Cemeteries - Rules & Regulations

1. People desiring to purchase lots for either Mifflin Cemetery or for Riverside Cemetery should contact ...
   Calvin "Mac" McKnight
   
   218 Agler Road
   Gahanna OH 43230
   614-471-4623
   614-478-6890 fax
   
2. No interment will be permitted until graves are paid for and arrangements for opening and closing of the graves are satisfactory with the cemetery caretaker.
3. No monument or marker of any kind can be erected on any lot or grave before said lot or grave is paid in full.
4. Sale of lots by owners cannot be permitted except by consent of the Township Trustees. Parties desiring to dispose of their lots may do so by transferring them to the Township Trustees at the price they paid for them.
5. No Township resident may buy graves at Township rates to bury nonresidents of Mifflin Township.
6. As a husband is not always an heir-in-law of his wife, nor wife of her husband, neither will necessarily inherit the lot from the other. To ensure the survivor an interest in the lot, both names should be embraced in the deed. If the proprietor expires intestate, the lot will descend to his or her heirs jointly and in equal undivided shares, subject to the same conditions. The statutes of Ohio in force will determine who the heirs are at the time of death. On the decease of an owner or part owner of a lot in the cemetery, the heir or devises of such decedent are required to file in the office of the cemetery, full proof of their ownership or proprietorship, for the purpose of being recorded in the books of the cemetery. Without such proof and record, the right of ownership or burial of such person cannot be recognized by the officers of the cemetery.
7. Prospective purchasers of a lot may, upon application at the office, secure a reservation of any one lot for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days.
8. The Courts have held that a deed to a cemetery lot represents personal property, not real estate, and that a widow has no dower right therein, but her right of burial in the lot may not be denied.
9. The ownership of a deed to a lot does not confer any right to do planting nor erect a monument, mausoleum, vase, etc., upon said lot without the express, written approval of the cemetery caretaker.
10. The owner of a lot may, during his lifetime, designate in writing to the cemetery caretaker the names of those members of his family (or near relatives) whom he wishes to have interred upon his lot. Such writing will then be filed with the office copy of the deed, and the cemetery caretaker will see that none but those designated are interred therein.
11. As the deed to a lot conveys only the right of burial therein, the Township retains control and supervision of all lots that have been sold; and it shall be the duty of the caretaker to enter upon any lot and prohibit, modify, or remove any structure, object, improvement, or adornment on such lot that may have been placed thereon in violation of the rules, or that may be considered objectionable or injurious to the lot or adjoining lots, or the general appearance of the cemetery.
12. Cemeteries will be open from 8:00a until one-half hour after dark.
13. Artificial flowers are allowed on the ground from December 1 to March 15 only, otherwise they will be removed. Live flowers may be planted at the base of the stone only and may include the side of the stone but no further than 12” from the stone. No planting at the back of the stone is permitted at any time. No rose or peony bushes are to be planted at any time.
14. Any items of obstruction that protrude from the ground that hinder cemetery maintenance or public safety such as, but not limited to, shepherd hooks, flag holders, light holders, etc are not permitted at either Mifflin or Riverside Cemetery. All small items must be secured on base of stone, not on the ground, from March 15 to December 1. No benches or statues are permitted at the foot of the grave. Permission to place a bench at the foot of the grave may be granted from the cemetery caretaker if the owner purchases the adjoining lot (if it’s available for sale) or if the adjoining lot is already owned by the person making the request.
15. Flags will be put out one (1) day before Memorial Day and removed two (2) days after by cemetery personnel.
16. Flag holders are to be put out two (2) days before Memorial Day and removed three (3) days after by the lot owner.
17. The Township will not be responsible for monuments, vases, eternal candles, etc., damaged as a result of vandalism and/or theft, nor be responsible for decorations and flag holders left out by lot owners.

Revised 8-4-2003.