Kincardine council

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Kincardine council has agreed to assume legal ownership of the Armow Methodist Cemetery in Ward 2.

In committee-of-the-whole last night (July 7), public works manager Jim O'Rourke said this pioneer cemetery is located on Part Lot 16, Concession 6, in the Hamlet of Armow, former Kincardine Township.

The land acquired by the cemetery was transferred to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church by Deed No. 291, registered on July 11, 1860, said O'Rourke. There are 31 interments dating back to 1853, according to the Bruce Geological Society (2005). There has been no registration of any subsequent title transfer documents since the original 1860 deed.

Municipal solicitor George Magwood said legal and survey expenses would cost about $7,000, in order to take over this cemetery. The municipality is also paying to have the grass cut there, and the cost of concrete repairs to the large open mausoleum structure will be about $5,000 (2011 budget), said O'Rourke.

"That's quite a cost," said councillor Guy Anderson, "even though I may have some relatives buried there."

He asked if there are other cemeteries in similar situations that the municipality is going to inherit eventually.

"There are not likely too many more," said councillor Ron Hewitt. "We're already cutting the grass at this one and we have to fix up the cement structure. It's time to clean this up."

"Can we have it funded through the care and maintenance of the cemeteries we already own?" asked deputy mayor Laura Haight.

"I'd have to research that," said O'Rourke.

In response to a question from council, he said the most recent burial there was in the 1920s or 1930s, according to the tombstones.

"We should get it cleaned up," said mayor Larry Kraemer. "That's the responsible thing to do."

Council agreed to take ownership of the cemetery and fix it up.

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Wednesday, July 07, 2010