Clay Reporter

The City of Liberty recently hired a Cemetery Sexton to oversee maintenance and management of the three City owned cemeteries. A part of this newly created position is to oversee upkeep of the cemeteries, including upholding rules and regulations. You may have noticed these signs (pictured below) in the cemeteries starting last week. This is an advance notice that the décor on a grave will be out of compliance with the City's posted cemetery regulations once the mowing season starts in March. This is not an immediate notice to remove décor and winter seasonal / holiday décor is allowed and encouraged. The signs are placed now to give families 3+ months to see the notice and make a plan for their décor to be removed for the mowing season March 15 - October 15. Cemetery regulations for décor include the following:

-- From March 15 to October 15 – Fresh cut flowers or small artificial bouquets will be permitted as grave decorations (no glass is permitted). Any other décor left at a grave after March 15 will be removed and discarded, this includes shepherd's hooks, solar lights and small signs around a headstone.

-- Exceptions will be made for the weeks of Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and Father's Day when other appropriate decorations may be used for one week only (such as boxes, metal containers, potted plants and wreaths). No glass is permitted. Any decoration the family wishes to keep must be picked up within seven days after each of the above holidays.

-- The red, white and blue Veterans grave marker stakes are permitted year round, one stake per stone and should be installed as close as possible to not impede trimming.

-- From October 15 - March 15 – Any appropriate decoration may be used such as wreaths, blankets, artificial flowers, potted plants, etc. 

-- No fencing of any kind is permitted on internment lots.

-- No planting of any kind is permitted on internment lots without contacting the Cemetery Sexton for written permission.

You can find the full Cemetery Rules and Regulations online here - https://bit.ly/3YhoMhC

If you have any questions contact Andrew Ford, Cemetery Sexton by email at aford@libertymo.gov

Original source can be found here.