The Ohio Cemetery Law Task Force committee has now concluded their year of monthly meetings reviewing the topic of the Ohio Revised Codes that pertain to Ohio's cemeteries.
The task force's entire report is now posted on the Department of Real Estate's website.
Click HERE to link directly to their report and recommendations.
The Remaining Major Categories (from the "Executive Summary"):
Executive Summary
Task Force Mandate, Mission and Vision
Task Force Process Overview
Stakeholders Represented and Statements Given
Recommendations for Legislative Initiatives
Exhibits
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The statement below is excerpted from the "Executive Summary":
"Task Force members were as diverse as the stakeholders that provided insightful information on the past, present, and future of cemeteries. During the many multifaceted discussions held by the Task Force one tenet became clear and was a driving force in the meetings: All burial sites and human remains, regardless of historic period or culture, deserve the same level of protection and respect. In following that tenet this report was crafted."
Below is a further break down from Ohio Cemetery Law Task Force's Report - Page 3:
"During discussions, central categories were
identified and then used as a guide for deliberations":
1) Definitions
2) Preservation and Protection
3) Registration, Record Keeping and
Technology
4) Maintenance
5) Enforcement
6) Funding
7) Statutory Alignment
8) Protected Groups
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Excerpted from the Task Force Report - Page 15:
"4. The Task Force
considered the feasibility of defining “inactive” cemeteries and requiring a
registration process; however, it was determined that this could be problematic
for lack of interested parties with sufficient interest to pay fees or be
responsible for registration under existing codes or rules."
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My written testimony submitted February 2, 2014:
From: Linda Jean Limes Ellis
Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 4:52 PM
To: Petit, Anne; corynoonan12@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Exploring almost forgotten
gravesites in Ohio
To Anne and Cory,
I am writing to you both, as co-chairs of the
Ohio Cemetery Law Task Force, on behalf of Ohio's inactive and abandoned
cemeteries.
Ohio's earliest cemeteries have become the
state's most endangered burial grounds due to their age. So many have fallen victim to vandalism, and
neglect of care to the point that they are hardly recognizable as cemeteries
today.
Unfortunately, inactive and abandoned cemeteries are not
granted the same status as active cemeteries and are not registered in Ohio
under the current laws. As I am sure you
both know, complaints can only be filed to the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution
Commission regarding registered cemeteries; which leaves the rest of Ohio's
cemeteries out of the process. Surely, changes can be made to include them as
well so all of Ohio's cemeteries are afforded the same protection.
Too much Ohio history has been lost and what
is left needs to be preserved and saved.
Thank you for reading my message. I appreciate your consideration of my appeal
on behalf of Ohio's inactive and abandoned cemeteries for the reasons cited
above.
I would be pleased to hear from you. I wish you both and the Ohio Cemetery Law
Task Force great success with its work and ultimate recommendations.
Sincerely,
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My Thoughts:
Thus, I am indeed saddened to know that, in the end, the Ohio Cemetery Law Task Force members were not able to agree to conclude their work by adhering to their stated tenent that "All burial sites and human remains, regardless of
historic period or culture, deserve the same level of protection and respect. "
Their report did not include any recommendation to Ohio's Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and the Ohio General Assembly, to recognize that inactive cemeteries need to be registered, just as active ones are registered, which would ensure that all of Ohio's cemeteries are at the same level of importance for such purposes as providing protection which includes the filing of official complaints against those who have neglected them, and restoring respect to the gravesites of the Buckeye state's earliest pioneers that have for too long been lost and forgotten.
Please, Keep Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in Ohio, keep photographing gravestones, keep transcribing gravestone inscriptions and epitaphs, and keep documenting the historical facts about the lives of those who are buried at the cemeteries you visit. Your efforts are appreciated, and your work will live on despite the defeat that inactive cemeteries have once again suffered to gain equal status with their active counterparts.
Please, Keep Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in Ohio, keep photographing gravestones, keep transcribing gravestone inscriptions and epitaphs, and keep documenting the historical facts about the lives of those who are buried at the cemeteries you visit. Your efforts are appreciated, and your work will live on despite the defeat that inactive cemeteries have once again suffered to gain equal status with their active counterparts.
Thank you.
