§ 7-27. Operating and maintenance regulations generally.

The following rules and regulations are established for the operations of Oak Cemetery:

(1)

All lots, graves or niches shall be held and used in accordance with the rules and regulations of Oak Cemetery. No lot or niche shall be used for any purpose other than the burial of human remains.

(2)

Lot and/or niche owners shall not allow interments to be made in their lots or niches for compensation (sold for more than original selling price), nor shall any transfer or assignment or interest therein be valid without the consent of the city endorsed upon such transfer. Any such transfer must be in writing shown on the deed to the subject lot, and must be entered of record in the records of the city clerk.

(3)

The city serves as protectorate over each and every lot, parcel, grave and niche sold. No lot, grave or niche shall be molested or marred, nor body disinterred, without the written consent of the city and the state health department.

(4)

No lot nor parcel of ground shall be defined by fence, railing, coping or enclosures, except with the written permission of the city administrator or his designated agent, excepting those parcels so enclosed at the time of the cemetery's acceptance to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The city shall not remove or alter such coping and railings and shall maintain them while also maintaining the historic aspects of the cemetery.

(5)

No trees, shrubs nor plants are to be planted on any lot or grave in the cemetery, except with the written permission of the city administrator, or his designated agent.

(6)

All trees, shrubbery or flowers presently growing in the cemetery shall remain the property of the cemetery, and cannot be removed without the written permission of the city administrator, or his designated agent.

(7)

The city reserves the right, without notice, to remove from lots or columbaria glassware, boxes, cans, pots, toys, temporary flower containers, dead flowers or any article or object that may be unsightly or interfere with the cutting of grass or create unnecessary maintenance for cemetery personnel. Anything of apparent value will be held in storage for one (1) month before disposal. Cut flowers, funeral designs and floral pieces will be removed when they become unsightly. Persons desiring to retain baskets, designs or mementos, should remove them within five (5) days after interment/inurnment. Mounding or decorating the complete interment site on a permanent or semi-permanent basis is not permitted.

(8)

In order to preserve the natural beauty of the cemetery, the placement of any adornments on a niche, on the wall itself or around the columbarium is prohibited. At the time of inurnment, the city will allow one (1) floral arrangement to be placed on the ground under the niche. The arrangement is to be removed after five (5) days of inurnment by a member of the family or designee. If it is not removed by the fifth day, the cemetery management will remove the arrangement and dispose of it.

(9)

The engraving of a niche shall only include the name, date of birth and date of death. There will be no quotes, phrases or other verbiage inscribed on any niche.

(Code 1976, 8-17; Ord. No. 7-98, 4, 1-20-98; Ord. No. 16-08, § 1, 3-18-08)