Posted on the November 10, 2021 "Dispatch.com" website, with limited number of free views for non-subscribers, is the follow-up story under the "Local" Section by "Columbus Dispatch" reporter, Sheridan Hendrix. Sheridan has once again covered an auction offering for purchase the Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pickaway County.
Sadly, as in prior auctions, there were no bids on this Active Cemetery that has lost its Registration due to the fact that there is no owner to renew it. The Ohio Revised Codes (Chapter 4767) require Active cemeteries to be Registered.
In my opinion, the auction process clearly is one that has not worked well to resolve the fact Floral Hills Memory Gardens has no caretaker / owner overseeing its day-to-day needs.
Perhaps the law in the State of Ohio considers delinquent out of state "owners" who by last published account owe $111,667.65 in back taxes to the State of Ohio, to still be viable owners of this Active with current burials cemetery.
Keeping in mind that all five parcels of the cemetery property have been forfeited to the State of Ohio. Also, keeping in mind that none of the five parcels of land have "Graveyards / Monuments / Cemeteries" Land Use Code of 690 - and why is that the case - I don't know. Four parcels have the Land Use Code of 400 - "Commercial Vacant Land" and one parcel has the Land Use Code of 499 - "Other Commercial Structures". Keeping in mind there are at least 1,250 deceased persons interred at Floral Hills Memory Gardens which is a cemetery as we know. Keeping in mind that a cemetery is sacred grounds.
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Thanking Sheridan who has conducted outstanding investigative work covering the decade long situation that has left Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Walnut Township, near Circleville, in Pickaway County, Ohio "in limbo" and being maintained only by all-volunteer individuals, groups, and funeral homes in the absence of any caretaker owner.
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The latest news from the Pickaway County Auditor is that Floral Hills Memory Gardens will again be put up for auction but not until sometime in 2022.
This blog has been reporting on the situations for both Floral Hills Memory Gardens locations - Pickaway County and Ross County, since April 20, 2013. Anyone can do a search on this bog for "Floral Hills" and all of the previous blog posts will appear. That is now over 8 years - another sobering reality to keep in mind.
