Mitchell Indiana Cemetery

Mitchell gets many compliments on its cemetery for how well it is maintained and how beautiful it is.  Bob Slaten the Caretaker and his crew do a wonderful job of maintaining the cemetery and the citizens also take great pride in our cemetery. 

There are rules that need to be followed so the workers can continue to do the excellent job they do now. We ask that you please follow them:

(A) Flowers, decorations, or any other objects interfering with the mowing operation will not be permitted between April 1 and October 1 of each year, except for a period of seven days prior to and seven days following Memorial Day of each year. Caretakers shall remove any flowers or any other objects remaining on the ground.

(B) Theft and vandalism shall be reported immediately and violators shall be prosecuted.

(C) The speed limit for automobiles shall be 15 miles per hour. Motorcycles, motor scooters, motor bikes, three-wheel and four-wheel and multi-wheel all terrain vehicles (A.T.V.’s) shall not be permitted in the cemetery.

(D) The number of shepherd hooks be limited to two per tombstone, regardless of the number of persons buried whom are represented by that tombstone, same to be placed on either end of the tombstone. (In other words, if a single grave with one tombstone, two shepherd hooks shall be allowed, one on either end of the tombstone. If a double grave with one tombstone with the names of two deceased parties, two shepherd hooks shall be allowed, one on either end of the tombstone. If a triple or quadruple grave or so on, represented by one tombstone, there shall be two shepherd hooks allowed, one on either end of the tombstone or one large ornamental hook.)

(E) There shall be one solar powered or eternal light allowed per grave site.

(F) That the burial lot must be paid for in full before a headstone is allowed to be places on the lot.

(G) Planting of trees, shrubs, flowers, grass or other type of plant, weed or vegetation shall be prohibited.

(H) Lawn ornaments will not be permitted in the cemetery during the April 1 to October 1 mowing season each year.

(I) Pipes shall not be driven into the ground and used as flower holders.

(J) Flower boxes or other types of containers are not permitted on the ground during the April 1 to October 1 mowing season. They will be allowed if placed on concrete pads and placed close to the headstone or footstone in such a manner as to not interfere with mowing. Furthermore, they shall be properly maintained by the owner.

(K) Grave blankets may be placed on graves beginning November 15 and must be removed by March 1.

(L) Neither the cemetery nor the city shall be responsible for items placed in the cemetery which may become lost, stolen or damaged.

(M) Two weeks prior to the mowing season, a notice shall be printed in the local papers. All items not removed within the time frame will be collected by cemetery personnel and may be picked up at the cemetery building within 14 days.

(N) Nothing in these rules shall be construed as to prohibiting headstones or footstones or other approved grave markers. These rules shall in no manner prohibit the cemetery from planting items or making necessary improvements as seen fit. The cemetery caretaker shall reserve the right to remove any items or take whatever measures are necessary to enforce these rules.

(O) It is recommended that items places in the cemetery have the owner’s name and phone number as well ast the grave information on them if at all possible. This aids in replacing items dislocated by wind as well as providing contact information to resolve a problem.

(P) Individual families can mow individual lots where members of family are buried provided no other member of the family objects thereto and provided further that any person so mowing their individual lot shall be solely responsible for any and all damages or injuries which they might sustain thereby. In addition they shall be solely responsible for any damage or injury to any other person or to any property which might be caused through their actions, lawnmower or weedeater and shall save the city harmless therefrom.

SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES.

(A) The sale price for cemetery lots consisting of one grave site shall continue to be $300 (in addition to the fee for opening and closing as set forth below.

(B) The funeral home, mortuary, or other person in charge of arranging a burial shall continue to be solely responsible for paying for the opening and closing of the grave. Such fees for opening and closing of a grave shall be as follows:

(1) Fee for opening and closing of grave of anyone other than a baby whose casket and vault are under four feet in length - $300.

(2) Fee for opening and closing of a grave of a baby whose casket is under four feet in length - $200.

(3) Fee for opening and closing remains that have been cremated and are in container smaller than an adult casket - $150.

(C) Twenty-five dollars from the sale of each cemetery plot consisting of one grave shall be paid over into the perpetual care fund of the cemetery.

(D) Fifty dollars from the charge for opening and closing the grave shall be paid over into the perpetual care fund of the cemetery.

(E) The principal of these funds shall be invested as allowed per law for all other city funds. The interest received from such investment shall be used for the general operating expenses of the cemetery.

(F) (1) In addition, the city shall charge $25 as a transfer fee for:

(a) Each requested transfer or exchange of a lot from one owner to someone else. If a person wished to transfer or exchange two lots, there shall be a transfer fee of $50 ($25 per lot).

(b) If two lots are being exchanged, there shall be a $25 charge for each lot exchanged each time an exchange is requested.

(2) This $25 fee transfer shall be paid into the general fund to compensate the city for the Clerk-Treasurer’s time in researching ownership of such cemetery lot.

APPROVAL OF MATERIALS FOR BOX OR VAULT.

All burials shall include a concrete, steel or other material of equal value, box or vault, if approved by the Mayor and/or Sexton. No wooden boxes or vault will be allowed.

PAUPER BURIALS.

(A) Area set aside for pauper burials shall be designated as needed by the Mayor and/or Sexton.

(B) All burials will be made in succession according to time of burial. No skipping space or row shall be allowed.

(C) The nearest family member or executor or administrator of the estate will be obligated to submit in writing proof of inability to pay for burial space. If such notification is not in Clerk-Treasurer's office within 30 days, the city shall reserve the right to file claim against the estate.

(D) Pauper burials in the Mitchell Cemetery shall be limited to residents of the Mitchell School District (Marion Township) and to no other persons except as may be approved by the Board of Public Works and Safety of the city.