Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rules Established For Rose Hedge Cemetery

There's a new set of rules for Gurdon's Rose Hedge Cemetery use.

This list was passed by the Gurdon City Council at its regular monthly meeting Monday, April 10.

Teet Newton, a member of the Cemetery Commission, brought a list of rules used by another cemetery group concerning its upkeep.

The rules are as follows:

* Remove old or faded flowers from grave sites;

* Do not plant trees, shrubs, flowers or plants of any kind on graves. Those who have already done so will be asked to remove them;

* Place flowers and vases on tombstones during mowing season;

* No structures of any kind will be permitted. This includes walls, cement, bricks, stone, rocks, gravel or chat; and

* All plot markers are to be permanent at ground level.

The cemetery commission also reserves the right to remove or repair any violations of these rules at the plot owners expense.

Newton said the cemetery has belonged to the city since the 1800s and has only recently been annexed into the city limits.

A two by three foot sign will be erected on a pipe frame displaying these rules. Newton said the cost of $167 will be taken out of the cemetery fund.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said the money in the bank for the cemetery dwindles more each year and the city has to be as economical as possible.

Last year, he said, the city billed out $5,200 in cemetery dues and only received $3,500. It costs about $4,000 a year just to keep the cemetery mowed and equipment maintained.