City wants to regulate you some more...

[Tee]

Now, the city wants to tell us how to grieve....?

Across Maple Grove Cemetery, between the granite and marble tombstones, are nestled small remembrances of lost loved ones.


Graves of small children have dolls and toys placed around the headstones. One has a small model car. Nearby, somebody sunk concrete and placed a large, wrought-iron cross. Another has plastic toys glued to the stone.
The question the Dodge City Commission is trying to figure out is: How far is too far?

The commission and representatives from Dodge City Parks and Recreation discussed city policy regulating grave decorations, as well as ramping up enforcement, during a work study session Monday night.


Paul Lewis, director of parks and recreation, said the added-on remembrances had become a problem for the maintenance crews, as well as for families who wish to keep a loved one's grave clear.
"Something needs to happen," Lewis said. "People are cementing things into place."

Let's not forget that we own those plots and paid a hefty price for the purchase at the time of our loved ones passing and we pay for ongoing upkeep through taxes.

We own it- if it makes us feel better to place toys on our childs grave then leave us the ______ alone!

The problem lies in maintenance, Lewis said. Some people who own graves in Maple Grove have added countless decorations, which have begun to spill over into the grass. During the mowing season, Lewis said, it becomes harder to maintain the grass.

Well BOO HOO. I find my job hard at times too. Maybe we should just get rid of the headstones, that'd make it real easy to mow.

And once again, Terry Lee got it right...

Commissioner Terry Lee said he didn't agree with the other commissioners and felt it was a mistake to regulate the types of decorations on graves.
I don't think local government needs to be in the business of telling people how they're going to grieve," he said. "I've heard a lot from the public feeling the same way. They feel intruded upon."

DodgeCity.com: Dodge Globe: Local News: Stories

I wish our leaders would address the real problems of fiscal irresponsibility, stick to running the race track and the all4fun, and stop telling us how to celebrate the loss of our loved ones on our own property.




"Whittling away at our freedoms, one commission meeting at a time."

[TheWizzard]

I may agree with the question though... how far is too far? Can I go out and build a gazebo on or around a head stone of my loved one? My own answer to that would be yes if I was to buy the plots that surround my loved one. I can see their point that too many items around a stone will make it look cluttered and make it hard to get the weed eater around it to keep it looking nice. I compare it to my front yard and my neighbors front yard. If I keep mine mowed and looking nice it does take away the neatness of it if my neighbors yard had cars parked in the front yard and toys and trash everwhere and grass a foot high. I get the problem, just not sure how to solve the problem.

[Tee]

I've been up there many times. I personally, do not think a problem exists, except with maybe one or two grave sites. It certainly doesn't warrant the passing of more ordinances and regulations so that the city can further regulate it for everyone from here on out.

Me thinks we may be getting lazy, not wanting to reach down and move an item to the side to mow under or around it.

[lurker]

Once upon a time and in a land far, far away, Government employees were referred to as "Public Servants" but now they regard themselves as public controllers.

[brownsugar]

Ive seen this in the paper the other day and it make me sick, i had to purchase a plot to bury my husband six years ago,and my daughters always wants to go and put flowers on the father grave for his b-day, fathers day, holidays, and days later we go back out to get the flowers or what we put out there at the cemetery and there gone, i think the city owes me some decorations, it not that i leave them out there for long periods of times, just for days and they still take them,it just burn my ass that they do this, just have to get this off of my chest.

[Mike B.]

IMO,

Paul Lewis was hired to do a job. He is the manager of the Park and Rec. dept. Part of that job includes managing the maint. at the city cemetery.

The city commission should not even be involved in this issue. Department heads are hired to do a job. Paul needs to take care of it. He's in charge. If he can not or will deal with the problems...well...that tells me alot. The commission should tell him to take care it!!! We do not need another city ordinance because a department head is unable or unwilling do his job!!! If a department head does his job and it is unsatisfactory then the city manager can deal with it.

Because a few people are irr-responsible does not mean that everyone should pay for their actions. I think people should be able to decorate or not depending upon what they want to do. Limitations placed upon a family, on how they grieve is up to them, not the city.

[gunnar1073]

Am I mistaken? But haven't they outlawed above ground grave markers?

The reason I heard was that it cost too much time and money to mow around them.

What a bullshit excuse. It's a damn memorial and they should have no say in how I choose to remember my loved one.

I guess if I glue something on and it falls off then throw it away. But until then, grab the weedeater and push mower, put away the 72" ztr mower with the cupholder and try to remember the emotions of the family and friends that were there the first day their loved ones were laid to rest.

[lurker]

Mayhaps we can find some fresh laborers in our new jail?

[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by lurker

Mayhaps we can find some fresh laborers in our new jail?

The liability is to high. One of them might break a nail and sue the County!


Tee,

I agree with you. We already have to much government getting involved in things they have no business even looking at. We do not need another law telling us what's right and/or wrong.

Let your commissioners know what you think.

Dodge City, KS - Official Website - City Commission

[Wildcat12]

I had placed 3 angels on the edge of my mom's stone. These angels were not that big, maybe an inch high. They had cement sticks that could be pushed into the ground. They were mowed over. I tried it again & placed the new ones beside the permanent flower vase. Went back & they were gone again. I feel that putting something bigger on mom's grave would not be something she would like. That wasn't her at all. I'm at a loss at what I can do for her that will remain there for good. Dad said that we could cement them to her stone, but I feel that wouldn't be something she would appreciate. I'm very frustrated with what I can & can't do for her grave. I feel I should be able to put what I want on the stone & grave site for which we paid a large price.