52 voice cemetery concerns

If the notices left at Libby Cemetery gravesites just before Memorial Day were meant to get attention, they did.

During a noon Friday meeting of the Cemetery and Parks Committee, 52 concerned family members and friends of decedents buried at the cemetery let committee members know their thoughts on removing the popular shepherd hooks from Libby Cemetery by Memorial Day 2014.

“I’m upset,” said Peggy Craver, whose husband is buried at the cemetery. “If we can support Wings and the Dome (Theatre) then I think we can find a solution to this.”

Craver was just one of many people who attended the meeting to voice a disapproval of a pink notice advising the shepherd hooks, used for hanging flower baskets and other memorabilia on cemetery grounds, would have to be removed by next year.

Cemetery and Parks Committee members Robin Benson, Vicky Lawrence and Chairwoman Peggy Williams were convinced by the vast numbers of attendees to reverse the   city decision to remove the shepherd hooks as stated on the notices placed at the cemetery shortly before the holiday weekend.

Chairwoman Williams also made the point — three times.

“We’re not going to remove the shepherd hooks,” Williams reiterated after the meeting. “I think I said that three times.”

Still, that was the impression given to residents and the reason for those who attended.

“There should have been a meeting before the public notices went up,” said Shannon Edwards-Myslicki. “You now say you’re not going to remove the hooks, but clearly the notices went up say you will.”

Myslicki, who has three generations of family members buried at the cemetery, said she’d be willing to served on a committee to find a solution.

Benson said it was not the committee’s intent to agitate the public.

“We just tried to get the word out that this has been a problem, without being offensive. Perhaps, the timing of the notices was not the best,” Benson said.

Myslicki begged to differ.

“Actually, I think the timing was pretty good,” she said. “It got all of us here.”

Concerned resident Barb Pariseau was brief and to the point.

“I don’t think these shepherd hooks should come down,” Pariseau said. “I think that we should all be able to work together to find a solution.”

Sitting with committee members was City Administrator Jim Hammons and City Roads Supervisor Corky Pape, who said the vast number of shepherd hooks make considerable extra work for city crews as they mow and trim grass at the cemetery.

“It takes us three days to just mow. And, sometimes, we’re mowing once a week,” said Pape who is in charge of the city crews that work mow the cemetery.

If there was a message besides they want the hangers to stay, it was that Libby residents appreciate the individualism of each gravesite that Libby Cemetery affords those who are buried there.

Marla Hanson said some of the graves do not have tombstones and the shepherd hooks is their only marker.

“For some, that’s all they have,” Hanson said. “Their name is on the shepherd hook. That’s the only identification. These need to (stay).”

Lawrence Carlberg suggested more community input.

“I think there should be a volunteer work day.”

Roxanne Parker’s grandson is buried in the cemetery, and his headstone has a shepherd’s hook that has been set in concrete, which makes mowing around the stone much easier.

“That’s a good idea, but we don’t want everyone going out there and putting concrete along each gravesite,” Williams said. “We’ll got some names of committee persons, and we’ll meet. There will be no decisions made behind closed doors.”