Families Asked to Take Home Personal Items from Burial Places

The City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department along with the Cemetery Commission and Cemetery Staff will begin a major cleanup of the City Cemetery the first full week of October, removing items from burial places that do not conform to City Cemetery rules or that have become unsightly.

People are asked to remove items from burial places before the cleanup Oct. 3-7.

All items not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations and the Ordinance will be removed from the burial sites and either boxed or bagged for families to pick up. Items will be held for 30 days, behind the maintenance shop at the cemetery.

“We have received feedback from concerned citizens about the appearance of the cemetery,” said Bobby Moore. “The Cemetery Commission wants to maintain a solemn and respectful appearance for visitors to the cemetery and remove safety hazards that hinder our crews while they mow and maintain the cemetery.”

Monuments

· All monuments placed in areas of the cemetery other than the Dixon Addition, Section I, must be granite, marble, bronze, or other stone material of permanent nature approved by the Cemetery Commission and must have a reinforced concrete base.

· All markers in the Dixon Addition, Section 1 must be flat bronze or granite—no wood or other materials are permitted.

Flowers and decorations

· Families are being asked to remove items from burial places before a major cleanup of the City Cemetery begins in October (photos by Don Anders) Fresh cut flowers are allowed on lots and mausoleums and near the columbarium, but must be removed within two weeks or when they become unsightly

· Artificial flowers, sprays and wreaths are allowed but must be removed when they become unsightly or hinder maintenance

· Glass containers are prohibited

· All decorations must be firmly secured or fastened to the ground or monument

A full list of regulations, and more information about the City Cemetery, can be found online at www.sanmarcostx.gov/cemetery.

The next meeting date for the Cemetery Commission will be on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. in the conference room in the Grant Harris Jr. Building, 401 E Hopkins.