MIDLAND CEMETERY HISTORY
The
first
The
present cemetery originally consisted of forty acres and has been used as a
cemetery since
In
1907, a joint Township-City Board was appointed, and this Board operated the
A
gift of land by Macauley and Helen Whiting in 1979 allowed the platting of the
Little Shepherd,
Article 6 of the Code of Ordinances was
adopted to regulate the acquisition, maintenance, operation and control of
cemeteries and to create a trust fund for perpetual cemetery care. It replaced Ordinance 347.
Adopted
Ordinance 347, the original cemetery ordinance,
Code
of Ordinances (replace Ordinance 347) adopted
Regulations
effective February 1, 1950, and revised periodically through March 2012.
INTRODUCTION
The
City of
Purchasers
of grave spaces acquire the right and privilege of burial and the erection of
markers and/or monuments, subject to the rules and regulations now in force or
those enacted by the City Council in the future.
COMMON QUESTIONS
page
Markers
and Monuments............................... ......5
Individual
landscaping..................................... 3
- 6
NOTICE
It
is recommended that persons wishing to purchase lots first inspect them at
the cemetery before coming to the City Clerk's Office. The cemetery office may be contacted by
visiting the cemetery weekdays or by calling 832-2807. If busy, call 837-3310. All arrangements for cemetery lots and
services must be made at the City Clerk's Office and all payments made at the
office of the City Treasurer in the City Hall.
City
Clerk
Phone
837-3310 Phone 832-2807
DEFINITIONS
A.
GRAVE SPACE
The
term grave space is an area necessary to accommodate an interment. An adult is a minimum 3.5' x 10', an infant
grave space is 3' x 8' or 3' x 5', and a cremation grave space is 18" x
18".
B. SINGLE
SPACES
Single
spaces are individual graves.
C.
The
term lot is an area consisting of two or more grave spaces.
D. INTERMENT
Interment
means the permanent disposition of the deceased person by burial. This may mean inurnment (burial of ashes), or
entombment.
E. STONE
A
stone is a monument or marker of granite, marble, bronze or other material
approved or the Director of Public Services or persons authorized by him.
However, marble is no longer permitted for new installations, except for the
military area, because of its tendency to deteriorate and stain.
F. MARKER
A
marker is a stone either flush or above ground indicating the given names of
the deceased, or the given and family names of the deceased on at least the
westerly face of the stone. The names
may appear on both sides if desired.
Markers are located at the west end of the grave space unless otherwise
indicated herein.
G. MONUMENT
A
monument is a stone extending above ground inscribed with the family name
only. It is located on the east end of
the lot.
H.
A
lot marker is a ceramic or cement post, or metal marker, used by the cemetery
to indicate lot or grave corners.
I. RESIDENT
Means
a person whose legal residence at time of grave space purchase was in the City
of
J. PERPETUAL
CARE
Amounts
designated in section 620 of the Code of Ordinances, collected and placed in
a Trust Fund with the earnings thereof available to be budgeted by the City
Council for normal operating expenses of this cemetery.
I. GENERAL
INFORMATION
All
graves are so designed that the deceased faces the east.
All
graves in each lot are numbered left to right as one faces the east.
The
order of interments is up to each family.
Most, however, place the wife to the right (as one faces east) of the
husband.
II.
GENERAL REGULATIONS
Section
6-19 of the Code of Ordinances states that the City Council shall from time to
time, by resolution make such rules and regulations for the burial of the dead,
the care, management and protection of the grounds, monuments and appurtenances
of the City Cemeteries and for public use and orderly conduct of persons
visiting such cemeteries, as it may deem necessary.
The
following rules are in accord with the ordinance and violation of such rules
will be treated as a civil infraction.
A. CONDUCT IN CEMETERIES
1. Rubbish
shall be placed in containers as provided.
2. Wild
or domestic flowers, trees and shrubs are placed for the beautification of the
cemetery and are not to be picked or mutilated.
3. Alcoholic
beverages are not to be consumed in the cemetery.
4. Pets
are not permitted on the cemetery grounds.
5. Advertising
is not permitted.
6. Firearms
will not be permitted in the cemetery except for authorized volleys at burials
or memorial services.
7. The
City shall not be responsible for any damage to lots or structures or objects
thereon, or for flowers or articles removed from any lot or grave.
