Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission Current Member Listing - November 2019

OHIO CEMETERY DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMISSION

Members:

Rufus Slade
Woodland Cemetery
Dayton, OH
July 1, 2020
 
Kirk D. Roberts
Sherwood Memorial Gardens
Wooster, OH
July 1, 2020

 Thomas R. Thompson
Catholic Cemeteries Association
North Ridgeville, OH
July 1, 2021

Jay C. Russell
Public Member
Medina, OH
July 1, 2022

New Member:
Timothy D. Cassady
Public Member
Mechanicsburg, OH
October 4, 2019 - July 1, 2023

Vacant - Public Member
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
77 South High Street
20th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6133 U.S.A.
An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
614 | 466 4100
Fax 614 | 644 0584
TTY/TDD 800 | 750 0750
www.com.ohio.gov
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission"

"1. Introduce myself and Kelly Neer
 
2. Who are we? 
*****
9 member commission, 

7 representing the three types of cemeteries and 

2 public members, that assist in resolving complaints against registered cemeteries using informal techniques of mediation.
***** 
3. Complaint process
 
4. Authority
 
Top Maintenance Complaints:

1. Mowing and trimming
 
2. Pest control – groundhogs, deer, geese
 
3. Road conditions
 
4. Fences
 
5. Flags/decorations
 
6. Lot conditions – settling/seeding
 
Avoiding Complaints
 
1. Understanding your client

 
2. Look at the big picture

 3. Communications with the client
 4. Communications with other cemetery staff

 5. Minimum Maintenance Guidelines

 6. Your rules and regulations

 7. Some complaints can’t be prevented – OCDRC provides a forum for families and cemeteries to be 
heard

 
8. Most cemeteries are well maintained! It provides comfort to families – thank you for your work!!"
~*~*~*~*~
Kimberley S. Wells, Division Counsel; Kelly Neer, External Auditor; and Christie Limbert, Assistant Attorney General.

Cemetery restoration group needs volunteers

Champaign County, Ohio.

"The Champaign County Cemetery Restoration Project is inviting adults in the community, who enjoy an outdoor challenge, to assist in clearing a local cemetery. The Rector-Gard Cemetery at the corner of Upper Valley Pike and Storms Creek Road has been selected for a late-fall clean up. Bad weather and harvesting have prevented an earlier date.
The dates for the effort (weather permitting) are Saturdays, November 16 and 23, beginning at 10 a.m., and Sundays, November 17 and 24 at 1 p.m. Persons with brush saws and chain saws are especially needed. Participants should bring such tools as rakes and other helpful items. Boots and gloves are recommended. 
Prospective volunteers are asked to call and register with Janet Ebert at 937-653-3440 prior to attending the clean up date."