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MIDDLETOWN — The new Pioneer Cemetery Board will be creating a master plan designed to make the dilapidated cemetery a city gem.
At the board’s meeting Wednesday night, members heard a presentation by the Ohio Cemetery Foundation about the possibility of using the organization to create a master plan for Pioneer Cemetery.
The foundation is a nonprofit group specializing in consulting and fundraising campaigns for cemeteries. A proposal and assessment of the cemetery would be free, said David Shanteau, president of the foundation.
If the proposal were accepted, the foundation would then charge a fee – likely about 25 percent— to run a professional fundraising campaign to meet the needs of the cemetery.
Funds from the campaign could be raised for expenditures such as the vault as well as for the creation of a perpetual fund for cemetery upkeep, Shanteau said.
The Pioneer Cemetery “a gem,” Shanteau said, and he added that with the right fundraising it could be made into a beautiful cemetery.
“There are probably a lot of people opting out of burying there right now,” said Board Member Josh Toms. “If it was brought back to standard and renovated absolutely people would want to be buried there.”
Shanteau warned that it might better to create a master plan before members try to solicit for funds to fix the cemetery so donors are not asked more than once to contribute.
The board is also considering applying for $20,000 in grants from Chase Bank and the Mariam Knoll Foundation and making an application to the AK Foundation to make repairs to Pioneer Cemetery’s vault.
The funds are needed to complete the local match requirement for a $15,000 grant the city received from the Middletown Community Foundation. The funds would need to be raised and work would need to begin on the vault by November for the grant to remain valid.
Chairman Michael McNeil said while a master plan and fundraising is important, he would prefer to pursue funds to get repairs going. He was also concerned about losing the $15,000 Community Foundation grant and not being able to reapply for funds.
“Let’s get the funding going and then we can quibble over how we are going to spend it,” he said. “We’ve got to raise $20,000 or kiss the grant goodbye.”
The board is soliciting comments from residents about goals for the cemetery through March 4. Responses can be e-mailed to pcboard@cityofmiddletown.org.
Comments will be compiled and prioritized at the next meeting March 9 beginning at 5 p.m. in Room 2C, on the second floor of the city building, One Donham Plaza.
Contact this reporter at (513)
705-2843
or
jheffner
@coxohio.com.
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