Sharing this most recent update regarding the continuing joint care of Ravenna's Maple Grove Cemetery by both the city and Ravenna Township stressing how it remains a costly unresolved issue, particularly for the township.
Over 15,000 memorials are listed for Maple Grove on Find A Grave.
The township cited that it took over Grandview Memorial Park which has over 3,400 memorials listed for it on Find A Grave.
The article explains that Ravenna and Ravenna Township have a Union Cemetery Agreement.
"759.341 Union cemetery district."
"The legislative authority of each municipal corporation and the board of township trustees of each township that has united in the establishment and management of a cemetery under section 759.27 of the Revised Code, by an affirmative vote of a majority of each legislative authority and board, may form a union cemetery district comprised of all of the territory within the united municipal corporation and township for the purpose of levying taxes within the territory of the district for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the cemetery. The legislative authority and board, acting jointly, shall constitute the taxing authority of the union cemetery district. Notwithstanding sections 759.37, 5705.19, and 5705.191 of the Revised Code, in order to adopt a resolution to levy a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation within the district, a majority of the members of each legislative authority and board of township trustees constituting the taxing authority must vote in favor of the resolution. In all other matters, when the legislative authority and board are acting jointly as the taxing authority of the union cemetery district, each member of the legislative authority and board shall have one vote as described in section 759.37 of the Revised Code."
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"There's not another jurisdiction in the state of Ohio that is responsible for two cemeteries, except for us," said Township Trustee Hank Gibson, the township's representative on the cemetery board. "I think anyone with a sound mind would say that's not fair."
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Below is a link to the Fallen Timbers Union Cemetery District and the cemeteries they are responsible for.
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"NEW BUSINESS"
"A. DISCUSSION – JOINT MEETING FOR THE APPROVAL OF TAX MILLAGE FOR THE FALLEN TIMBERS UNION CEMETERY DISTRICT ON MAY 13, 2019 AT 6:00 P.M.
At a January 7, 2019 Special Joint Meeting, the Waterville City Council, along with the elected officials of the Village of Whitehouse and Waterville Township created the Fallen Timbers Union Cemetery District. At this joint meeting, a Cemetery Board of Trustees was selected from representatives of the three participating jurisdictions and a general consensus was reached on how the district would be funded and the necessary steps needed to begin operations as a union cemetery. Legislation is on tonight’s Council agenda which will finalize the City’s financial contribution, provide assistance with equipment services and transfer the City owned Wakeman Cemetery to the District. The Ohio Revised Code requires an annual joint meeting of the participating members of the Union Cemetery District to be held at the Council Chamber of the largest participating municipality at its first regular meeting in May each year for the purpose of determining the annual rate of taxation for the District. Since Waterville is the largest member, the meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Municipal Building prior to our regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. The meeting agenda and the District’s proposed 2020 Operating Budget was included with Council’s packet for their review and discussion. The rate of taxation approved at the joint meeting would be uniform throughout the District and is levied outside of the ten-mill limitation. The requested 0.46 mills includes the purchase of equipment thought to be part of the necessary “start-up” costs required to begin the operation and maintenance activities for the District’s five publicly owned cemeteries totaling 28.644 acres.
Mr. Frey, Chair of the Fallen Timbers Union Cemetery District Board of Trustees, stated that the 2020 Operating Budget was put together by the Cemetery Board and
was included in Council’s packet. This budget will need to be approved at the Joint District meeting on May 13 and at that meeting we will also need to set the levy that will be needed to fund the district in the future. 2019 will be funded through the seed money of $50,000 from each from the City of Waterville and the Village of Whitehouse.
Council held a brief discussion on the Fallen Timbers Union Cemetery District’s proposed 2020 budget. All three entities of the district will meet for the annual joint meeting on Monday, May 13 at 6:00 p.m. at the City of Waterville Council Chamber.
B. RESOLUTION 13-19 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR THE FALLEN TIMBERS UNION CEMETERY DISTRICT
At the January 7, 2019 Special Joint Meeting creating the Fallen Timbers Union Cemetery District, an understanding was reached among the elected officials present that the Cemetery District would need an interim source of funding to operate in 2019 until property taxes were received in 2020. This Resolution authorizes a “Cooperative Funding Agreement” between the City, the Village of Whitehouse and the Cemetery District to provide a total of $100,000 to fund the operational expenses of the District in 2019. The $50,000, contributed each by the City of Waterville and the Village of Whitehouse respectively, would be paid back to each jurisdiction over a period of five (5) years at a rate of $10,000 per year. The $50,000 payment to the District was included in the 2019 Appropriations Ordinance.
Mayor Brodie moved to adopt Resolution 13-19. Mr. Bruno seconded the motion. Roll call: Mrs. Bruno – yes, Mr. Pedro – yes, Mrs. Duncan – yes, Mayor Brodie – yes, Mr. Frey – abstain, Mr. Bruno – yes. The motion passed.
C. RESOLUTION 14-19 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL EQUIPMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE FALLEN TIMBERS UNION CEMETERY DISTRICT
This Resolution authorizes an “Intergovernmental Equipment Services Agreement” between the City of Waterville and the Fallen Timbers Union Cemetery District for equipment services involving the opening and closing of graves in the District’s cemeteries on a temporary basis until the District has the equipment and personnel to undertake this work on its own behalf. The city would charge the District $50.00 per hour per City Employee and $100.00 per hour for equipment.
Mr. Pedro moved to adopt Resolution 14-19. Mr. Bruno seconded the motion. Roll call: Mrs. Bruno – yes, Mr. Pedro – yes, Mrs. Duncan – yes, Mayor Brodie – yes, Mr. Frey – abstain, Mr. Bruno – yes. The motion passed.
D. ORDINANCE 06-19 AN ORDINANCE TRANSFERRING OWNERSHIP OF THE WAKEMAN CEMETERY TO THE FALLEN TIMBERS UNION CEMETERY DISTRICT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
This Ordinance authorizes the transfer of ownership of the Wakeman Cemetery located inside the City of Waterville to the Fallen Timbers Union Cemetery District. The emergency measure is requested in order to transfer the property to the District as soon as possible in order to avoid any disruption of the operation of the cemetery.
Mayor Brodie made a motion to suspend the rules to allow for the passage of Ordinance 06-19 as an emergency measure. Mrs. Duncan seconded the motion.
Roll call: Mr. Bruno – yes, Mr. Frey – abstain, Mayor Brodie – yes, Mrs. Duncan – yes, Mr. Pedro – yes, Mrs. Bruno - yes. The motion passed.
Mayor Brodie made a motion to move for the passage of Ordinance 06-19 as an emergency measure. Mr. Pedro seconded the motion.
Roll call: Mrs. Bruno – yes, Mr. Pedro – yes, Mrs. Duncan – yes, Mayor Brodie – yes, Mr. Frey – abstain, Mr. Bruno – yes. The motion passed."
