First, starting off on a positive note, I'd like to share this wonderful spotlight story written by Bob Coupland of the "Tribune Chronicle" of Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio.
This extensive article gives a detailed description of the funds provided by the Cemetery Grant Fund that has been helping Active/Registered Not-For-Profit Cemeteries in Ohio since 2019.
Before this law was passed and enacted no such program was in place by the State of Ohio that helped any cemetery that has needed funding in a manner like what this law has accomplished.
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For additional reference.:
WFMJ in Youngstown (Mahoning County.:
https://www.wfmj.com/story/42772507/5-valley-cemeteries-receiving-funding-for-repairs-improvements
Excerpt:
"The Cemetery Grant Fund, which was signed into law as House Bill 168, became effective Oct. 29, 2018. The funds are to be used for exceptional maintenance of cemetery grounds or training for cemetery personnel.
Any registered, non-profit cemetery may apply for the grant, which is funded by $1 of every burial permit fee received by the Division. Cemeteries that applied and did not receive funding this year are encouraged to apply again next year."
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Further Link.:
Ohio Cemetery Grant Fund Program details
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However, sadly, we still must be mindful and reflect on the fact that Ohio's Inactive Cemeteries are in the category of being Unregistered (AKA Not Registered) cemeteries - meaning no burials in the past 25 years,
Additionally:
Cemeteries or burial grounds deemed to be "Family Cemeteries" - as per the Ohio Revised Code stated in the following sections negatively affects them as well and leaves them out of the Registration process.:
(D) Sections 4767.02 to 4767.04 of the Revised Code do not apply to or affect a family cemetery or a cemetery in which there have been no interments during the previous twenty-five calendar years. As used in this division, "family cemetery" means a cemetery containing the human remains of persons, at least three-fourths of whom have a common ancestor or who are the spouse or adopted child of that common ancestor.
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Now, what the State of Ohio needs to do is to expand the Cemetery Grant Program to include cemeteries that are no longer Active and thus are relegated to being Unregistered that are deteriorating, and in so many cases disappearing, before it is too late for them and they are declared abandoned and thus become "fair game" for any sort of development because they are deemed to be a hazard to society. (See: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/.../1953-2978.aspx)
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