Recapping the August 2023 Scioto Post videos.: Floral Hills Memory Gardens and the Huntington Township Trustees assuming responsibility of the cemetery. David Robertson discussing the work that has been done at Floral Hills Memory Gardens by volunteers for 12 years.

Recapping the August, 2023 "Scioto Post Videos" about the Floral Hills Memory Gardens, Huntington Township Trustees, David Robertson, Jeff Marks, Ross County Prosecutor.: 

"The Scioto Post" -  Floral Hills Memory Gardens videos - August 2023:

2023 08 17 Floral Hills 3 Jeff Marks & Huntington Township 

 - 6:19 minutes

Interview with Jeff Marks Ross County Prosecutor and John Cottrill, a Huntington Township Trustee.  

Jeff Marks stated: "that all 3 parties came to the agreement that Floral Hills Memory Gardens should be considered a public cemetery according to the provisions of the Ohio Revised Code dealing with townships. That takes away the biggest legistical hurdle to resolving this matter.  Because of that decision that the statues are pretty clear that in a situation like this the cemetery would flow to the township."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DV1jYp0W6w

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2023 08 17 Floral Hills 3 Dave Robertson

- 11:43 minutes

David Robertson mentions six Attorney General Opinions he can cite going back to 1966 that apply to situations impacting cemeteries like Floral Hills Memory Gardens that ultimately led them to becoming abandoned with no legal owners. 

He discusses the "may and can" choice of words used instead of the "will and the shall"wording that was written into the Ohio Revised Codes during the 1950s and the 1960s; some being revised in the 1970s that was made at a time when the law makers felt they wouldn't have to force it to make things happen. Thus, disputes ended up as court cases where attorneys on both sides can interpret them differently and thus leave a cemetery in limbo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ2d-LgqVJE

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 2023 08 14 Floral Hills Memory Gardens Discussion

 - 8:09 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw3HMkb2x7k 

"Aug 14, 2023 - Ross County Prosecutor Jeff Marks explains the discussion between the Huntington Township Trustees and Ross County Commissioners on the Floral Hills Memory Gardens situation. "

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David Robertson video # 1 - Jul 26, 2023 2023-07-24

- 5:29 minutes

 David Robertson - No. 1, champion of Floral Hills Memory Garden, explains the issues with the cemetery on US 23 South to Kevin Coleman, after speaking to the Ross County Commissioners July 24th, 2023.

David Robertson, "But, you also got to understand its been 12 years, I think its been long enough. I don't know how people can sleep at night with the condition of Floral Hills."  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plUxHaKeCeU&t=46s

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David Robertson - No. 2 - Plat Maps of Floral Hills

- 1:09 minutes 

20232023-07-24 David Robertson shows plat of Floral Hills Memory Garden David Robertson, champion of Floral Hills Memory Garden. 

Shows the 1960s plat of the cemetery on US 23 South to Kevin Coleman, after speaking to the Ross County Commissioners July 24th, 2023. 

 David Robertson shows two 1960s era plat maps of the Floral Hills Memory Gardens that he had especially enlarged.  David Robertson submitted them to the Ross County Recorder's Office so they would be officially filed with them. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7dSHJEpNqE&t=1s

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Ohio Attorney General Opinion 66 - 1966 - October 3, 1966.:
Chapter 517 for cemeteries of the Ohio Revised Code

  

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Ohio Revised Code 517.27

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Clean Up Floral Hills Memory Gardens on Facebook.

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Floral Hills Memory Gardens on Find a Grave.

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Flooding issues persist at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Avon (Lorain County, Ohio) and continuing complaints about the situation have not resolved the problem.

 Per this August 18, 2023 Channel 19 WOIO Cleveland news report, Resthaven Memory Gardens in Avon, Lorain County, Ohio, owned and operated by Everstory Partners formerly called StoneMor, continues with its long time flooding problems seriously affecting gravesites.  The situation makes it difficult for those visiting family and friends at this sprawling mostly flat terrain cemetery who need to stand in the water wearing boots and looking at rows of grave markers submerged under water.

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Quoting from the story.:

"The cemetery has drawn concerns, complaints, and legal action over the years, with 19 News first reporting on the story back in 2018."