8. Traffic
laws of the City of
a) No driving in excess of 15 miles per hour.
b)
No driving off established roads without permission.
c) No use of the roads as public
thoroughfares.
9. At
least one gate into the
B. MAINTENANCE
1.
GENERAL CARE
a) The
City will provide the cutting and trimming of grass at reasonable intervals and
such other care as is necessary to maintain uniformity in the appearance of the
cemetery. This will
apply
to all lots and graves in the
b) All
grave openings will be sodded or seeded by cemetery personnel at the time of
interment or at the appropriate time of the year.
2. SPECIAL CARE
a) Special
care items, not covered under general care must be approved by the Director
of Public Services. Fees will be charged
for special care and will be determined by the Director of Public Services.
C. PLANTINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS
1. GARDEN SECTIONS (flush markers only)
a) Because
of the need to allow this section of the cemetery to appear to be an
attractive, well designed garden, planting of flowers, shrubs and trees is not
permitted by individuals. The City may
provide and maintain flower beds in certain areas for the beautification of
this section.
b) Any
grave decorations must be placed on or within the marker.
c) Potted
plants and wreaths are permitted and are to be placed on the marker. They will be removed if not placed on the
marker, when they die or, in the judgment of the cemetery personnel,
become unsightly.
III.
GENERAL
RULES
These
rules are designed solely to allow the development and maintenance of a
dignified and attractive facility while protecting the rights of each lot and
grave owner.
1. All plantings and other improvements must be
made under the direction and with the approval of the Director of Public
Services or persons duly authorized by him.
No trees or shrubs may be removed or pruned, except under the direction
and with the consent of the Director of Public Services or persons authorized
by him.
2. Coping, plastic edging and landscape timbers
are permitted so long as they do not extend more than 12 from the marker and
do not extend beyond the dimensions of the grave space. Flowers, ground cover, bark or other natural
material except stone, may be placed within 12 of the marker when contained
within coping, plastic edging or landscape timbers. Such structures may be removed, if in the
opinion of cemetery personnel, they have become unsightly.
3. No elevated mounds may be built over graves
and no lot may be filled above the grade established by the City.
4. Vases
and receptacles of a suitable type shall be permitted if properly installed and
maintained. A suitable container is a
container designed for flowers or plants, which does not rust or shatter, nor
is easily breakable.
Failure
to use a suitable container or properly place them or maintain them will be
cause for their removal by cemetery personnel.
5. Artificial
flowers and decorations are permitted in all sections from April 1 through
October 1. Due to leaf blowing, only plants
suspended by shepherd hooks or planted in the ground within 12 of the marker are
allowed from October 2 through Thanksgiving.
Winter decorations consisting of evergreen blankets or wreaths may be
maintained on graves from the week of Thanksgiving to April 1st.
Decorations
placed out of season or those which in the opinion of the
6. Rubbish, refuse and unused containers must
not be left on grave spaces.
7. An
owner may embellish his lot or grave with trees and shrubs subject to obtaining
permission from the cemetery office.
Plantings out of harmony with the general landscape design of the
cemetery grounds or any other planting which may interfere with adjacent lots
will not be allowed. The owner may
choose from a variety of shrubs and evergreens, for planting on the lots, from
a list which may be obtained from the cemetery office. Trees and shrubs, once planted in the
cemetery, become the property of the cemetery.
Trimming and shaping of shrubs may be performed by the lot owner or
their designees with the approval of the
8. Plant materials which die, which grow too large or of a type not
permitted by these rules will be removed by
9. Eternal
flames which are enclosed and placed within twelve (12) inches of a stone are
permitted, but are the sole responsibility of the lot or grave owners.
10. In Section J, summer decoration is limited to
real or artificial flowers in an approved container.
11.
No private underground sprinklers may be installed in the cemetery after
January 29, 1991.
IV.
MONUMENTS AND MARKERS
Two Piece Monument
One Piece Marker
or Marker
(raised)
(flush)
A. MATERIALS
1. Only
granite or cut stone (but not marble) from recognized monument quarries or
standard bronze may be used for markers or monuments. Bronze may be used for markers extending
above the grade only if attached to a granite base.
2. The
above standard does not prohibit the use of standard metal markers of the type
used by Veteran's Organizations for veteran's graves, when placed adjacent to
the marker or monument.
3. In
the interests of continuing uniformity, markers in the military section of
Section F shall be the Federal Government provided type.
