Audio clip
Dick Lowrey
DALTON, Ga. -- Vivian Raitz decorated her husband's grave at the city-owned West Hill Cemetery with a golf putting green, flagpole and flag bearing No. 15, symbolizing the couple's June 15 wedding anniversary.
She recently removed the flag and an arbor bench near her husband's and daughter's graves after finding out they weren't allowed under city law.
"If the ordinance doesn't allow those things, I'm more than eager to cooperate," Mrs. Raitz said.
Other plot owners soon may have to clear off graves, too, as the city plans to update and begin enforcing its cemetery ordinance.
City Administrator Ty Ross said some plot owners recently complained about "clutter" in the cemetery. About 20 people attended a city hearing on the issue a few weeks ago, he said, and "the consensus was to enforce the ordinance and get things cleaned up."
Cemetery sexton Daryl Ballew said benches, mailboxes, permanent plants and fencing are examples of items that aren't allowed. But many plot owners don't know the rules because previous city leaders didn't enforce them, he said.
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Staff photo by Jake Daniels/Chattanooga Times Free Press Decorations, flowers and toys fill the tight confines of the children's cemetery in West Hill Cemetery in Dalton, Ga., on Wednesday. The city of Dalton is ramping up enforcement of the cemetery ordinances that restrict decorations on graves.
Now officials plan to update the cemetery ordinance. Changes might include language allowing for granite or marble benches, he said.
The goal is to make the cemetery a "presentable and reverent place," but not to offend people who have loved ones buried there, he said.
The cemetery also will be easier to mow and maintain, he said.
"We're not wanting to go out there and yank everything off and say, 'That's it,'" he said. "There's going to be a very, very good time frame for people to get stuff done."
Mr. Lowrey said that, once a revised ordinance is adopted, plot owners will have about 60 days to comply.
DALTON CEMETERY RULES
Excerpts from existing ordinance
* No new coping, fences, walks, sidewalks, benches, fixtures or enclosures are allowed, except as constructed by the city.
* Artificial flower arrangements will be removed from the cemetery by the city after two months or when they become disarranged.
* Potted plants, as long as they remain in good condition, watered and taken care of by the owner of the lot, will not be removed by the city.
* Seasonal flower arrangements will be removed after 30 days.
* No permanent planting of any kind is allowed. The city will do all planting of trees, shrubs, etc. as space allows.
Source: City code, www.cityofdalton-...>
WHAT'S NEXT: Dalton city council members are tentatively scheduled to review the existing ordinance at 6 p.m. Monday.
Source: Public Works Director Benny Dunn
Just a few months ago, LaFayette, Ga., angered residents with a cemetery cleanup in which workers removed all decorations on short notice, according to newspaper archives.
Mr. Lowrey said Dalton officials hope ample notice will help avoid a similar uproar here.
Dawn Sisson regularly visits her daughter's grave, which is decorated with a small crape myrtle tree and stone bench at West Hill Cemetery. She was upset to learn about the city's plans.
She said she also noticed that Ms. Raitz's decorations recently were removed.
"I feel like that brought her comfort to have the putting green there because her husband loved golf," she said. "I really didn't feel like it was inappropriate."
Ms. Sisson said the city should focus on deterring vandalism and discouraging people from using the cemetery as a city park, rather than worry how individual plots are decorated.
"Everybody deals with grief differently," she said. "We purchased that piece of property (in West Hill Cemetery) and we maintain it, not the city."
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