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June 30, 2009

Fund set up for Varnell cemetery maintenance

Charles Oliver

No one wants to see the cemetery in Varnell not maintained, say city officials. But they also say it’s not proper for taxpayers to mow property the city doesn’t own.

That’s why, says Mayor Dan Peeples, he has set up a fund that people can donate to to help keep the cemetery mowed.

City crews mowed the cemetery, which city officials say is partly privately owned, for many years.

“I really don’t know why the city was ever mowing it in the first place. I don’t know how that got started,” said Peeples, who was elected last year. “It’s really not the responsibility of taxpayers to take care of that cemetery.”

About two months ago, the City Council unanimously voted to stop mowing the cemetery.

“As the economy goes down and we are all looking for places to cut, we looked, we were spending several thousand (dollars) a year to mow the cemetery,” Peeples said. “We did not make any money off the cemetery. We do not get money off selling the lots. We do not sell markers.”

“We don’t own that cemetery. The city of Varnell does not own that cemetery,” said city manager Mark Gibson.

Peeples says part of the cemetery is privately owned by the Varnell Cemetery Co. and the owners will take care of that part.

But that leaves an older part the city had been maintaining that city crews will no longer mow.

City officials say they don’t want to see the cemetery go without mowing.

“I do have family that is in the section that we are talking about,” Gibson said.

Peeples said he is setting up a fund to help keep that portion mowed and is asking community members for donations.

“To the best of my knowledge, it will take about $3,500 (a year). That will get it mowed at least every three or four weeks. Fifty dollars here and $50 there, and we can raise enough money to keep it mowed,” he said. “I’ll continue this not just as long as I am mayor, but as long as I am in the Varnell community and in the funeral business.”

Those wishing to give to the fund should send donations to the Varnell Community Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box C, Varnell, GA 30756.

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