SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP CEMETERY ORDINANCE
An Ordinance to protect the public health, safety and general welfare by establishing regulations relating to the operation, control and management of cemeteries owned by the Township of Springfield, Kalkaska County, Michigan, to provide penalties for the violation of said ordinance and to repeal all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict therewith.
THE TOWNSHIP OF SPRINGFIELD, KALKASKA COUNTY, MI ORDAINS:
Section 1: Title This Ordinance shall be known and cited as the Springfield Township Cemetery Ordinance. Dated: June 9, 2020 Ord# 2020-6-9
Section 2: Definitions of cemetery lots and spaces. A cemetery lot consists of burial spaces sufficient to accommodate one to five burial spaces.
Section 3: Sale of burial spaces Heretofore cemetery burial spaces shall be sold by single burial space only to residents or taxpayers of Springfield Township. Full time residents will be offered a reduced rate as opposed to non-fulltime residents. The purpose of these spaces are for burial of owner, his heirs at law or next of kin. No sale shall be made to funeral homes or others as heretofore set forth. All spaces shall be 4 foot wide by 12 feet long. All such sales shall be made on forms provided by the Township Clerk, which grants a right of burial only and does not convey any other title to the space sold. Burial rights may only be sold or transferred by first filling out necessary forms for transferal or sale with Springfield Township Clerk. The Township will repurchase any cemetery spaces from the owner for the original price paid upon written request of said owner or his legal heirs or representative.
Section 4: Purchase Price and Burial Fees A cost for each single burial space will be established by the Springfield Township Board. The cost will be based on a resident or non-resident status, with a resident paying a lesser fee. Upon burial, a burial fee will be assessed. This fee is also established by the Township Board. With same rule applying that cost will be based on a resident vs. non-resident basis. In addition to the above costs, an opening and closing fee is typically charged by a third party and the cost of such is out of Township control. The foregoing charges shall be paid to the Township Clerk. And receipted appropriately. The Township by resolution may periodically alter aforementioned fees to accommodate increased costs for maintenance and acquisition.
Section 5: Opening of Graves No burial spaces shall be opened or closed except under the direction and control of the Cemetery Sexton or Township Representative. All necessary forms must first be filed with the Township Clerk.
Section 6: Markers, Vaults, and Memorials All markers must be made of stone or other equally durable constitution. Any large upright stones must be located on a foundation able to maintain the same in an erect position. All foundations must be poured so that they are at or just below ground level. The base or foundation of the memorial must not exceed 50% of the width of the space, except in the case of a double stone which should not exceed 50% of two spaces. Only one stone is allowed per single grave. All veteran plaques should be placed on the back of headstones. If stone is not in an upright fashion and as such is not possible to place on back, the Sexton or Township Representative will determine where this plaque is placed. All stone placement and foundations must be done under Sexton or Township Representative supervision. All burials must be within a concrete or composite vault. This includes cremations.
Section 7: Internment Regulations Only one full body or one full body and one cremains, or two cremains shall be buried in a single grave space. All burials must be accompanied by a burial/transit permit and shall be presented to the Sexton or Township Clerk prior to internment. In the event this permit is not available, a copy of the death certificate will suffice. All burial spaces are to be used for human remains only. A marker must be placed upon the grave within one year of internment.
Section 8: Ground Maintenance The general care of the Cemetery is assumed by the Township Board and includes cutting the grass at reasonable intervals, raking and cleaning of grounds. The Township does not assume the maintenance, repair, or replacement of any stone or memorial placed on burial spaces. Nor the replacement or repair of any stone damaged by the elements or act of God. No grading, leveling, or excavation upon burial space shall be allowed without the express approval of the Cemetery Sexton or Township Representative. Concrete, metal, wood or plastic edging on perimeter or on grave proper is absolutely prohibited. No glass of ANY kind is allowed on graves. No florist rocks or similar stones are allowed on or around grave markers. No permanent flowers, shrubs, trees, or vegetation of any type shall be planted without prior approval from Cemetery Sexton or Township Representative. Any of the above-mentioned items planted or placed without prior approval may be removed by the Cemetery Sexton or Township Representative without prior notice. All pots and urns are to be placed on either side of the grave markers as close as possible to said markers. The Township Board or its Representative reserves the right to remove or trim any tree, plant or shrub within the Cemetery in the interest of maintaining proper appearance and use. All benches are expressly prohibited as of 8/12/14. All artificial flowers, arrangements, pots etc. must be removed by October 30 or no later than April 1 of each year or they may be removed and discarded during Spring clean-up. The Cemetery Sexton or Township Representative shall have the right and authority to remove and dispose of any and all growth, emblems, displays or containers therefore that through decay, deterioration, damage or otherwise become unsightly, a source of litter or impedes maintenance.
