Regarding Oakwood Cemetery care

To the Editor,

     I am one of five members on the Cemetery Board. All board members agree the cemetery looked kind of shabby at times this spring. We did have an abnormal amount of rain showers during the normal spring growth period that hampered the time mowing could be done and grass needed cutting every three days to look good.

     We have only one full-time employee to care for the estimated 10 or 12 acres, with hundreds of grave markers to trim around.

     We, the board members, only make suggestions to the city council about care, needs, etc. We are not in charge of hiring employees. The city council hires the employees. We, as board members, have been requesting additional help for the last two years or more. At one point we were told inmates from the state prison in Anamosa could be brought in to work at little cost to the city, but apparently that didn’t materialize.

     I suggest those who have opinions to call City Hall, their councilperson, or the mayor to complain to them.

     I am in disagreement with Mr. Burrichter saying there were no flags inside the grounds. I don’t know when he visited, but there were hundreds of flags with names of veterans attached to the roles lining all roads within the cemetery. Thanks to all the volunteers who gave of their time and effort to install and remove them after the Fourth (of July). We should all be grateful for their work.

     Don’t forget to contact your councilperson and request extra help with the mowing and trimming. The board would appreciate your help.

Larry Behrends

Monticello, Iowa