New law may prompt Lake Co. cemetery land swap

An honest mistake years ago has the Lakeside Cemetery Association playing defense.

Until now, no one from the nonprofit group minded that a dugout, concession stand and sliver of the right side of a baseball diamond was on their property. The association has leased it to the village for years.

But with a possible change in state law, the volunteer association wants to swap that portion of its holdings for a village-owned piece nearby.

"We don't want to be in the ballfield business," said Ed Kelly, president and treasurer.

Proposed changes in cemetery regulation - already approved by the Illinois House and expected to be considered this week by the Senate - contain a variety of new rules, including provisions for independent contractors.

If approved as proposed, cemetery operators would be responsible for ensuring that those who do work on their property are properly credentialed.

Though it would apply to grave diggers and even those who trim trees, it theoretically also could include maintenance workers on the ballfield, a responsibility cemetery leaders would rather do without.

"It means a lot of busy work for a not-for-profit cemetery," said Phil Dane, vice president.

The legislation is a reaction to problems at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, which reopened in November after being closed for nearly four months. Workers there were accused of digging up graves, disposing of remains or double-burying bodies.

The lengthy bill contains a number of provisions the Illinois Cemetery & Funeral Home Association considers hardships, particularly for small operators.

"One of the problems is these little associations might, because this bill is so onorous, end up abandoning the cemeteries," said Vickie Hand, legislative chair and treasurer of the group.

"We're having all kinds of little volunteer groups saying they'll have to turn the keys over."

That is not considered a possibility for Lakeside. But association officers say they can do without added bureaucracy. Senate Bill 1471 is "changing everyday," according to Hand, and a final version could be much different.

Established in 1849, Lakeside is among the oldest cemeteries in Lake County. Papers organizing the modern organization were filed with the state in 1910. Operators say there are enough grave sites for another century or more.

As proposed, the village would receive a little over an acre of property, including the ballfield area and space for other activities. The cemetery association would receive about 3 acres of unimproved land to the west and would install a 4-foot fence along the lot line.

Details are to be finalized and the village board's parks and recreation committee will make a recommendation to the full board.

"It seems to be a reasonable and logical thing to do," said Trustee Nick Proepper, who chairs the committee, during initial consideration last week.