Ephrata may restrict cemetery displays

EPHRATA - The Ephrata City Council heard one woman's concerns during a recent hearing about its proposed restriction on cemetery displays.

The proposal is aimed at reducing the time required to mow the cemetery and entails prohibiting displays besides unwrapped flowers during mowing season.

Carrol Barker-Shutt, whose first husband and son are buried in the cemetery, addressed the council and offered her thoughts.

"I look at those gravestones and that's my last place to care for two people I love," she said. "I'd really hate to see the day I can't put flowers there."

Barker-Shutt even volunteered to donate a month of her time to help pick up flowers in hopes of making it easier to mow the cemetery lawn.

She was the only resident who attended the hearing.

City Administrator Wes Crago explained it now takes four people and around four or five hours to completely mow the Ephrata cemetery.

"It's not an ideal situation," Crago said. "But with the budget cuts I'm not sure what our other options are."

Crago admitted the cemetery could be mowed less, but that would lead to a worse looking lawn.

Continuing to devote so much time to cemetery upkeep could impact the appearance of the city's other parks and the pool.

"We see the cemetery as kind of the jewel of the park system," Crago said. "It is probably the most used park that we have and the appearance of it is important."

According to Crago, passing the new regulations will save a full employee during the summer mowing season.

In previous years, one man was hired to mow the cemetery and other parks every day, but because of budget cuts that position couldn't be offered this year.

The council suggested purchasing a bag mower, but Crago and Public Works Director Bill Sangster explained that would be even more work because of having to empty bags so frequently.

If the restrictions pass, displays other than flowers will only be allowed under the following circumstances: Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and Independence Day, 24 hours preceding and following a burial service, donated items approved by the city council and November through March when the cemetery isn't being mowed.

A second public hearing is scheduled for the May 15 council meeting.