Section 9: Forfeiture of vacant burial spaces. Cemetery spaces sold after the effective date of this ordinance and remaining vacant for 15 years from the date of sale shall automatically revert to the Township upon occurrence of the following events: Notice shall be sent by the Township Clerk to the last known address of purchaser of record informing him/her of the 15 year expiration notice and that all rights with respect to said space will be forfeited if owner does not affirmatively indicate in writing to the Township Clerk within 60 days from the date of mailing of the written notice that he/she desires to retain said burial rights. If no written notice indicating his/her desire to retain said burial rights is received by the Township Clerk, the Township will assume he/she is relinquishing all rights to this space and Township then has the option to resell. It would be advisable for any burial rights purchaser to update current address information with the Clerk as needed. Section 9: General Rules Cemetery shall be open from sunrise to sunset. No person shall be permitted on cemetery grounds outside of these specific times. Motor vehicles must adhere to roadways designated within the cemeteries. Exceptions being made for equipment needed to open or close graves.
Section 10: Penalties Any person, firm or corporation in violation of any of the provisions set forth in this ordnance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a $100.00 fine and/or 90 days in jail, plus court costs as determined by the court within jurisdiction. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. Any criminal prosecutions hereunder shall not prevent civil proceedings for abatement and termination of activity complained of.
This Ordinance to take effect on July 18, 2020. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. Springfield Township Board.
An Ordinance to protect the public health, safety and general welfare by establishing regulations relating to the operation, control and management of cemeteries owned by the Township of Springfield, Kalkaska County, Michigan, to provide penalties for the violation of said ordinance and to repeal all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict therewith.
THE TOWNSHIP OF SPRINGFIELD, KALKASKA COUNTY, MI ORDAINS:
Section 1: Title This Ordinance shall be known and cited as the Springfield Township Cemetery Ordinance. Dated: June 9, 2020 Ord# 2020-6-9
Section 2: Definitions of cemetery lots and spaces. A cemetery lot consists of burial spaces sufficient to accommodate one to five burial spaces.
Section 3: Sale of burial spaces Heretofore cemetery burial spaces shall be sold by single burial space only to residents or taxpayers of Springfield Township. Full time residents will be offered a reduced rate as opposed to non-fulltime residents. The purpose of these spaces are for burial of owner, his heirs at law or next of kin. No sale shall be made to funeral homes or others as heretofore set forth. All spaces shall be 4 foot wide by 12 feet long. All such sales shall be made on forms provided by the Township Clerk, which grants a right of burial only and does not convey any other title to the space sold. Burial rights may only be sold or transferred by first filling out necessary forms for transferal or sale with Springfield Township Clerk. The Township will repurchase any cemetery spaces from the owner for the original price paid upon written request of said owner or his legal heirs or representative.
Section 4: Purchase Price and Burial Fees A cost for each single burial space will be established by the Springfield Township Board. The cost will be based on a resident or non-resident status, with a resident paying a lesser fee. Upon burial, a burial fee will be assessed. This fee is also established by the Township Board. With same rule applying that cost will be based on a resident vs. non-resident basis. In addition to the above costs, an opening and closing fee is typically charged by a third party and the cost of such is out of Township control. The foregoing charges shall be paid to the Township Clerk. And receipted appropriately. The Township by resolution may periodically alter aforementioned fees to accommodate increased costs for maintenance and acquisition.
