City: New Cemetery Law Will Stand

Not a lot of opposition showed up to the city council meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, as the Glasgow City Council made a final motion to approve the change to an ordinance allowing standing headstones on certain sections of the Highland Cemetery.

The city council has faced opposition on their decision, along with questions from the community. Comments at the recent meeting questioned whether or not family members with deceased relatives in plots next to standing stones would be notified, as the standing stones would be grandfathered into the new ordinance.

Before the change of the city ordinance 44 standing headstones had been placed in six sections of the cemetery that prohibited standing stones. Flat stones were required because of smaller plots in the sections. Rather than remove the stones that were already standing the city decided to change the ordinance to allow standing headstones, with certain requirements and to grandfather the stones that had already been placed in.

The first reading of the ordinance took place on Monday, Sept. 4. The city will allow one monument for a family plot, which means at least two plots must be next to each other. Other size requirements were also included in the new ordinance to be sure that maintenance and encroachment issues would be addressed.

Glasgow Mayor Becky Erickson once again apologized to the families who were affected by the placement of the current standing stones. Council member Rod Karst also addressed those questioning the decision that other sections in the cemetery can have standing stones for individuals, as the plots are bigger. The ordinance will take effect on Friday, Sept. 19.

Other decisions made during the meeting included the approval of Michelle Tade for the planning board for a two-year term, the approval of an extension letter between Marco and the city for the water line, and the approval of minutes and claims in the amount of $48,619.96. The next city council meeting will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 2, due to the Labor Day holiday.