Geneva looks to volunteers for upkeep at cemetery

Geneva Alderman Sam Hill wants you to help him make a Geneva cemetery look better.

The 1st Ward alderman announced Monday a meeting to organize a crew of volunteers to help take care West Side Cemetery. The meeting is at 9 a.m. May 16 at City Hall, 127 James St. Volunteers can also call Hill at (630) 208-9151. West Side is in Hill’s ward.

The group will begin by trimming and pulling weeds. It may also plant flowers.

Hill said the city’s budget doesn’t allow enough to “properly maintain” its two cemeteries, West Side and Oak Hill. The city expects to have spent $105,392 on the cemeteries in the fiscal year that ended April 30, while taking in only $91,810.

Last fall, he reported constituents were complaining to him about West Side, including one couple that was considering selling their burial plots out of disgust. Grass was long, clippings were left on markers, and weeds grew between markers.

West Side, a 15-acre site, is full. Oak Hill, at 29 acres, has room for more than 2,000 burials. At the present burial rate, city officials estimate it will take 56 years to fill.

The burial fee used to be split between operations, perpetual care and new development. But the fee now goes entirely to operations. Public Works Director Dan Dinges said last fall that the general city budget may have to absorb some of the costs of capital items for the cemeteries, such as new mowers. And administrative tasks for the cemeteries, including record-keeping and plot sales, is being shifted from the sexton to administrative assistants in the public works department. That will enable the sexton to spend more time on upkeep and handling burials.

“It is very important that we consider this volunteer effort. It is another opportunity to be a volunteer for your city,” Hill said, comparing it to the gardening work done downtown by volunteers.