Section 5: Opening of Graves No burial spaces shall be opened or closed except under the direction and control of the Cemetery Sexton or Township Representative. All necessary forms must first be filed with the Township Clerk.
Section 6: Markers, Vaults, and Memorials All markers must be made of stone or other equally durable constitution. Any large upright stones must be located on a foundation able to maintain the same in an erect position. All foundations must be poured so that they are at or just below ground level. The base or foundation of the memorial must not exceed 50% of the width of the space, except in the case of a double stone which should not exceed 50% of two spaces. Only one stone is allowed per single grave. All veteran plaques should be placed on the back of headstones. If stone is not in an upright fashion and as such is not possible to place on back, the Sexton or Township Representative will determine where this plaque is placed. All stone placement and foundations must be done under Sexton or Township Representative supervision. All burials must be within a concrete or composite vault. This includes cremations.
Section 7: Internment Regulations Only one full body or one full body and one cremains, or two cremains shall be buried in a single grave space. All burials must be accompanied by a burial/transit permit and shall be presented to the Sexton or Township Clerk prior to internment. In the event this permit is not available, a copy of the death certificate will suffice. All burial spaces are to be used for human remains only. A marker must be placed upon the grave within one year of internment.
Section 8: Ground Maintenance The general care of the Cemetery is assumed by the Township Board and includes cutting the grass at reasonable intervals, raking and cleaning of grounds. The Township does not assume the maintenance, repair, or replacement of any stone or memorial placed on burial spaces. Nor the replacement or repair of any stone damaged by the elements or act of God. No grading, leveling, or excavation upon burial space shall be allowed without the express approval of the Cemetery Sexton or Township Representative. Concrete, metal, wood or plastic edging on perimeter or on grave proper is absolutely prohibited. No glass of ANY kind is allowed on graves. No florist rocks or similar stones are allowed on or around grave markers. No permanent flowers, shrubs, trees, or vegetation of any type shall be planted without prior approval from Cemetery Sexton or Township Representative. Any of the above-mentioned items planted or placed without prior approval may be removed by the Cemetery Sexton or Township Representative without prior notice. All pots and urns are to be placed on either side of the grave markers as close as possible to said markers. The Township Board or its Representative reserves the right to remove or trim any tree, plant or shrub within the Cemetery in the interest of maintaining proper appearance and use. All benches are expressly prohibited as of 8/12/14. All artificial flowers, arrangements, pots etc. must be removed by October 30 or no later than April 1 of each year or they may be removed and discarded during Spring clean-up. The Cemetery Sexton or Township Representative shall have the right and authority to remove and dispose of any and all growth, emblems, displays or containers therefore that through decay, deterioration, damage or otherwise become unsightly, a source of litter or impedes maintenance.
Section 9: Forfeiture of vacant burial spaces. Cemetery spaces sold after the effective date of this ordinance and remaining vacant for 15 years from the date of sale shall automatically revert to the Township upon occurrence of the following events: Notice shall be sent by the Township Clerk to the last known address of purchaser of record informing him/her of the 15 year expiration notice and that all rights with respect to said space will be forfeited if owner does not affirmatively indicate in writing to the Township Clerk within 60 days from the date of mailing of the written notice that he/she desires to retain said burial rights. If no written notice indicating his/her desire to retain said burial rights is received by the Township Clerk, the Township will assume he/she is relinquishing all rights to this space and Township then has the option to resell. It would be advisable for any burial rights purchaser to update current address information with the Clerk as needed. Section 9: General Rules Cemetery shall be open from sunrise to sunset. No person shall be permitted on cemetery grounds outside of these specific times. Motor vehicles must adhere to roadways designated within the cemeteries. Exceptions being made for equipment needed to open or close graves.
Section 10: Penalties Any person, firm or corporation in violation of any of the provisions set forth in this ordnance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a $100.00 fine and/or 90 days in jail, plus court costs as determined by the court within jurisdiction. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. Any criminal prosecutions hereunder shall not prevent civil proceedings for abatement and termination of activity complained of.
This Ordinance to take effect on July 18, 2020. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. Springfield Township Board.