Bob Berlin <Arby4855(a)aol.com>, whose son Aaron cleaned up Gossett Cemetery in
Hendricks Co., IN (and a member of the INPCRP e-mail group) reports that
another cemetery very close to Gossett Cemetery is apparently "in the way" of
a new subdivision.
Based on Jack Briles' abysmal report on stiffling the wholesale relocation of
pioneer cemeteries in Floyd Co., IN, my hopes of stopping yet ANOTHER cemetery
dislocation aren't real high.
However, Bob, there are a couple of things you need to determine first:
(1) Ownership and taxation of the property. The FIRST question that has to
be asked is whether this is a "deeded" or "excepted" cemetery. Talk
to the
County Assessor to confirm whether or not taxes are assessed and paid on this
cemetery. Find out if there is a deed or deed exception setting this cemetery
aside.
(2) If taxes are NOT paid on the cemetery, find out from the Township Trustee
what his/her position on this matter might be.
(3) Check with the local Superior Court and the County Health Department to
determine whether or not a permit has been obtained or a court order sought to
disinter these remains.
(4) Print out multiple copies of Public Law 46 (formerly House Bill 1184)
from:
http://www.state.in.us:80/legislative/bills/2000/PDF/HB/HB1184.2.pdf
This is the statute about restricting development with 100' of a cemetery
without a permit from the DNR.
(5) Print out the Researching Cemeteries article from the INPCRP website at:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~inpcrp/ResearchingCemeteries.PDF
(6) Contact your local DNR Conservation Officer to find out the results of
his/her investigation (if any has been done).
[You'll need the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and print both of those PDF
files.]
Anybody have any other immediate suggestions for Bob?
Lois
----- Original Message -----
From: <Arby4855(a)aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 8:08 PM
Subject: H-E-L-P !!
Lois,
HELP!! I'm Bob Berlin, my son is Aaron that cleaned up Gossett Cemetery
here
in Avon, Indiana. I just found out today that I have a threatened
pioneer
cemetery right under my nose. It is called Merritt Cemetery and is only a
few hundred yards from Gossett but it appears it is in the way of a housing
development. Can you tell me how to get my hands on the text of the new law
that was just passed in the last General Assembly??
Right at this moment I know very little about any accomodations that may
have
been made for this cemetery. I won't be able to find anything
out till
tomorrow when offices begin to open up. This is situation is apparently
quite urgent. The headstones had been taken up a few years ago and stored
in
a ramshackle barn near the cemetery. Now I find that the barn has
been
bulldozed. Don't know if the stones were retreived or not.
Any tips will be greatly appreciated, and THANKS for all the work you have
done to try to prevent this type of thing from happening.
Take care.
Bob Berlin