By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
After almost a year of uncertainty about who would help and how, the City of Burlington, Town of Burlington and Burlington Cemetery Association finally saw things the same way Tuesday night.
In a meeting of city staff, the Town Board and town staff and Earl Vorpagel of the Cemetery Association, an agreement was reached to form a working committee to keep the maintenance efforts intact at the cemetery and address capital improvement projects with the goal of preventing the Cemetery Association from dissolving.
Vorpagel said Tuesday night that the issue was past the point of the two governmental bodies donating money.
“As far as I’m concerned, that train left the station last spring,” Vorpagel said. He went on to add that the association was ready to file paperwork to dissolve, and had sent certified letters to both the city and town.
However, City of Burlington Mayor Bob Miller had asked the association to wait to file the paperwork, which in part led to Tuesday’s meeting.
The ongoing issue with the cemetery is lack of funds to cover not only normal maintenance and day-to-day operations, but also the extra money for improvements that need to be made.
While embezzlement by a former association member hastened the decline of funds, Vorpagel made it clear it was the lack of income to replace it that was the real issue.
Miller and other staff at the meeting agreed, especially since about $100,000 of that money had already been recouped, and the rest is in the process of being repaid.
The real issue, everyone agreed, was the lack of plots being sold, and, as a result, the lack of maintenance funds being put into the perpetual care fund.
When asked, Vorpagel showed that expenses for the cemetery have been between $25,000 to $35,000 a year. Fifteen percent of every $600 made for selling a plot and $500 for burial is put toward the perpetual maintenance fund – which then earns interest.
The interest is used to pay for maintenance, but with interest rates being low and not enough people purchasing plots, the revenues for the cemetery have been at an all-time low.
Vorpagel made a presentation to open the meeting, speaking for about 40 minutes. Not only did he outline the financial situation, but he also showed slides of several areas of the cemetery that need repair.
In addition to fencing and signs, the chapel on the grounds is in dire need of repair, as is the well for the cemetery.
It became clear, after discussion began, that all sides were looking at the problem the same way.
“We need long-term solutions,” said City Attorney John Bjelajac. Everyone agreed, and also felt the situation would work better with an intact cemetery association vs. the city and town taking over the cemetery.
“We have an association now that can be made viable,” Bjelajac said. Town Attorney Peter Ludwig agreed, and after kicking ideas around for about another 30 minutes, the decision was made to put together a smaller work group.
That will include both attorneys, as well as City Administrator Kevin Lahner and at least Town Board Member Jeff Lang.
Bjelajac also asked Vorpagel to not file any paperwork with the state.
“Don’t send that in,” he pleaded.
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