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In April, 2023, per a news release, StoneMor changed their name to "Everstory Partners."

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Better Business Bureau Complaints

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On a personal note, I corresponded with Nancy King just a few years ago.  Nancy's parents were buried at Resthaven Memory Gardens.  Sadly, Nancy felt she had no other recourse left for her since her complaints were not resolved, so she made the difficult and personally expensive decision to have her parents exhumed from their gravesites at Resthaven Memory Gardens in 2019.  Then her parents were cremated and flown to near where she lived in California and re-interred at a cemetery near her.  

On September 12, 2019, Channel 3 TV Station WKYC aired Nancy's story that fortunately is still available to view.

****** 

Nancy King passed away on January 28, 2022.

Nancy King's Tribute Facebook Page.  

Thus, it is quite sad for me to keep hearing about unresolved problems at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Avon with seemingly no clear path forward to achieve resolution regardless if the owner's name is StoneMor or Everstory Partners - it is the same sad story!  The company needs to do more than only change their name, they need to change how they handle their business and step up to honor their repeated promises to resolve long standing problems like flooding at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Avon, Ohio.

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Rescuing Resthaven Cemetery on Facebook

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Resthaven Cemetery on Find a Grave

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I visited Resthaven Memory Gardens in 2019 to pay my respects at the gravesite of a childhood friend, Linda L. Kennelley Kurianowicz.  Thankfully it had not been raining in the past few days so the ground was dry.  

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Sharing The Best News Yet for Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Ross County, Ohio - Huntington Township to take over Floral Hills Memory Gardens!

 Sharing this article published by the "Chillicothe Gazette" on August 18, 2023.:

"Huntington Township to take over Floral Hills Memory Gardens"

By:

Megan Becker

"Chillicothe Gazette"

"CHILLICOTHE ― Citizens can rejoice as the Floral Hills Memory Gardens conflict comes to a resolution, but Huntington Township trustees grapple with mounting financial challenges.

 The cemetery owned by Ronald Downey and Joseph Miller has been abandoned for over 10 years and has since been cared for by volunteers. The property owes almost $19,000 in back taxes, according to Ross County Treasurer Dave Jeffers.

 At the Aug. 17 status conference, Judge Michael Ater decided the cemetery was public and ownership should be transferred to Huntington Township. Ross County Prosecutor Jeffrey Marks said this decision, "takes away the biggest logistical hurdle to resolving this matter."

 Huntington Township does not officially own Floral Hills Memory Gardens. The next status conference is scheduled at 11 a.m. Sept. 25 at the Ross County Courthouse.

 Marks said the next step is to resolve any tax liens.

Huntington Township Trustee John Cottrill said Huntington Township manages 10 cemeteries. Floral Hills, which would be its 11th property, is larger than every other cemetery combined.

 Community comes together to help Huntington

 Army Veteran Dave Robertson runs the Clean Up Floral Hills Memory Gardens Facebook page and has been the main caretaker of the cemetery since it was abandoned. However, he stopped caring for the cemetery to prompt a response from the court.

 "What I promised Huntington township was if they got [the cemetery] I would put it back to the way it was two years ago when I walked away from it," Robertson said. "It's going to be a nightmare to get that back under control." "

 Robertson is planning on forming a volunteer group to clean up the cemetery one last time before Huntington officially takes over. Cottrill said Robertson plays a crucial role in getting the cemetery, "back to order."

 Huntington Township would have some funds to care for the cemetery, according to Huntington Bank Representative Timothy Long, with access to an endowment fund that generates about $800 to $900 a month in interest per month. However, the township would have to find a way to fund upfront expenses.

 Cottrill said the cemetery would cost Huntington about $300,000 for new equipment and building, bridge and driveway repairs. The entrance bridge to the cemetery requires urgent repairs, with an estimated repair cost of $120,000.

 Before the status conference, Huntington Township trustees approached the Ross County Commissioners to seek financial aid in case the township assumed responsibility for the cemetery. Commissioner Dwight Garrett expressed willingness to explore assistance during the initial transition and restoration if the property was transferred to the township.

 Cottrill said the township also plans on approaching state representatives for financial assistance.

Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting.