Cemetery's condiion irks resident
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on October 20, 2004 1:59 PM
FREMONT -- A Fremont woman says her father is buried in "a cow pasture."
Patricia Jackson made the comment Tuesday night when she and her husband, Wayne, complained to the Fremont town board about conditions at Elmwood Cemetery. Her father died May 5.
"There are weeds taller than I am," she said.
The Jacksons also complained that they were mistreated by town employees, including Administrator Kerry McDuffie.
"We've been treated bad all summer," she said.
Wayne Jackson said the problem has been ongoing all year.
He said that when the grass was cut, gravestones were chipped. When he complained, he said, no one responded.
He then passed out photographs to Mayor Devone Jones and the six-man board about conditions at the cemetery.
Jackson also said the situation at the Fremont Cemetery was no better. He added that the town has harassed some people to keep their yards mowed and let other have high grass.
"You can't say the town is a nice place to live if it's all growed up," Jackson said.
At the end of the meeting, Alderman Harold Cuddington asked the town investigate.
McDuffie said he would look at the contract that can be renewed or rebid next year. Grass in the cemeteries is supposed to be mowed every two weeks.
Danny Tillman of Fremont has the mowing contract that was awarded March 19, 2002.