Update regarding Floral Hills Memory Gardens - Looking ahead as the Huntington Township Trustees assume responsibility for this beautiful Active cemetery in Ross County, Ohio.

Definitive news is finally unfolding that confirms that the Huntington Township Trustees in Ross County, Ohio are assuming responsibility for the Floral Hills Memory Gardens in their township.  

For well over a decade the Huntington Township Trustees have persistently refused to take over Floral Hills Memory Gardens -- an Active cemetery that was abandoned by its owners who committed crimes against it and the lot owners -- and fled the state avoiding to pay the taxes owed on the cemetery.  

Now in 2024, after at least a decade of the cemetery being maintained solely by volunteers, the court in the county agreed the cemetery is a public cemetery and therefore it belongs to the township.

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Sharing this link to the latest story by the Scioto Post about the take over of Floral Hills Memory Gardens by the Huntington Township Trustees.

Huntington Township Trustees -- Approx. 8 minute Youtube video interview. 

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David Robertson is mentioned in the video. 

David has been at the forefront since Floral Hills Memory Gardens was first abandoned and has continued on regular basis to mow the grounds.  He was able to enlist groups of volunteers from various sources when needed to handle the needs of the cemetery. He has been an inspiration for others who seek to save a cemetery when perhaps no one else steps up to stay steadfast and follow that same path.    

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Below is a link to the Facebook Group: "Clean Up Floral Hills Memory Gardens". :

https://www.facebook.com/cleanupfloralhills

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Floral Hills Memory Gardens on Find a Grave

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Conclusion.:  

The Huntington Township trustees are wished all of the best with their duties assuming all of the responsibilities of this Active public cemetery with over 3,000 burials.  

The trustees are going to need all the support, financial and otherwise, they can garner from the community and beyond to assure they will be successful to do right by the cemetery itself and for those whose friends and families rest in peace on its sacred grounds.  

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Yes, this reality has been a long time coming for Floral Hills Memory Gardens; thus in the end, the wait for it to arrive needs to be well worth it for all concerned.  

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Announcing from the Fayette County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society - Monday, June 17, 2024 - 6:30PM - "A Walk in St. Colman's Cemetery" - Mr. Paul LaRue is the tour guide.

Sharing from the Fayette County Genealogical Society.:

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For further reference.:

Saint Colman's Cemetery on Find a Grave

Ohioans can report cemetery maintenance issues to a state commission - WFMJ.com -- The Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing

Ohioans can report cemetery maintenance issues to a state commis - WFMJ.com: 

"Ohioans may not be aware that there’s a place they can file a complaint if a cemetery where a loved one is buried is overgrown or has other maintenance issues.

The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing the registration of cemeteries with recent burials and works to ensure appropriate maintenance is taking place. Family cemeteries are exempt from this registration requirement.

The division encourages people to help keep the state’s cemeteries beautiful and safe by reporting maintenance issues.

“Whether it’s during Memorial Day or at any other time of the year, we encourage individuals who notice a potential issue at a cemetery to first address it with cemetery management so it can be resolved,” Hawk said. “While management is usually responsive to those concerns if issues persist, individuals may choose to file a complaint with the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Commission so the necessary steps can be taken to address that issue.”

The Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission is a nine-person commission that assists in resolving complaints against registered cemeteries, or a cemetery that is not registered but is required to be registered. A complaint may be submitted to the Commission by downloading a form online.

In addition to resolving disputes, the Commission suggests the below minimum maintenance guidelines for cemeteries:

    Cut grass and trim around all markers and/or monuments once per month during the growing season.

    Have a plan in place to remove underbrush, leaves, tree seedlings, dead trees, and flowers.

    Remove trash and funeral flowers once a month (artificial flowers once a year).

    Sod or seed graves as necessary within one year of interment.
    Foundations for new markers that have been ordered should be set within one calendar year.

    Roads, buildings, structures, and fencing should be maintained and repaired as needed.
    Cemetery perimeter should be marked either physically or recorded at the County.

Management/Maintenance of Rules, Regulations, and Records

Electronic or paper cemetery records of interment, entombment or inurnment right owners and interment, entombment or inurnment records indicating the deceased name, place of death, date, and location of the interment, entombment or inurnment should be maintained in the cemetery's office.  Paper copies of records required for the verification of interment, entombment, or inurnment rights and cemetery interment, entombment, or inurnment records as indicated above should be maintained in a fireproof container within the cemetery office.  If possible duplicate copies of all cemetery records should be maintained off-site. It is permissible to maintain records in an electronic format so long as the electronic copies are true copies of all the original documents.

All graves or lots should be identified by a map that is stored in the office of the cemetery per ORC Section 1721.09.

Effective March 19, 2015, newly developed lots should be pinned and owners’ names should be recorded so that family lot positions are identifiable and able to be located.

Cemeteries should conduct all interments within seven days of the date of the order unless waived by the next of kin or other responsible party."

Rules regarding flowers and decorations should be posted at the cemetery.

The vault or any other burial container should be placed at least twelve inches below grade.

The cemetery’s rules and regulations should be provided upon request.

Cemetery management contact information should be posted at the main public entrance of the cemetery and at the onsite office if one exists." 

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Ohio Revised Code Section 4767.02