way we could not charge them for sewer for the water used during the fair,” McIntire said. “Most of the water they use is used to water the animals, wash them and keep them cool, so it isn’t going down the sewer anyway. I told them I was sure we could work something out so I hope you don’t have a problem with that.”

Alderman Lawrence Coultas had a comment he wanted to make.

“I don’t have a problem not charging them for sewer, but I do have a problem with the fact that we keep doing things for the county and keep subsidizing them,” Coultas said. “Like the recent taxes we paid and the unreasonable contract for dispatching – we keep doing for them and never see any reciprocation. I have never seen them do anything for us or any work for us. How long are we going to keep doing this? I would like for them to show they appreciate what we do for them.”

City Clerk Teri Little said she called the Health Department about the AED unit that the council wanted to get for city hall.

“When I talked to them, they (Health Department) said they were looking at purchasing some to put in some of the downtown businesses,” she said. “So, I didn’t know if you wanted to look into getting one from them or get our own.”

The council also discussed CPR training for its city employees.

“They also said that they do CPR training,” Little said. “She can come up here and hold the classes or we can go down there – whichever is easiest.”

The council decided they would be fine with one from the Health Department.

Alderman Pittman reported that Fire Chief Fred Andrews had asked for tons of outdated equipment to be replaced. He also said they would like to seek grants for these purchases.

“We talked to Dan Rogers who writes grants all the time and he would be willing to write some grants for us,” Pittman said. “He has a fee, but if you get a grant, he gets paid through that grant.”

Pittman said they called him and he will come to Winchester and assess their needs for free and write a grant to fit those needs.

McIntire asked what his charge was to write the grant if the department doesn’t get the grant. Pittman didn’t know how much he charges.