B. MAUSOLEUMS
1. Mausoleums
not to exceed 6' in height are allowed in the
a) Mausoleums
must conform to City specifications as regards to materials.
b) Will
be placed only in an area which does not require machinery on other occupied
graves.
c) Perpetual
care will be charged at one and one half times the standard rate.
d) The
foundation will not be provided by the cemetery, nor included in the cemetery
rate, but must conform to City specifications.
C. FOUNDATIONS
1. Monuments
and markers, including those installed ahead of burials, will be placed on
foundations of solid masonry. The
foundation will be constructed eight inches wider and longer than the marker or
monument base, except for flush markers, to permit a four inch apron. The cost for the apron will be borne by the
City. Construction of concrete foundations
will be done only by
2. Section
"X" and the Hillcrest Gardens No. 1 are garden sections. Flush markers only are allowed and shall be
placed at the west end (head) of the grave space. The top of the foundation will be at such
height as to permit the marker to be installed flush with the level of the
ground.
3. In
Section M, N, O, Q, Little Shepherd and
4. In
the Arbor Glen section all above ground stones, both monuments and markers
shall be placed at the east end (foot) of grave spaces. Flush markers only, may be placed at the west
end (head) of grave spaces.
5. In
Section J, the inurnment section, each lot is limited to one marker. Lots B, D,
E, and G in each quadrangle may have flush or above ground markers (not to
exceed 34" in length and height).
Lots A, C, F, and H in each quadrangle shall be a flush marker only (not
to exceed 34" in length).
SECTION J
- TYPICAL LOT LAYOUT
6. In Sections Samaine, A Samaine, B Samaine, Hillcrest
and Forestview, A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,K,L,M,P, Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,Y, and Z, markers
only, both flush and above ground, are allowed at the west end (head) of grave
spaces. Monuments shall be placed at the
east end (foot) of grave spaces.
7. In
sections where raised markers are allowed, one above ground marker will be
allowed per grave space. Additional
markers on spaces used for multiple burials must be installed flush with the
ground.
8. Markers
or monuments shall not be delivered until an order for foundation installation
has been placed with the City Clerk's Office.
D. INSTALLATION
1. Markers
and monuments 2'x 1' or less, or any bronze markers will be installed by
cemetery personnel in order to secure them in the foundation.
2. All
markers and monuments more than 2'x 1' in size must be installed by others
under the supervision of the Sexton.
3. Those
persons engaged in installing monuments and markers shall provide planking
adequate to protect turf and shall remove material, equipment and rubbish
immediately upon completion of work. The
site shall be left in a clean, orderly condition. Ropes or cables shall not be attached to
trees or other objects except with the approval of the cemetery supervisor.
4. No
monument shall be installed until all fees and charges due the City of
V.
FUNERALS AND INTERMENTS
A.
FUNERALS
1. All funeral processions within the cemetery
shall be directed by the cemetery supervisor.
2. Workmen engaged in the vicinity of a burial
shall suspend their labors during services at a grave.
3.
B.
INTERMENTS
1. No interments shall be made on Sundays or
holidays unless ordered by the Health Department. Holidays are designated as New Years, Good
Friday, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Friday after
Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
2. No interment can take place without a Burial
Permit.
3. No grave will be opened unless the grave
space has been paid for unless the funeral director assumes the responsibility
of payment for such grave space.
4. Funeral
directors making arrangements for burials shall be responsible for all charges
and these charges must be paid monthly unless other arrangements are made. Interest and penalties of one and one-half
percent per month shall be added on balances remaining unpaid after 30 days
from time of billing.
5. If the deceased to be interred is not the lot
owner or is not a member of the lot owners immediate family, written consent
of the owner, owners, or authorized agent must be filed with the City Clerk
before interment will be permitted.
6. All burials
shall be in vaults or concrete rough boxes except as follows:
a)
Inurnments
(burial of ashes from cremation).
b)
Infant
burials in casket size 2 and 26.
c)
Cremation
vaults over 6 in height shall not be allowed if cremation burial is over an
existing adult burial.
7. Vaults, concrete rough boxes and covers for
same are to be installed by firms authorized by the Director of Public
Services.
8. No interment shall be made in the front seven
feet of aisle lots in Sections A,B, and R.
9. Tent and trim for burials are permitted, and
are supplied, installed and removed by burial vault companies.
10. A standard adult grave may be used in the
following ways:
a) One
adult interment.
b) One
adult interment and up to three inurnments without vaults.
c) Up
to four inurnments.
d) Up
to two infant interments.
11. a) The lots in Section J and Oc are designed
solely for inurnments. A maximum of two
inurnments are allowed per nine square foot lot.
b) The lots in Forestview are designed
solely for inurnments. A maximum of two
inurnments are allowed per twelve square foot lot.
12. A casket or alternative container, as a
minimum, shall be of strong, thick, particle board with sufficient strength to
support a human body and a minimum of four (4) exterior handles for carrying,
with a cover not easily dislodged.
Cardboard, pressed paper or similar materials are not acceptable.
VI. DISINTERMENTS
AND REINTERMENT
A. Disinterments
and reinterment shall not be made without permission of the City Clerk, the lot
owner, and the next of kin of the deceased, and the proper permits from the
Health Department.
B. Top seal type vaults may be
removed at any time of the year.
Disinterment of any other type vault shall only be allowed from October
1st to April 30th (except for official investigation).
C.
VII.
PRICES AND CHARGES
A. CONDITIONS OF GRAVE PURCHASE
1. All lots and graves shall be sold subject to
these rules and regulations, as they may be amended from time to time, and the
deed shall so state.
2. No grave space shall be used for any purpose
other than the burial of human remains and the placing of appropriate
memorials.
3. Burial areas are exempt from ordinary taxes
and cannot be seized on execution.
4. The City may impose specific charges against
lots or grave spaces.
5. No mortgage or other encumbrance shall be
given any grave space or lot.
6. No burial area may be purchased or sold or
rights transferred for speculative purposes.
7. A grave, whether platted as a single grave or
part of a multi-grave lot, may be sold as a single grave or in any combination
of graves, subject to eight (8) below.
8. When more than two lots (or the equivalent
number of grave spaces) in the same section are purchased, unless interments
are made on all said lots at the time of purchase, the price of each additional
lot shall be one and one-half times the current base price of lots in the
section. When a grave space or lot is
paid for in full, a deed shall be issued to the purchaser by the City Clerk.
9. When a lot is purchased by more than one
person, each person's interest in the lot shall be specifically defined.
10. Grave spaces having trees are not available for
purchase. Grave spaces on treed lots
which are suitable for interments may be sold.
The price of these usable grave spaces, including perpetual care fees, shall
be prorated from the established lot prices.
The policy in this rule is not retroactive.
B. CONDITIONS OF TRANSFER
1. The
transfer of lots or parts of lots to another party shall be recorded in the
Office of the City Clerk and shall require a fee of $15.00 unless VII, B2 is
applicable.
2. A
transfer of a lot to an unrelated non-resident will cost the difference between
the resident and non-resident purchase price.
3. No
person shall be recognized as owner or part owner unless so recorded in the
Office of the City Clerk.
4. All
transfers of parts of lots less than that conveyed from the City to the lot
owner must be approved by the Director of Public Services or those duly
authorized by him.
5. Upon
the death of the owner or the last to die of joint or multiple owners of a
grave space, title to said grave space shall be governed by the disposition as
set forth in the last will and testament, in the case of a testate estate, or
by the laws of descent and distribution of the State of Michigan in the case of
an intestate estate. It shall be the
responsibility of anyone claiming ownership of a grave space under these
provisions or as a result of any transfer of ownership to provide the City with
such proof, as shall be satisfactory to the City, of said person's legal
ownership of said grave space.
C. SINGLE SPACES
1. Graves
in the military area are provided for immediate interment only and in
consecutive order. They are available
only to persons who died while serving in the armed forces of the
2. A
grave in Section "N" and "O" and in the Little Shepherd
area may be purchased only at the time of interment and shall be sold in
consecutive order only. Section
"N" and the Little Shepherd area are reserved for infants up to and
including two years of age.
NOTE: THE CURRENT FEES AND CHARGES IN THE FOLLOWING
SECTIONS AS ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
D.
PURCHASE PRICES
E. SPECIAL CARE
F. INTERMENT AND DISINTERMENT
G. INDIGENT
H. FOUNDATIONS
INFANT SECTIONS: GARDEN SECTIONS:
Section
"N" Section "X"
Little
Shepherd Hillcrest Garden No. 1
PARK SECTIONS INURNMENT SECTION:
Arbor
Glen Section J & OC
All
Sections